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Tears for Fears - Songs from the Big Chair Audio CD

A fair review of the Tears for Fears "Songs from the Big Chair" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Tears for Fears reviews here, or go back to the Tears for Fears tabs.

Tears for Fears Band: Tears for Fears
Title: Songs from the Big Chair
Rating:
Release Date: 2006-03-07
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Shout 2: Working Hour 3: Everybody Wants to Rule the World 4: Mothers Talk 5: I Believe 6: Broken 7: Head Over Heels/Broken 8: Listen 9: Working Hour [Piano Version] 10: Marauders 11: Empire Building 12: Big Chair 13: Pharaohs 14: When in Love with a Blind Man 15: Sea Song 16: Broken Revisited 17: Way You Are [7" Version] 18: Mothers Talk [7" Version] 19: Shout [7" Version] 20: Everybody Wants to Rule the World [7" Version] 21: Head Over Heels [7" Version]

Another Disappointing 'Deluxe Edition' Release From Universal
The 1999 remaster sounds brighter than this 2006 remaster. Vincent Marino is right. One would think it would be the other way around, right? Not in this case. While the sound quality isn't necessarily bad it simply isn't that good in comparison to the 1999 remaster and the 2003 3-CD 'The Ultimate Collection' release (which was 32-bit mastered). The release claims to use the "original master tapes". Such could very well be the case, but the audio sounds quite flat. It doesn't have the depth heard in those previous masters. I suppose this is the result of the mastering engineer - Gary Moore @ Universal Mastering, London. Universal should have given this release to those wonderful folks at Studio Jules Hilversum, Netherlands (2003 'Ultimate Collection) or Jon Astley and Chris Hughes ('99 remaster).

The remastering isn't my only complaint, however. The tracklisting had the opportunity to be so much better. Like other 'Deluxe Edition' compilations this one is missing several rare gems. Where is the original UK 12" version of "Shout"? Again, we get the same old U. S. Remix, which can be found on numerous compilations. Where's the 12" version of "Everybody Wants To Rule The World"? We do, however, get the "Urban Remix" of this track. Where's "Everybody Wants To RUN The World"? It would have fit nicely on this release. There's room for these tracks!

On a positive note, we do get 7" versions of "Shout" and "Head Over Heels. " The 7" version of "Shout" is simply the UK 7" edit, which clocks in at 4:43 but is incorrectly labeled as 4:03 on the back sleeve (which happens to be the playing time of the US 7" edit, not present here). The 7" version of "Head Over Heels" gives the listener to hear the track by itself, not combined with "Broken (Live)" on the album. I can't tell the difference between the 7" version of "Rule The World" and the album version. I'm not sure why it was included. It should have been replaced with the 12" version! "The Way You Are (7" version)" should have been placed at the end of disc one, making room for these missing mixes and tracks on disc two.

The only thing that merits a 4-star rating for this release is the packaging and booklet. I'm very pleased with the photos and overall glossy look of this 'Deluxe Edition'. The liner notes are a plus as well. The tracklisting on the back sleeve, however, is quite sloppy with incorrect playing times and some tracks without any listed times! Overall, it's still nicely presented.

I would have probably given this release a 4-star rating if the sound quality was excellent. At least I could have enjoyed the "rarities" on disc 2 more, but now Universal has left me wanting more from the recordings. I guess I'll have to go back to my 1999 remaster and 2003 'Ultimate Collection' release to hear some of these Tears For Fears gems in better quality. Perhaps a 30th anniversary release will be bring us more? .


Import is better
The 1999 UK remaster with bonus tracks sounds much brighter. While this deluxe reissue has a lot of rarities on the second disc, the actual album doesn't sound all that great. .


Tears For Fears best effort...
Wore my vinyl copies and all the singles and 12"s 'till the grooves turned white. I've loved this album for years. Not sure why this deluxe edition hasn't come stateside yet. The DVD that's been released along side it is here. Anyhow, the original LP is here in all its sonic glory, plus the wonderful B-sides and 12" mixes I hunted for months after the LP hit the top ten. They always manage to sneak a few things in that I missed the first time around. The Working Hour (piano version) I'd never seen on anything as well as Broken Revisited. One oddity I must point out to completists is that the Mother's Talk (US Remix) is the alternate version of that version, not the more popular single mix which features more sax solos within it. I've seen this one pop up once before and I don't know why they keep including it since the other one is a much more 'finished' version of the remix. Oh well, It's all there to peruse for posterity's sake now. . .
Glad it's gotten this treatment at last.


You can see a complete list of all Tears for Fears discography, or go back to the Tears for Fears tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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