Between two places: TEARS FOR FEARS GOLD

Last week, while visiting Odyssey music store in Gateway Mall, Cubao. I saw a Tears for Fears compilation CD under the heading Ultimate Classics. It turned out to be the Gold compilation that was originally released in 2006 by Universal Records. I don’t know if it was released here back then but the print at the back says , "2011 Philippine copyright by Universal Music International." So, either this is a reissue or it is being released here for the first time. After checking the tracks, I never had any second thoughts-- I purchased it. To me this is the best Tear for Fears compilation I’ve seen in our local music stores. ( They got so many international compilations). The Tears Roll Down (Greatest Hits 82-92) released in 1992 is already obsolete. The 2007 Famous Last Words: The Collection, which I still see in the record bars is an excellent 2 discs compilation but included are many b-sides, bonus tracks and some rare tracks. This suits best the hard core or the 'completeist' fans. For the casual (and the 'not so die-hard') fans like me, this is a must-have for the following reasons:

1. "The Way You Are” is included here – The disc 1 of this compilation is almost the same as the 1992 Tears Roll Down compilation except for one track. “I Believe” was replaced by “The Way You Are" which I remembered received more airtime here during the 80’s and was shown more frequently on MTV. It is actually one of my early favorite Tears for Fears song. It is also found in bootleg New Wave and Tears for Fears CDs in the 90s. It is also included as a bonus track in the remastered edition of The Hurting CD but in an extended version. To those who are put-off from purchasing the Famous Last Words:The Collection cd ( which also includes “The Way You Are”) because of the many interspersed unfamiliar or 'unessential' tracks, this compilation is the answer.

2. Great song arrangement – the songs are arranged chronologically based on the albums they were taken from. Example: tracks 1-3 from there debut album; followed by the single only release, “The Way You Are”; Tracks 5-8 from their second album; 9 -11 from their third album ; and the 12^th track , “Laid So Low”from their 1992 greatest hits compilation.

3.     All their big hits are here – including the hits and popular songs from the Roland Orzabal’s Tears for Fears era, Elemental ('93) and Raoul And The Kings Of Spain ('95) albums, as well as their reunion 2004 album, Everybody Loves A Happy Ending.

4.    This compilation also have the excellent song “New Star”, found also on the   1996 b-sides and rarities collection, Saturnine, Martian and the Lunatic cd and   the Famous Last Words:The Collection , as well as the 1994 sountrack of the movie ,Threesome.

5.    It also have the unreleased Beatlesque song, “Floating Down The River (Once Again)" from the Everybody Loves A Happy Ending, sessions. This song can also be found in the Secret World Live In Paris DVD.

6. Extensive liner notes and many pictures.

7. Available in our local music stores.

Disc 1:
1. Mad World
2. Pale Shelter
3. Change
4. The Way You Are
5. Shout
6. Everybody Wants To Rule The World
7. Mother's Talk (us remix)
8. Head Over Heels
9. Woman In Chain
10. Sowing The Seeds Of Love
11. Advice For The Young At Hearts
12 Laid So Low (Tears Roll Down)

Disc2:

1. Elemental
2. Cold
3. Break It Down Again
4. New Star
5. Raoul And The King Of Spain
6. God's Mistake
7. Closest Thing To Heaven
8. Who Killed Tangerine?
9. Call Me Mellow
10. Secret World
11. Floating Down The River
12. Mad World (live)

Although, I think this is their best compilation, it is no way perfect as each disc contains only 12 tracks . There are a lot of space left on both discs to include their other essential singles and albums tracks such as “Suffer The Children,” “The Working Hour ” and “I Believe” among others.