In violent times, you shouldn't have to sell your soul

Finishing up my trip back through the 1986 album charts

05/01/86 : Songs From The Big Chair - Tears For Fears

I thought this was out later than '86 - I remember listening to it and not minding it, but not particularly enjoying the change in direction from The Hurting so I rarely revisited it.

I think "not minding it" feels harsh - this is a well put together album which some fine tunes on it with "Shout", "Everybody Wants To Rule The World", "I Believe" and "Head Over Heels" standing out for me. Some of the songs probably didn't need to be quite as long as they were, but I think they just about get away with it. It feels like a much more mature offering than The Hurting with stronger musicality - personally I still prefer their debut, but I can see why this is the one that really pushed them into the spotlight with most people. I'm not sure anyone needs the 33 track, 150 minute deluxe version though.

We're at #10 in the chart this week on their 45th week of an impressive 79 week run, with #2 being as high as it got in its first, second and eighth weeks - it spent its first 14 weeks in the top five and its first 29 weeks in the top ten. The top five this week were Now! 6 (the first of three Now! #1s this year), Dire Straits, Madonna, Hits 3 and a Spandau Ballet best-of with the highest new entry being the Back To The Future soundtrack, all the way down at #99.

Wikipedia has more than I was expecting on the album (149 milliPeppers) - it's their second album and the title relates to a therapist's "big chair" because the band felt they were being targeted by a hostile music press. I'm not arguing with them, but I don't remember them being particularly targeted and the reviews for this album were very positive at the time and have only improved retrospectively. It's fair to say it did OK commercially as well, getting to #1 in Canada, The Netherlands, Germany and the US.

"Customers also listened to" Duran Duran, Simple Minds, Talk Talk and Culture Club - I'm not sure I quite see the link to Culture Club but there's a definite resemblance to Talk Talk's album from later this year. Not least that they are both far better than I remember them being, so I'm pleased to have revisited and reappraised it - and it's always nice to end the year on a high point!

There will be a bit of a break before 1986's summary appears - The Guardian are keeping me very busy with their list!

12/01/86 - A very smooth album
1986 - A decent year