Largely successful reissue of a style-defining debut album

When Tears for Fears in 1982 shot with "Mad World" at No. 3 on the British charts, they seemed simply to be surfaced out of nowhere. The sequel to "Change" created space 4, the accompanying album "The Hurting" even reached number 1! Not bad for a debut album. But where did this band, which appeared so confident and had already found her artistic voice?

Of course, she did not come out of nowhere. Tears for Fears had already released two singles before without success: 1981 "Suffer the Children" (produced by David Lord, with the acoustic number "Wino" on the B-side); 1982 "Pale Shelter (You Do not Give Me Love)" (produced by Mike Howlett, with an early version of "The Prisoner" on the back). If you listen to these two singles today on the second CD, it is clear that the pieces were in terms of composition and arrangement already almost identical with the final versions. What was missing, what the appropriate sound. This sound approach they should only be found with the help of producer Chris Hughes and sound engineer Ross Cullum, and this should sound "The Hurting" different from all other publications of the time. Tears for Fears were (and are) Although described as synth pop band, but the electronic component was compared to Mike Howlett productions already quite low. So they started in a sense very early departure from the synth pop - with acoustic guitars and real drums (but without the hi-hat and cymbals).

Singer / guitarist / songwriter Roland Orzabal and vocalist / bassist Curt Smith had indeed separated from the band Graduate to establish Tears for Fears. Roland Orzabal had Curt Smith familiarized with the books of the American psychotherapist Arthur Janov - Curt Smith has borrowed from the term "Tears for Fears". Both were able to identify with the theses Janov - both had an unhappy childhood behind him, and the central theme of "primary treatment" means the processing of childhood trauma by re-living through this or by, let the negative feelings that you actually suppresses free rein. According to Janov these suppressed emotions lead to phobias and other negative effects on the psyche. (The term "primal scream" is likely to be fairly well known; it comes from Janov's book "The Primal Scream".) TFF wanted the one hand express their catharsis through music, but also make enough money to go to America in therapy, and at the same time other people confront the issues. (John Lennon, one of their role models had begun after the end of the Beatles, a first-line treatment, but stopped after a while.)

The album "The Hurting" is, as seen, somewhat one-sided, since it is mainly concerned with pain, but at the same time even suggesting catharsis and healing. The title song introduces the topic in the form of a powerful hymn, associated with a quiet acoustic part. "Mad World" deals with essential questions of meaning, musical brilliantly implemented with frenetic rhythms. This paranoid, Hectic, Gehetzte It is also the complete lack of cover of Gary Jules and Michael Andrews. The dramatically-driving "Pale Shelter" illustrates the connection between a disturbed relationship with parents ("You Do not Give Me Love, You Give Me Pale Shelter") and later failed love relations (a subject that again in "Memories Fade" will be taken up). "Ideas as Opiates" is meditative, quiet, and after two of Curt Smith singing in his high, melancholy voice titles Roland Orzabal is here with its powerful organ for the first time alone to hear (in the opener, both sing in a duet). In "Ideas as Opiates" and "Memories Fade" also sax luminary Mel Collins is here as a guest musician. "Memories Fade" surprised to with some daring Arrangement invasions and an intricate rhythm - quasi the first epic work of the band, are to follow the later exploits as "The Working Hour" and "Swords and Knives".

While the first side of the LP is almost completely straight, the second page falls apart towards the end of something. First, there is, however, with "Suffer the Children" is another important number that is aimed directly at the responsibility of parents and also the connection of love and pain as a root of all evil results in a clear way in mind. "Watch Me Bleed" takes in the text relating to the title track, at the same time recalls the melody striking at "Memories Fade". "Change" (with the famous xylophone motif of Pop!) Is then surprisingly poppy and pretty meaningless in the text. Power fun but the Maxi version is better. "The Prisoner" is experimental, crabby, partly dissonant. "Start of the Breakdown" is a very morbid degree with a brilliant bass line by Curt Smith.

Lyrically / thematically this is probably the most intense drive of Tears for Fears; However musical is still room for improvement - the successor albums are stylistically much more diverse and musically interesting. On the other hand, could "The Hurting" appeal to those who are "Songs From The Big Chair" and "The Seeds of Love" are too cluttered-bombastic, because here the arrangements are very transparent and simple.

Now for "The Hurting - 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition"

With partly harsh words of Paul Sinclair SuperDeluxeEdition.com had the box set of Peter Gabriel's album "So" criticized. Now he wanted to prove that it is more apparent - this Böxchen arose directed by Sinclair and Tears for Fears. The sobering realization: Perfect is not this set. Nevertheless, it is mandatory for all loyal supporters of the British cult band.
What does this compilation?

- The legendary and style-original album "The Hurting", in a new remastered version [the first three Tears For Fears albums were often criticized the 1999 remasters because of their sound, this remaster sounds much better.]
- A CD with 16 Rarities, ie B-sides, remixes and different single versions 1981-1983 - there is much to discover!
- A CD with 8 previously unreleased radio recordings and two live tracks from 1983 - another piñata! Especially as the radio sessions many pieces present in early versions, while the live recordings suggest that momentum even then unfolded the TFF songs at concerts: "Change" is already a lot funkier than the studio version (albeit not as much as in the 1990 Tour) , and "Start of the Breakdown" May I show really what he vocally draufhat everything Roland. Precisely because it is a pity that there is to hear any additional live tracks from the time the DVD comes already from the next tour.
- On a DVD remaster the originally appeared as a VHS concert film "In My Mind's Eye" from 1983 - no 5.1 sound, and by the time the trendy video effects the pleasure is somewhat clouded. Nevertheless, very interesting.

And what can you complain about?

Was 12 on the 1999 CD of "The Hurting" still at least "The Way You Are" "to listen Remix, so missing this track along with its B-side" The Marauders "here completely. The reason, these songs are by their use has been used on the deluxe edition of "Songs From The Big Chair" and thus "associated" with this album, it seems to me a bit poor First, because now the 12 "remix found only on the 1999 CD is [UPDATE:. now the Maxi on the box to SFTBC included along with a previously unreleased demo version]!; secondly, because the two live tracks taken from the "The Way You Are" -Maxi. On the other hand, the makers of the box sets contributed to the enormous blunder, instead of "We Are Broken" (early version of "Broken", published in 1983 as a B-side) to use the resulting two years later extended remix "Broken Revisited" (which is also on was heard the SFTBC Remaster editions). The early version of "Ideas as Opiates" is missing; contained version is the album version without crossfades.

Other criticisms:

- The complete lack of any lyrics. In the booklets the 1999 remasters the lyrics of the original tracks were at least published, to also comments on all tracks. Already the 2006 deluxe edition of "Songs From The Big Chair" but contained no text!
- One (short) mastering errors in the song "Ideas as Opiates"
- The unused opportunity to present the complete concert from the Hammersmith Odeon on the DVD. The title "The Way You Are" and "The Marauders' were on the VCR, probably due to time constraints, omitted. Video clips would not have been bad. There are also Top of the Pops appearances and a concert from the Rockpalast that would fit on the DVD.

The merit of the box is mainly that it almost makes this all the rarities from the time; for years had been waiting for a publication of this kind TFF fans. Although TFF have even inserted the veto at "Saxophones as Opiates", and by Dussligkeit the original B-side versions of "Ideas as Opiates" and "We Are Broken" are not included. Nevertheless, the box set contains 24 rare pieces of "Hurting" era, of which 20 were long not available on CD. I personally think it's a shame that you did not take the chance, for example, to restore the "In My Mind's Eye" -Konzertfilm correctly (without the stupid video effects, but with all the songs played, in high resolution, and with remastered 5.1 sound) , or the videos still draufzupacken, or a few interviews, documentary stuff, etc ...

Of course, these blemishes can hold no Diehard Tears For Fears-fan from buying this box. But if there should be more publications in this style, I want but that those responsible this criticism to heart.

My conclusion: Recommended, but not perfect. Mandatory for TFF fans. Non-TFF fans are probably better off with the 2-CD deluxe edition. Who wants to set the album should definitely stay away from the 1999 CD and instead resort to 3CD / DVD box or 2CD Deluxe Edition. The only things still speak for the 1999 CD, the printed lyrics and the maxi version of "The Way You Are". The "remastering" by Jon Astley should however be borne in mind in good conscience, especially since there is now a real alternative, which moreover contains more bonus material. All users have their wonderful essay by Paul Sinclair (of it led interviews with Roland and Curt) and - in the Box - a reprint of the 1983 tour program.