Studio albums 6 Compilation albums 2 | Live albums 1 Singles 30 | |
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The English band Tears for Fears have released six studio albums, along with numerous singles, compilations and videos. Formed in 1981 by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith, the duo signed to Phonogram Records in the UK and released their first single the same year. It wasn't until Tears For Fears' third single, "Mad World" (1982), that they scored their first hit, and their platinum-selling debut album The Hurting (1983) was a UK number one.
Contents
Their second album, Songs from the Big Chair, was released in 1985 and became a worldwide hit, establishing the band in the US. After a third platinum-selling album, The Seeds of Love in 1989, Smith and Orzabal parted company and subsequent Tears for Fears albums Elemental (released in 1993 and certified gold in several countries) and Raoul and the Kings of Spain (1995) were effectively solo albums by Orzabal. However, the duo reformed in 2000 for a new studio album, Everybody Loves a Happy Ending, which was released in 2004/05. In 2014, the band released a new 3-track vinyl EP of cover versions exclusively for Record Store Day, entitled Ready Boy & Girls? which was recorded as they worked on their upcoming seventh album.
Other compilations
(The following compilations tended to be regional releases, issued without the band's involvement and often on "budget price" labels)
Videos/DVDs
Singles
1The 1982 Mike Howlett-produced version of "Pale Shelter (You Don't Give Me Love)" was eventually issued as a single in Canada in 1983, and peaked at #15. In other territories, the hit single was the "1983 version" of "Pale Shelter". This 1983 version was a wholly new recording produced by Chris Hughes & Ross Cullum, and it did not include the parenthetical subtitle.
2Though not formally credited to Tears for Fears, "Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams" was originally the B-side to "Advice for the Young at Heart". It was then remixed by Fluke and released as a single by TFF's record company in the UK and simply credited to Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams. The single reached #1 on the UK Dance Chart.
3"Laid So Low" reached #10 on US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.
4This 1992 re-release credits the artist as Tears for Fears featuring Oleta Adams.
5"Call Me Mellow" reached #28 on US Billboard Adult Top 40 chart.
6"Secret World" was released as a promo single in France only.
7"Ready Boy and Girls?" was released as a limited edition 3-track 10" vinyl single for Record Store Day. It features three cover versions which the band recorded as they worked on their seventh studio album, including; Arcade Fire's "Ready to Start", Hot Chip's "Boy From School" and Animal Collective's "My Girls".