New edition of a classic
The cult band returns for its 40th anniversary
November 10, 2025 – 15:39Reading time: 2 minutes
The album “Songs from the Big Chair” made the band Tears for Fears world famous and is considered a milestone in pop history. A new edition is now being published.
Tears for Fears are one of the most influential British pop bands. Global hits like “Shout” or “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” are still played on radio today and broadcast millions of times. Both came from the album “Songs from the Big Chair”, which gave the British duo their international breakthrough in 1985, topping the German and even US charts. To mark the 40th anniversary of the classic album, a new edition was released in several variations.
The anniversary edition of the pop milestone came a bit late, as “Songs from the Big Chair” was first published in February 1985. At the time, advanced studio technology, Fairlight samples and lavish production characterized the pop scene. Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal combine technique with substance. His songs are inspired by personal conflict, self-discovery, psychology, and the suffering of the world.
It’s no surprise then that the songs from Tears for Fears sound surprisingly timeless compared to other productions of the time – both in terms of music and content. “Everyone Wants to Rule the World,” for example, inspired by the Cold War and the political uncertainty of those years, seems more relevant today than ever.
As a result, Tears for Fears’ first number one hit in the US remains a long-lasting hit to this day. The song has been covered many times, including by Lorde, Weezer and punk icon Patti Smith. According to the latest figures from the online portal “Chartmasters”, the original song has been streamed more than 2.2 billion times on Spotify alone.
Other hit singles from Tears for Fears’ sophomore album include “Mothers Talk,” “I Believe” and the beautifully cinematic “Head Over Heels,” which experienced a surprising resurgence on TikTok a few years ago. And of course “Shout,” a mix of synth-pop, rock and protest songs that shouldn’t be missed from any performance by Smith and Orzabal. The duo recently wrapped up a series of concerts in Las Vegas, where “Shout” marked a triumphant end to each night.
“40th Anniversary Edition” is available on record in two different versions – as a double LP on red vinyl with originally unused cover artwork. It features several alternative mixes and demos that the label says are available on vinyl for the first time, including a piano version of “The Working Hour.” A classic LP edition with only the original track listing is also available. Both are limited.
“Songs from the Big Chair” will also be released digitally and in a 3-CD edition. It includes the original album, a CD with short or alternative single versions of the album’s songs and interviews as well as a third CD with remixes, including an a capella version of “Shout” that is well worth a listen.
However, these songs were included in the “Super Deluxe Edition” from 2014 and the “35th Anniversary Edition”. Therefore, the latest new edition simply offers fans something new in terms of its presentation. Unfortunately, live tracks are not included.
