Tears For Fears - Songs From The Big Chair

As tough as it is for me to believe or even admit it, Songs From The Big Chair by Tears For Fears was released 26 years ago, in 1985. This was the second album from the band, who had some early success with songs from 1983's release, The Hurting, which I discussed here. I had scooped up that first album at my import store in the West Village, and loved it. I doubt any of the success of the earlier work could have prepared Curt Smith, Roland Orzibal, Ian Stanley and Manny Elias for what was about to come. If The Hurting was music's Another Country for the 80s, with brooding British schoolboys pouting their way through self-awareness, then Songs From The Big Chair was truly a coming of age, Rock with a degree in Social Welfare, whether it is in a more traditional sense of Freudian study in Mother's Talk, or a stab at Primal Scream therapy in Shout.

The first release in the US is one that would firmly plant the band in the annals of music history. Everybody Wants To Rule The World was a step back, the soothing deep breath you take when you want to relax. From the opening riff of the guitar to the sweet tone of Curt's voice, the song charmed with a sweetness not heard from the band before. It was written by Roland, Ian and producer Chris Hughes.



The next to hit the airwaves was the ode to venting, Shout, also written by Orzabal and Stanley. The album title was derived from the Sally Field TV movie Sybil, for it was only in the "big chair" in the doctor's office where Sybil felt safe. So it should come as no surprise when the band delves into Primal Scream Therapy for inspiration. But what might have been surprising was that the song zoomed up the charts, giving the band their first #1 in the US.



The next release was the delightful Head Over Heels, written by Orzabal and Curt Smith. The video was a wonderful attempt to use Roland's awkwardness to it's best advantage. As Curt, Manny, Ian and a monkey work in the library, geeky Roland reveals his crush on the librarian. I think there are moments when we almost get a smile from Roland...



For the video of the next release, I Believe (A Soulful Re-Recording), I only recently found the video. And will all his layers and baggy sweaters, who the hell knew Roland had that body? Even more surprising, that he was willing to show it off! I might have to rethink my primary crush on keyboardist Ian Stanley. The song, written by Roland, was not released in the US, which might explain why I didn't know about the video. But I do now!



The first single released in the UK was Mother's Talk, in fall of 1984, prior to the album. It was not released in the US until April of 1986. It was written by Orzabal and Stanley, and was a departure from the brooding dramas of the earlier release. The energy level was torqued up a notch, the sound more aggressive. The song made it to the Top 30 on the US Billboard Pop chart.



For more about Tears For Fears, you can check them out on the web here. You can purchase their music on iTunes here, and on Amazon.com here. You can find the sexy I Believe video on iTunes here. The band is still active and tours, although Curt and Roland do live in different countries, with Smith settled in California and Orzabal still in the UK. Wile Roland shies away from anything resembling social media, Curt is really quite active. You can find his official webpage here, and his very active Twitter account here. He is a great follow if you are on Twitter. You can find some of Curt's solo work on iTunes too. Click here for a great single, All Is Love featuring Zoe Keating.

Worth Another Listen - Oleta Adams

While some might consider Oleta Adams to be a one-hit-wonder, she had, in fact, two songs make to on the American charts. Her soul and jazz-influenced vocals are quite distinctive, and she has often been heralded by critics as a voice that should be heard. She also has a more interesting story than many who have hit the charts. Legend has it that Ms. Adams was playing at a hotel bar in Kansas City, Missouri, when the band Tears For Fears was on an American tour in 1985. Both Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith thought she was very talented, and when recording their next album, contacted her and had Oleta join them in the studio. In support of the album The Seeds Of Love, she also toured with them. The single, Woman In Chains, was released in 1989 and made it to #36 on the US Billboard Hot 100, her first single.



Her next step was to get signed and to record her own music. In 1990, she released Circle of One, which had moderate success in sales until she released Get Here in 1991. That pushed the sales to the certified Gold level, and made it to #5 on the Billboard Pop chart. The song was written by singer/songwriter Brenda Russell, who later went on to write the music for the Broadway musical The Color Purple. She had previously record Get Here, but it was Oleta Adams who had the most success with the track.



Adams also had some success in the UK with a version of Elton John's Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me at the end of 1991. Two years later, she released I Just Had To Hear Your Voice, which also scored well with the British audience.



For more about Oleta Adams, check out her official website here. Adams released her latest album, Let's Stay Here, in 2009, once again receiving great praise for her work.

A Beat For Peace

I found this inspired video thru Curt Smith, singer/musician with Tears For Fears, as he retweeted it. Curt, whose Twitter account is @curtsmith, if fun to follow, as he is part doting father, and part socially/politically active man. He felt this was a video that helped prove the power of music.



In 2011, a referendum will determine whether or not the Southern region of Sudan becomes independent from the North. Experts fear that instability in the run-up to the referendum or its aftermath could reignite a civil war and cause massive human rights abuses unless international efforts are intensified to find a peaceful path through the next 12 months.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Take part in a world-wide drumming video and help us pressure world leaders to push for peace in Sudan. Simply post a video reply on YouTube - in your video description add a line about who's doing the drumming and where it's happening, then tag it with 'Sudan365' and 'beat for peace'. We'll take the best responses we receive and mix them into a final video - containing clips of drummers from across the globe - to demonstrate the support for international action to prevent further conflict.

WHAT IS SUDAN365?
Sudan365 is a year of campaigning for Sudan. It has been organised by a coalition of groups including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Save Darfur, FIDH, Refugees International, Darfur Consortium and Arab Coalition for Darfur. More info here.



Makes me wish I had a lick of musical talent so I could join in myself.