The Vinyl Brew: Tears for Fears - The Hurting

80s sensation Tears for Fears were formed in Bath, England in 1981 by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith. They released their debut album 'The Hurting' on 7th March 1983, 40 years ago this year and arrived on the British music scene with a bang! Produced by Chris Hughes and Ross Cullum, the album was a blend of synth-pop and new wave which started them off on a career which has so far seen 7 full-length album releases, including "The Tipping Point" in 2022.

  

 

The Hurting is one of those albums that you might skip on at first thought to head for one released later on in their career - admittedly it's not got some of Tears for Fears' biggest hits such as "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" but in its own right it was a breakthrough debut album which reached the top in late March 1983, and reached platinum status in January 1985

 

The opening track for the album is the album titled "The Hurting," a haunting instrumental that sets the tone for the album. If you were looking for a jolly ol' ditty then this track lets you know that this certainly isn't the album for you!

 

Following that is the first hit single from the album, "Mad World", which was next released after two non-charters. Indeed "Mad World" wasn't intended to be a single, actually a B-side at first. A lot of us will know this from the 2001 cover by Gary Jules, produced by Michael Andrews which was released as part of the Donnie Darko soundtrack. It is a melancholic song that with monotonous rhythm and lyrics that make you wonder if Orzabal needed to talk to someone.

    

The lyrics, "I find it hard to tell you how I want to run away," on the track "Pale Shelter," do nothing to let up that feeling, the tortured genius laying bare his soul while we bop along to it. The song's catchy melody contrasted with Orzabal's soulful vocals make it really stick with you, wondering if you should be guilty for enjoying something clearly so personal.
 
Tears for Fears first single, "Suffer The Children" which tackles the issue of child abuse, was re-recorded for the album. It's a haunting and emotionally charged track, reminding us of the importance of taking responsibility for one's actions and making the world a better place for future generations - a message that we don't really seem to have grasped in the 40 years since this record came out.
 
The album's closing track, "The Prisoner," is a powerful and atmospheric instrumental, closing the album without vocal direction from the band, instead forcing the listener to sit with themselves and their thoughts around the haunting melody. The sense of unease that the song creates taking you back to the damning lyrics from previous tracks and the album finishing off with a whimper, rather than a bang.

 

 
The Hurting is a landmark album in the history of New Wave, and an incredible debut album for Tears for Fears. Through heartfelt lyrics and flawless songwriting, the album's themes of pain, isolation, and emotional turmoil have barely aged despite the passing of 40 years.