Tears For Fears – Scenes From The Big Chair
(DVD-Video) + Song From The Big Chair – Deluxe Edition CD Set
Picture: C+ Sound: B-/B Extras: C/B Film: B
Album: A-
Tears For
Fears recently tried a reunion, but unfortunately, it was not the comeback we
needed from the duo. However, their
classic music is not going away anytime soon.
We previously listened to their original three albums as collected in
the Chronicles set, which you can
read about at the following link:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/2691/Tears+For+Fears+-+Chronicles+(3+CD+Set)
Though
their early work is inarguable, the biggest hit remains Songs From The Big Chair and Universal Music wisely reissued the
underrated DVD-Video companion Scenes
From The Big Chair at the same time they made the actual album one of their
excellent Deluxe Edition CD
sets. Too bad it was not an SACD, as I
believe it would have been an even bigger hit.
The CD
set offers the album with some extra tracks, then a second CD of alternate
takes all worth your time as follows:
Disc 1
1. Shout
2. The
Working Hour
3.
Everybody Wants To Rule The World
4.
Mothers Talk
5. I
Believe
6. Broken
7. Head
Over Heels/Broken (Live)
8. Listen
9. The
Working Hour (Piano Version)
10. The
Marauders
Disc 2
1. The
Way You Are
2.
Mothers Talk
3. Shout
4.
Everybody Wants To Rule The World
5. Head
Over Heels (Remix)
6. I
Believe (A Soulful Re-Recording)
7.
Mothers Talk (US Remix)
8. Shout
(US Remix)
9. Shout
(US Dub Version)
10.
Everybody Wants To Rule The World (Urban Mix)
With the
music industry in flux and music of the 1980s in particular being remembered in
strangely revisionist ways, it is amazing how when the great albums of that
decade are talked about, this one is not noted as often as it should be. In the previous review, I got technical about
it. Listening to it again, it is even more
of a classic now than ever before. I am
amazed at the depth of the lyrics, the amazing engineering, sonics that hold up
extremely well for their time and how much of a peak work this was in New Wave,
Alternative and Rock. A Punk aesthetic
is at work, as well as an amazing sense of energy and confidence that only an
album as savvy as The Hurting could
have made possible.
There
were many remixes of the songs at the time at a time when this was very
uncommon or only for discos and a small number of radio stations. The post-modernism of current music has
finally caught up with the music and these alternate takes. Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal
were at the peak of their powers, even if they did not know it and at times,
the album sounds like it was recorded yesterday.
Not only was the music often innovate and bold, but
Mercury Records was smart enough to take a chance on the film and Music Video
medium by producing the full-length music documentary Scenes From The Big Chair, showing the band on tour, making their classic Videos
for the album (especially Head Over
Heals, which is more on the money than ever) and shows the full-length
clips to boot. Orzabal and Smith were
having fun and that translated into every single thing they did. This program has been in print almost
constantly since its debut on VHS and Beta, and for good reason. If some can argue the merits of the album
(bring ‘em on!), it is even harder to argue that Scenes From The Big Chair is one of the first truly great long-form
Video programs, shot entirely on film.
The 1.33
X 1 image for the new DVD (a second release) is a little softer than it should
be, but is still very watchable and the Videos look as good as ever. Needless to say Universal needs to make this
one of their first HD-DVD/Blu-ray catalog releases. The Dolby Digital 2.0 and 5.1 mixes are not
bad, but fidelity is limited in either mix and the choice will be a personal
preference. I liked the 5.1 slightly
more, though it is no match for the CD, especially this one.
The PCM
2.0 16-bit/44.1kHz Stereo sounds better here than the DVD where applicable, a little
better than the single CD from the Chronicles
set and even has some detail over the long out-of-print 24K Gold audiophile CD
(not reviewed on the site) from the original Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs. Again, why this is not an SACD is
mind-boggling, but it is the preferred version of the album to date, give or
take those audiophiles who like the vinyl preference. Of the many Deluxe Edition CD sets, this is one of the best to date.
While the
extras for the CD set are the bonus tracks and a nice booklet typical of the Deluxe Edition CD series, the DVD only
has direct Video selection and a really good interview with producer Chris
Hughes about the album and the band.
Both releases are terrific and highly recommended, though we have a
suggestion for Universal.
If Scenes From The Big Chair was issued in
HD-DVD and Blu-ray, would it not be a great idea to include the original music
album and bonus tracks in 192kHz/24-bit DTS HD Master Audio and/or Dolby TrueHD
at the same sonic rate? That would be
better than the slowly defunct DVD-Audio format and you could have 5.1 and 2.0
options. The material is great
enough. We’ll hold on to these editions
until then.
- Nicholas Sheffo
