Search - Tears for Fears :: Songs From the Big Chair (Mlps) (Shm)

TFF's Best Selling but not Best Ever Album Given the Deluxe

Frederick Baptist | Singapore | 04/01/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This has always been and probably will always be one of my favourite all-time albums. Tracks like "Everybody Wants To Rule the World" and "Head Over Heels" will also be among my all-time favourite songs. However, overall, this album still falls short when compared with their brilliant debut "The Hurting". TFF goes blatantly commercial here and succeeds overwhelmingly with this album becoming their best-selling ever. This mini-lp replica sleeve (mlps) version of the Deluxe release though is a bit of a mixed bag. As far as mlps designs go this is very average as it is poorly assembled out of thin cardboard that looks like it will come apart soon when the glue gets old which is sad given the amount of mullah they expect you to part with for this. Ironically the inner sleeve is actually better designed and assembled than the main sleeve! The sound has been remastered though and hence is an improvement over the original release. Also included are a hard cardboard square replica of the original vinyl centre circle and a fold-out with all the lyrics in Japanese and in English. There is also a very neat glossy, colour 24-page booklet with photos and an essay on the band by Paul Lester.



There is no disputing the quality of the content though as in addition to the original track listings we get the single "The Way You Are" as the first track on disc 2. The other bonus tracks on the first disc are mostly filler material and unessential:



9. The Working Hour (Piano version) - interesting but not essential

10.The Marauders - filler at best

11.Empire Building - ditto

12.The Big Chair - pretty interesting

13.Pharaohs (Single version) - just a variation of "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" and hence a little better than filler

14.When In Love With A Blind Man - just a variation of "Working Hour" and hence a little better than filler

15.Sea Song - pretty interesting musically

16.Broken Revisited - interesting but still filler



The second disc is more interesting and especially for the 12" tracks i.e. track numbers 8 - 12:



1. The Way You Are - not their best work but still an interesting and enjoyable single

2. Mothers Talk (Short version)- okay but nothing spectacular

3. Shout (Edit) - like the album version but without the guitar solo so you already know that this is just filler

4. Everybody Wants To Rule The World (7" version)

5. Head Over Heels (Dave Bascombe 7" N. Mix)

6. I Believe (A Soulful Re-Recording) - interesting variation of the album version

7. Mothers Talk (U.S. Mix) - no big deal

8. Shout (U.S. Remix) - pretty good

9. Shout (U.S. Dub Version) - very interesting variation of the album track

10.Everybody Wants To Rule The World (Urban Mix) - I enjoyed this one very much

11.Mothers Talk (Beat of the Drum Mix) - ditto

12.Broken/Head Over Heels/Broken (Preacher Mix)- Nice track and good way to end the deluxe release



Overall a mixed bag as far as mlps releases go but the content in some ways makes up for this.



Recommended."