News

Tears for Fears’ Songs from the Big Chair – still the crown jewel of the duo’s discography, and easily its most-reissued – will get some more pressings on CD and vinyl this fall to mark its 40th anniversary.

Already expanded on CD in 1999, 2006 and a 2014 box set, TFF’s signature LP comes back into print as a 3CD set that offers most of the contents of that out-of-print box set: the original album, B-sides, various single edits and remixes. The original album will also be newly pressed on Coke bottle-clear vinyl as well as a picture disc featuring an era-appropriate image of Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith. A 2LP set, pressed on translucent red vinyl, offers an “alternate cut” of the album featuring versions of the LP’s eight tracks mostly sourced from that aforementioned box set (six of them new to vinyl) and packed in a gatefold sleeve that features unused art from the original release.

After capturing the attention of the U.K. record-buying public with moody but upbeat synthpop songs with lyrics inspired by the psychology of Arthur Janov, Tears for Fears sought an expansion of their sound on Big Chair, working with producer Chris Hughes to develop a more cinematic pop/rock style. The sumptuous keyboards of collaborator Ian Stanley set the tone, alongside resonant guitar solos by Orzabal and Neil Taylor, the plaintive sax of future Goldfrapp cofounder Will Gregory and rhythm aplenty from touring drummer Manny Elias and Hughes himself. (One cannot, of course, count out bassist Curt Smith, whose vocal powered the album’s signature tune “Everybody Wants to Rule the World.”) TFF found themselves not only feted on the U.K. charts but darlings in America, too, with “Rule the World” and “Shout” both topping the Billboard Hot 100 and “Head Over Heels” reaching the Top 10.

Tears for Fears have gone on to become one of the more underrated artists of the ’80s – 2022’s The Tipping Point, their first release in nearly two decades, deserves to stand toe-to-toe with their ’80s works, and 2024’s mostly-live Songs for a Nervous Planet showcases their strengths as a live outfit. So the prolific reissues are worth it, because Big Chair is a high point in not only TFF’s tenure but international pop of the era – and this is the chance to hear it again or for the first time.

All formats will be available on November 14. The picture disc and Coke bottle vinyl is retail exclusive (with the latter also available at indie retailers), while all the others will be available generally, including the below Amazon links. (As an affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.)

Songs from the Big Chair (40th Anniversary Editions) (Mercury/UMe, 2025)

3CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
1LP (Coke Bottle): uDiscover Music / The Sound of Vinyl
1LP (Picture Disc): TFF Store / uDiscover Music / The Sound of Vinyl

CD 1: Original album (released as Mercury MERH58, 1985) and B-sides

1. Shout
2. The Working Hour
3. Everybody Wants to Rule the World
4. Mothers Talk
5. I Believe
6. Broken
7. Head Over Heels
8. Listen
9. The Big Chair (B-side to “Shout” – Mercury IDEA 8, 1984)
10. Empire Building (B-side to “Mothers Talk” – Mercury IDEA 7, 1984)
11. The Marauders (B-side to “The Way You Are” – Mercury IDEA 6, 1983)
12. Broken Revisited (from limited edition cassette album – Mercury MERHC58, 1985)
13. The Conflict (B-side to “Change” – Mercury IDEA 4, 1983)
14. The Working Hour (Piano Version) (from limited edition cassette album – Mercury MERHC58, 1985)
15. Pharoahs (B-side to “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” – Mercury IDEA 9, 1985)
16. When in Love with a Blind Man (B-side to “Head Over Heels” – Mercury IDEA 10, 1985)
17. Sea Song (B-side to “I Believe” – Mercury IDEA 11, 1985)

CD 2: Edited Songs from the Big Chair

1. The Way You Are (Mercury IDEA 6, 1983)
2. Mothers Talk (7″ Version) (Mercury IDEA 7, 1984)
3. Shout (7″ Version) (Mercury IDEA 8, 1984)
4. Everybody Wants to Rule the World (7″ Version) (Mercury IDEA 9, 1985)
5. Head Over Heels (David Bascombe 7″ Mix) (Mercury IDEA 10, 1985)
6. I Believe (A Soulful Re-Recording) (Mercury IDEA 11, 1984)
7. Everybody Wants to Run the World (Mercury RACE 1, 1986)
8. The Way You Are (Short Version) (promo A-side – Mercury IDADJ 6, 1983)
9. Mothers Talk (U.S. Remix) (Mercury 884 638-7 (U.S.), 1986)
10. Shout (U.S. Single Version) (Mercury 880 294-7 (U.S.), 1985)
11. Everybody Wants to Run the World (Running Version) (B-side to Mercury RACE 1, 1986)
12. Head Over Heels (Chris Hughes 7″ Edit) (Philips S/N 577 (MX), 1986)
13. Mothers Talk (Video Version) (released on Songs from the Big Chair (Deluxe Edition) – Mercury/UMC 3794991 (U.K.), 2014)
14. Shout (Short Version) (Mercury 880 441-7 (DE), 1984)
15. Listen (Clean Intro) (released on Songs from the Big Chair (Deluxe Edition) – Mercury/UMC 3794991 (U.K.), 2014)
16. Interview with Curt and Roland (B-side to “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” double 7″ – Mercury IDEA 99, 1985)

CD 3: Remixed Songs from the Big Chair

1. The Way You Are (Extended Version) (Mercury IDEA 612, 1983)
2. Mothers Talk (Extended Mix) (Mercury IDEA 712, 1984)
3. Shout (Extended Version) (Mercury IDEA 812, 1984)
4. Everybody Wants to Rule the World (Extended Mix) (Mercury IDEA 912, 1985)
5. Broken/Head Over Heels (Preacher Mix) (Mercury IDEA 1012, 1985)
6. Mothers Talk (Beat of the Drum Mix) (Mercury IDEA R712, 1984)
7. Shout (U.S. Remix) (Mercury 880 929-1 (U.S.), 1985)
8. Everybody Wants to Rule the World (Urban Mix) (Mercury IDER 912, 1985)
9. Mothers Talk (Alternate U.S. Remix) (from Songs from the Big Chair (Deluxe Edition) – Mercury/Chronicles B0006691-02 (U.S.), 2006)
10. Shout (Dub) (Mercury promo PRO 366-1 (U.S.), 1985)
11. Everybody Wants to Rule the World (Instrumental) (B-side to Mercury IDER 912, 1985)
12. Shout (A Capella) (Mercury promo PRO 366-1 (U.S.), 1985)

LP 1: Original album

Side A

1. Shout
2. The Working Hour
3. Everybody Wants to Rule the World
4. Mothers Talk

Side B

1. I Believe
2. Broken
3. Head Over Heels
4. Listen

LP 2: Alternative album (* previously unreleased on vinyl)

Side C *

1. Shout (Alternative Mix)
2. The Working Hour (Piano Version)
3. Everybody Wants to Rule the World (Alternative Single Version)
4. Mothers Talk (Early Mix)

Side D

1. I Believe (A Soulful Re-Recording)
2. Broken (Demo) *
3. Head Over Heels (Chris Hughes 7″ Edit)
4. Listen (Clean Intro) *

Tracks C1, C3-4, D2 and D4 released on Songs from the Big Chair (Deluxe Edition) – Mercury/UMC 3794991 (U.K.), 2014