The Hurting

The debut album by Tears for Fears, The Hurting, released in 1983, is a work that explores deep themes such as child abuse, psychological trauma, and depression. Despite the seriousness of its content, the record became a notable commercial success. From this album came the band's first three singles that reached the top positions in the UK: Mad World, Change, and Pale Shelter. The total duration of the album is 4:20.

The recording of The Hurting was handled by producers Ross Cullum and Chris Hughes. The band, formed in 1981 by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith, emerged after the dissolution of their previous group, Graduate. Initially linked to the New Wave synthesizer scene of the early 80s, Tears for Fears evolved towards a broader sound of mainstream rock and pop, which opened the doors to international charts for them. The Hurting reached the number one spot in the UK and achieved Gold and Platinum certifications in that country. It also charted in the Top 40 in countries like Germany, Australia, and Canada.