Roland Orzabal (left) and Curt Smith (right) performing in Hanover, 2008
Studio albums
7
EPs
1
Live albums
3
Compilation albums
3
Singles
39
Video albums
11
Music videos
30
Box sets
4
Other compilation albums
22
The English new wave/pop rock band Tears for Fears have released seven studio albums, along with numerous singles, compilations and videos. Formed in 1981 by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith, the duo signed to Phonogram Records in the UK and released their first single the same year. It was not until Tears for Fears' third single, "Mad World" (1982), that they scored their first hit, and their platinum-selling debut album The Hurting (1983) was a UK number one.
Their second album, Songs from the Big Chair, was released in 1985 and became a worldwide hit, establishing the band in the US. After a third platinum-selling studio album, The Seeds of Love (1989), Smith and Orzabal parted company. The band's first greatest hits album was released in 1992 and went double platinum in the UK. Subsequent Tears for Fears studio albums Elemental (1993) and Raoul and the Kings of Spain (1995) were effectively solo albums by Orzabal. However, the duo reformed in 2000 for a new studio album, Everybody Loves a Happy Ending, which was released in 2004/05. Although continuing to tour regularly across the world, the band's recording output slowed down for several years. A new compilation album, Rule the World: The Greatest Hits, was released in 2017, giving the band their sixth UK Top 20 album. After a lengthy development, the band's seventh studio album, The Tipping Point, was released in February 2022.
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Notes
^The Tipping Point reached No. 1 on the UK Official Albums Sales Chart, the UK Official Physical Albums Sales Chart, the UK Official Downloads Albums Chart, and the UK Official Vinyl Albums Chart.[21]
Reissued in Japan in 2001 as The Best of Tears for Fears – Superstar Collection, in Germany as Millennium Edition and 2004 in Germany again as Popstars of the 20th Century
^ abThe 1982 Mike Howlett-produced version of "Pale Shelter (You Don't Give Me Love)" was eventually issued as a single in Canada in 1983, and peaked at #12.[37] In other territories, the hit single was the 1983 version of "Pale Shelter". This version was a wholly new recording produced by Chris Hughes and Ross Cullum, and it did not include the parenthetical subtitle.
^ abIn the US, "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" was the first single release from Songs from the Big Chair followed by "Shout".
^Though not formally credited to Tears for Fears, "Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams" was originally the B-side to "Advice for the Young at Heart". It was then remixed by Fluke and released as a single by Tears for Fears' record company in the UK and simply credited to 'Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams'. The single also reached number 1 on the UK Dance Chart.
^"Goodnight Song" was released as a single in North America and some European countries. It was also released as a promo-only single in the UK.
^"Elemental" was only released as a single in France and the US.
^Whilst "Secrets" was released as a single elsewhere, it was withdrawn from release in the UK.
^"Falling Down" was released as a promo-only single in the US, Brazil, Mexico, and some European countries.
^"Call Me Mellow" was released as a promo-only single in North America in 2004 and in the UK and Germany in 2005. However, it did get a commercial release in a Italy in early 2005.
^"Everybody Loves A Happy Ending/Call Me Mellow" reached #79 on the UK Physical Singles Chart[40] and #13 on the UK Independent Singles Chart[41] in June 2005.
^"Secret World" was released as a promo-only single in France.
^"The Tipping Point" reached #17 on the US Billboard Adult Alternative Songs Chart, #17 on the US Billboard Alternative Digital Song Sales Chart and #19 on the US Billboard Rock Digital Song Sales Chart.[44] between October 2021 and January 2022.
Top 100 (Kent Music Report) peaks to 12 June 1988: Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St. Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 306. ISBN0-646-11917-6. N.B. the Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid-1983 and 12 June 1988.
Top 100 (ARIA) peaks from January 1990 to December 2010: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 276.
The Hurting and Songs from the Big Chair: "InfoDisc : Tous les Albums classés par Artiste". infodisc.fr. Retrieved 19 July 2022.. Note that these are unofficial peaks produced retrospectively due to the lack of an official album chart in France at the time.
^UK peak for "Everybody Loves a Happy Ending/Call Me Mellow": "Chart Log UK 1994–2010 > DJ T – Tzant". Dipl.-Bibl.(FH) Tobias Zywietz. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
