The Hurting [UK Bonus Tracks]

Tears For Fears is one of my favourite bands and their debut album, "The Hurting", has a very powerful impact. It sticks to you and stays inside you. Tears For Fears have made such powerful music but it seems like this album is the one that seems to hold on more tighter thanks to the shared brilliance of Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal. If you can't believe me, just listen to the lyrics in this album. Each song is unique in their own way. Here are my opinions on each song; The Hurting: Roland and Curt sing together to give us an insight of their thoughts and shows us that they are people with brilliant insight. No negative thoughts in this song (Not even in the other songs). Mad World: The title says it all but Curt says that we can do something to improve it. The song still sounds relevant even to this day. Pale Shelter: An insight of Roland and Curt's pasts and sung brilliantly and thoughtfully by Curt. Beautiful piece with electric and acoustic sounds. Ideas as Opiates: Can be a little difficult to understand at first but when you get used to it, you find that Roland is singing that we should care about one another. He's right. Memories Fade: Powerful song. You can actually feel, sense, and understand Roland's moods in his voice and the arrangements are cool. Suffer the Children: The first song made by Tears For Fears, Roland brings out the "twin" to Pale Shelter. Very thoughtful song about kids not getting enough love and attention as they grow up. And the vocalizations sung near the end before Roland says; "Suffer, suffer the children" are sung by Caroline Orzabal who was and still is Roland's wife. Watch Me Bleed: An non-negative song that we can all relate to with the lyrics: "I feel so young, I feel so old" because how many of us feel like life is moving too fast? Roland sells it with his lyrics but gives us hope when he says: "I'll close my eyes, I won't complain." Change: The title says it all and Curt reminds us that "you can change." Very good song and can be fun to dance to (if you like to dance to Tears For Fears, that is). The Prisoner: Definitely the song we can all easily relate to. The lyrics speak volumes but Curt reminds us that "love sets me free" and makes us see and know that we can break away from our negative thoughts and free ourselves from our prisons. Start of the Breakdown: Roland gives us an insight about a breakdown situation with the amazing keyboard and percussion arrangements. Hits your heart and makes us really think about our relationships. That's all I can say about these songs, folks. The extra songs in this album shows how Roland and Curt were learning to make their now-famous sound (read the booklet to get an idea of how the two were learning how to do it) and also shows a couple of b-sides such as The Conflict (also shows up in the Deluxe Edition of Songs From The Big Chair), We Are Broken (later named Broken for their Songs From The Big Chair album), an early version of The Prisoner, and Wino, which was previously unreleased and is the b-side to Suffer the Children along with different versions of Pale Shelter, Suffer the Children, Change, Mad World and interesting to listen to. But I do have one last thing to say; don't underestimate Tears For Fears or the title of the album and their songs. Roland and Curt have a positive attitude which is something we should have when we listen to them even if their songs may sound sad to you. So if you're a Tears For Fears fan, buy this album (don't forget the other ones as well) and enjoy but also feel every song and moment.

Arrived on time and inserts great condition

Bought to give as a gift for someone who still listens to CD’s. Glad to know new CD’s can still be found.

Gut punch of a cd... a must have... delivered in timely manner as promised... thank you

Tears For Fears first album, The Hurting, has only grown in its reputation over the years. At first misunderstood and dismissed, mostly by the critics, as whiny teenage angst, it’s now considered a daring and influential album, especially for a first release. At least some of the critics caught on to the fact that there were some good songwriters here. The morose lyrics were accompanied by strong melodies and intricately detailed synthesizer and instrumental mixes. This would be the strength of Tears For Fears, an uncanny ability to make serious and complex albums within which were some of the catchiest pop tunes of the 80’s. Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith had formed Tears For Fears after leaving their first group, Graduate. Graduate wore dark suits and played pop with a beat a little like Elvis Costello or XTC. Roland was the lead vocal, front and center, wearing eyeliner and occasionally pogoing as he sang, seemingly having a great time. It was clear he was the star. Curt was very much to the side on bass and was generally ignored by the TV cameras, which focused on Roland and drummer Andrew Marsden. After signing with Mercury as Tears For Fears, the label apparently changed that dynamic with Curt being the frontman in their videos and Roland relegated to a background presence until Shout. The back and forths of this dynamic would eventually lead to the breakup of the duo. Their rapid ascent had been aided by Ian Stanley, a local Somerset musician who had an eight-track studio in his home, and later added drummer Manny Elias and producer Chris Hughes. During their big years of 1985-86, all four musicians were considered bandmates in Tears For Fears though it was understood that Roland and Curt were the major members. They were a real band from the beginning, able to reproduce any song live and have it sound just like the studio version. I mention this only because the intricacy of the tracks could suggest that the music was strictly a studio creation. Depressed after unhappy childhoods in council estates (public housing), Orzabal and Smith had latched onto the ideas of Arthur Janov,after Roland was introduced to his writings by a guitar teacher. Janov’s primal scream therapy had at one time greatly influenced John Lennon and resulted in his John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band LP. To oversimplify, negative past experiences will continue to shape you until you relive them and release yourself by letting the pain out. Though the pair had hoped to make enough to afford therapy in the U.S., making the album itself was the therapy and they poured all their sorrow and pain into it. This was very daring for a group just starting out. Was there really an audience for an album named The Hurting with songs titled Watch Me Bleed and Start of the Breakdown? With not a single track that could be called a love song, it was far from the standard pop album. After two singles that failed to chart, the album’s second song, Mad World, went to number three and the album made number one. Against all odds they had succeeded and found a receptive audience (except in the U.S. where nothing caught on until Music From the Big Chair, which many people to this day think was their first album. It was America’s loss). They were helped by their obvious sincerity. This album, however dark, came from the heart and in an era when many pop acts were arch or ironic, these two were trying to really communicate something. One other thing was different as well. They weren’t suicidal or defeated. In fact it was clear they wanted to somehow make it all work out. The Hurting’s percussive minor key opening indicates right away that something is wrong here and on top of a tense, throbbing rhythm the duo announces that they’re confronting the hurting so it won’t come back. Mad World follows. It’s now better known in its eerie reimagining by Gary Jules and Michael Andrews used at the end of Donnie Darko, one of the best reworkings of a song ever. But in the original version here its emphasis is more on the fast movement of people rushing around, busily going nowhere and the traumas of childhood like the first day at school. At the second mention of Happy Birthday there is a chilling electronic effect like the cold, icy laughter of some malevolent spirit which repeats itself three more times, making the song really creepy. Pale Shelter is smooth and dynamic with Curt’s soft tenor floating above it all. It’s also a jazz-influenced song, an influence that would continue and grow in their work. Ideas as Opiates is the opposite of what went before, slow, minimal and bleak. Even now it’s difficult to listen to. Memories Fade picks up the beat and provides strong melodic material but lyrically is one of the darkes songs here. Suffer the Children sounds upbeat on its surface with a strong chorus but ends with the thought that questions being born at all “When it don’t turn out the way it should” Watch Me Bleed is a fast ride through a minor key world of torture and pain. The lyric is a bit over the top in self pity but at least we know Roland meant it. Change opens with a wonderful marimba riff and is the best dance song on the album. Still, it’s mostly in a minor key and the marimba sounds more like an ominous force when it reenters. The prisoner is a dissonant nightmare and it’s well-crafted enough to be real and involving and not some kind of stage music cliche. Where else to end but The Start of the Breakdown, another audacious move for a group trying to have their first hit album. Roland’s father had a severe breakdown that took him out of Roland’s life for years and obviously that event inspired this song. But it’s not specifically about that memory but rather the conclusion of the songs which went before it: your life will simply not work out with so much pain. Still with all these layers of percussion and synthesizer, the melancholy piano chords, it’s a compelling piece of music. The Hurting was so much more than the typically dancy new wave synth-pop music coming out of the U.K. at that time. It’s obvious that a great deal of work went into its making. It’s also, perhaps surprisingly, a really enjoyable album to listen to. The music itself is so interesting and is more forward than the lyrics. Fortunately at least the British audience got it and ignited the career of one of the 80’s best bands. This is the 1999 edition of The Hurting with four bonus tracks by Mercury (Universal). The remastering couldn’t be better. There’s a nice booklet with notes by Ian Cranna that include an interview with Roland and Curt. The bonus tracks are mostly useful for including The Way You Are, the late ‘83 stopgap single that no one liked, rushed out to have something on the charts. It’s okay but clearly un-memorable. Still, it wasn’t included on any album so fans will appreciate having it. The rest are extended versions that are not very different than the regular tracks.

I had both The Hurting and Songs from the Big chair on vinyl in the 80s. Now, I have these on CD and Seed of Love. This is my favorite of the three.

It only makes sense to start with this album sense "TFF" seems to take a pattern of human growth in every area. This happens to be my all time favorite album from them so I'm very partial to this album. Every song on this album dive into or explores the area of adolescent growth or experience. It seems to mimic "primal scream". All I can say if you like their second album you'll love this album. So quit reading right now and don't waste anymore time and hit order!

Oh No! Not another 80's band. I get kind of tired of people that say that and I hear that quite a lot. However, yes it is another 80's band and they are really and truly unbelievable. THey both play the main instrumentation - keybords, bass and guitar - and do it quite well. On this particular disc they remind me of a more experimental King Crimson with not as much jazz, if any at all. I never haerd any other of their albums but, after purchasing this one, I will be purchasing the deluxe edition of The Big Chair. I really love this record and especially Pale Shelter, Mad World,THe Hurting and of course, The Prisoner. Wow! What a powerful group of songs. The vocals, the music - unbelievable! I love it all! When I heard the song Everybody Wants to Rule the World, I couldn't stand it. The more I heard it, and brother did they overplay it, the more I wanted to throw up. I still dislike that song with a passion. This album is a totally different animal. A really great masterpiece.

本当はBOXが欲しいのだけど、ビンボーなので、コレ。 2015年８月12日現在で、20万円ちかくもするんだもん。 １枚目はオリジナル10曲。ボーナス・トラック１曲もなし。 ２枚目は、ｂサイド＋リミックス集、全16曲。 その内容は。 １ Suffer The Children（７インチ） ２ Pale Selter (you don't give me love) ３ The Prisoner（ｂサイド） ４ Ideas As Opiates（ｂサイド） ５ Change（ニュー・ヴァージョン） ６ Suffer The Children（リミックス） ７ Pale Selter (you don't give me love)（エクステンディド・ヴァージョン） ８ Mad World（ワールド・リミックス） ９ Change（エクステンディド・ヴァージョン） 10 Pale Selter（エクステンディド・ヴァージョン） 11 Suffer The Children（インスト） 12 Change（７インチ エディット） 13 Wino（ｂサイド） 14 The Conflict（ｂサイド） 15 We Are Broken（ｂサイド） 16 Suffer The Children（プロモCDヴァージョン） デビュー・アルバムにして名盤『ハーティング』前後の７インチ、12インチが、一通り楽しめる。 15曲目「We Are Broken」なんか、マジに壊れている感じで、不気味。 やはり、この時期、コンポーザーとしての、ローランド・オーザバルの才能は凄いとしか言いようがないと思う。 被害者意識が珍しく良い方向に出た歌詞、ナイーヴなのに力強い面もあるメロディ・ライン、充実したサウンド、圧倒的でさえある。 エレクトロニクスを効果的に使い、1980年代、特に前半のブリティッシュ音楽シーンの先頭グループにいたと、実感！

"The Hurting" ist das ursprünglisch anno 1983 erschienene absolut geniale Debutalbum von Tears For Fears alias Roland Orzabal und Curt Smith, die 1980 bereits mit der ehemaligen Schülerband Graduate das Album "Acting My Age" veröffentlichten. Roland Orzabal und Curt Smith stammen aus dem Städtchen Bath, Somerset im südwesten Englands und den Bandnamen entnahmen sie dem Buch eines amerikanischen Psychotherapeuten desssen Themen oftmals die Grundlage ihrer Texte bildeten. Das Album hat seinen ganz eigenen Sound und klingt insgesamt ein wenig düster und sehr melancholisch, was allerdigs auch nicht verwundert wenn man weiss das Roland Orzabal in den Texten von "The Hurting" seine nicht gerade leichte Kindheit verarbeitete. Der grosse internationale Durchbruch gelang mit der dritten Single "Mad World", die es immerhin auf Platz 3 in den UK und auf Platz 21 der deutschen Charts schaffte und auch "Pale Shelter" wurde im zweiten Anlauf (das gute Stück wurde eigentlich schon vor "The Hurting" im Jahre 1981 als Single veröffentlicht) im Zuge des Erfolges von "Mad World" ein Top 5-Hit in England und erreichte auch hier in Deutschland immerhin Platz 25. Auch "Suffer The Children" wurde bereits im Jahre 1981 als Single veröffentlicht und die vierte Single "Change" lief in den UK sehr erfolgreich (Platz 4 der Charts), konnte sich aber hierzulande leider nicht platzieren. "The Hurting" hat aber natürlich wesentlich mehr zu bieten als diese vier Singles! Das Album ist auch als Gesamtwerk durchaus mehr als höhrenswert und bietet feinsten gitarren- und synthieorientierten 80s-Pop! Erfreulicherweise bietet uns dieses Rerelease des UK-Nummer 1-Albums neben der Originaltracklist auch gleich noch vier feine Maxiversionen bzw Remixe in Form der Long Version von "Pale Shelter", der Extended Version des Non-Album-Tracks "The Way You Are", einer Single die im Jahre 1983 nach "Pale Shelter" erschienen ist und auch immerhin Top 30 in den UK war, dem World Remix von "Mad World" und, last but not least, der Extended Version von "Change", so daß sich folgende Tracklist ergibt: 1 The Hurting 4:19 2 Mad World 3:35 3 Pale Shelter 4:34 4 Ideas As Opiates 3:46 5 Memories Fade 5:06 6 Suffer The Children 3:52 7 Watch Me Bleed 4:17 8 Change 4:15 9 The Prisoner 2:56 10 Start Of The Breakdown 5:01 Bonus Tracks: 11 Pale Shelter (Long Version) 7:09 12 The Way You Are (Extended) 7:44 13 Mad World (World Remix) 3:43 14 Change (Extended Version) 6:00 Klanglisch gibt es nichts zu meckern und auch das kleine aber feine Booklet mit Linernotes von Ian Cranna und den Texten zu den Albumtracks kann sich durchaus sehen lassen. Absolut herausragend ist hier natürlich das Preis-Leistungsverhältniss, denn einen Preis von weniger als fünf Euronen (Stand 25. Aug. 2012) kann man natürlich durchaus als Schnäppchen bezeichnen und auch der reguläre Preis für dieses Release ist mit knapp sieben Euronen sicherlich nicht zu hoch angesetzt. Von mir gibt's eine uneingeschränkte Kaufempfehlung, denn Tears For Fears sollten in keiner gutsortierten 80er-Sammlung fehlen und hier bekommt man für kleines Geld ein grossartiges Album in wirklich ansprechender Qualität!

Excellent album et article Conforme.

Great pressing. This is a classic debut album. All the tracks are phenomenal.

Imprescindible para fans de Tears for Fears. Los principios de una banda con unas composiciones, armonía y musicalidad como pocas.