Songs from the Big Chair

Songs from the Big Chair
Studio album by
Tears for Fears
Released25 February 1985 (1985-02-25)[1]
Recorded1984[a][b]
StudioThe Wool Hall, Beckington, UK
Genre
Length41:52
Label
ProducerChris Hughes
Tears for Fears chronology
The Hurting
(1983) 		Songs from the Big Chair
(1985) 		The Seeds of Love
(1989)
Singles from Songs from the Big Chair
  1. "Mothers Talk"
    Released: 10 August 1984
  2. "Shout"
    Released: 23 November 1984
  3. "Everybody Wants to Rule the World"
    Released: 22 March 1985
  4. "Head over Heels"
    Released: 14 June 1985
  5. "I Believe (A Soulful Re-Recording)"
    Released: 4 October 1985
  6. "Mothers Talk (US remix)"
    Released: 1 April 1986

Songs from the Big Chair is the second studio album by the English band Tears for Fears, released on 25 February 1985 by Mercury Records, distributed by Phonogram Inc. A follow-up to the band's successful debut album, The Hurting (1983), Songs from the Big Chair was a significant departure from that album's dark, introspective synth-pop, featuring a more mainstream, guitar-based pop rock sound, sophisticated production values and diverse stylistic influences, while Roland Orzabal and Ian Stanley's lyrics displayed socially and politically conscious themes.

The album peaked at number two in the UK and at number one in the U.S., becoming a multi-platinum seller and the band's most successful studio album to date. The singles "Shout" and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" both topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and reached the top 5 of the UK Singles Chart, while "Head over Heels", "Mothers Talk" and a live version of "I Believe" were also successful internationally. Receiving positive critical reviews upon release, Songs from the Big Chair has accrued lasting praise and has been named one of the 1980s' best albums and was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[6][7][8]

  1. ^ a b Gallucci, Michael (25 February 2020). "How Tears for Fears Hit the Big Time With 'Songs From the Big Chair'". Ultimate Classic Rock.
  2. ^ "The 50 Best New Wave Albums". Paste. 13 October 2020.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference pitchfork was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Munro, Scott (21 July 2017). "Steven Wilson meets Bollywood in Permanating video". Prog.
  5. ^ Mitchell, Matt (21 July 2023). "The 50 Greatest Synth-Pop Albums of All Time". Paste. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  6. ^ Doran, John (2006). "Tears for Fears: Songs from the Big Chair". In Dimery, Robert (ed.). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Universe Publishing. p. 531. ISBN 978-0-7893-1371-3.
  7. ^ "The 100 Best Albums of the 1980s". Slant Magazine. 5 March 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  8. ^ "The 200 Best Albums of the 1980s". Pitchfork. 10 September 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2023.


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