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The Hurting 1983
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The Hurting

When Tears for Fears set out to create their debut album, The Hurting, the result was a work that, released in March 1983, became a benchmark. This debut album, conceived as a concept exploring the depths of childhood trauma and depression, proved that great commercial success could be achieved without compromising on complex themes. The band, formed by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith after the dissolution of their previous group, Graduate, was heavily inspired by the ideas of psychologist Arthur Janov, even taking the band's name from a phrase in his book. The sound they defined on The Hurting, a blend of pop rock with touches of new wave and synth-pop, resonated so strongly that the album climbed to the number one spot on the UK charts just two weeks after its release, achieving Gold certification in only three weeks.

Year
1983
Songs
10
Duration
41 min 48 seg
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About the album

The Hurting, according to DoReSol

From this album emerged three singles that marked the beginning of their career: Mad World, Change, and Pale Shelter. Each of them not only reached the top positions in their country but also made its way into the international Top 40. It is interesting to note that the album includes a new recording of their first single, Suffer the Children, originally released in 1981, and a revamped version of Pale Shelter. The album's production was handled by Chris Hughes and Ross Cullum, who worked in close collaboration with Orzabal and Smith, aiming for a cohesive sound. Despite initial reviews being varied, over time The Hurting has been recognized for its boldness and its unique sonic and lyrical approach.

The story of The Hurting does not end with its original release. The album has been the subject of several reissues aiming to update its sound and offer additional content to listeners. In 1999, a remastered version was released, including four remixes and a detailed booklet about its creation. Later, in October 2013, its thirtieth anniversary was commemorated with double CD editions and a four-disc deluxe box set. The celebration continued in June 2023, when new mixes in Dolby Atmos and 5.1 surround sound were released, in addition to a vinyl edition with the original remastered mix, demonstrating the enduring legacy of this fundamental work in Tears for Fears' discography.

Discography

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