Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams (song)

"Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams"
Single by Tears for Fears
A-side	"Advice for the Young at Heart"
Released	January 1991 (1991-01)
Format	7", 12", CD single
Recorded	1990
Genre	Alternative dance
Length	6:22 (1991 Mix One) 5:55 (1991 Mix Two) 4:17 (original 1990 B-side version) 4:19 (original 1990 instrumental)
Label	Fontana Records
Writer(s)	Roland Orzabal
Producer(s)	Tears for Fears & Dave Bascombe (remixed by Fluke)
Tears for Fears singles chronology
"Famous Last Words" (1990) "Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams" (1991) "Laid So Low (Tears Roll Down)" (1992)

"Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams" is a song by the British band Tears for Fears, originally appearing as the B-side to their 1990 single "Advice for the Young at Heart" before being remixed and released as a single in its own right in 1991. The remix was included on the band's B-Side compilation Saturnine Martial And Lunatic.

The song features two sets of vocals. The original verses of the song are performed in a gospel style, alternating with the lyrics from Tears For Fears' 1989 hit "Sowing the Seeds of Love" which are performed as a rap by vocalist Biti Strauchn.^[1] An instrumental version of the song (without the gospel verses or the rap) also appears on the CD-single of "Advice for the Young at Heart". Some months later, the track was remixed by the techno producer/DJ band Fluke and released as a single in 1991. It became a number-one hit on the UK Dance Chart, while reaching number 70 on the UK Singles Chart.

Although still a Tears for Fears track, the Fluke remix single was credited only as "Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams". The band considered Fluke's work to have completed the song in a way they couldn't, plus neither Roland nor Curt sing on the song, thus gave it this name as a one-off project. Despite this, the single back cover and labels make it clear it is a Tears For Fears remix.

"The b-side for 'Advice For The Young At Heart' from the 'Seeds Of Love' album. The title was stolen from a book of the same name by Sylvia Plath. At the time, I was curious to hear the verse of 'Sowing The Seeds' sung as a rap and it was this combined with a Talking Heads style chorus sung over the chord structure of 'Shout' that gave rise to the track. Due largely to the use of a rather fashionable (at the time) drumloop, the track received a fair bit of play in dance clubs where it caught the attention of a young band called Fluke who consequently remixed it into a much higher state. The remix was then released anonymously as a single in its own right and got to number 1 in the British dance chart." - Roland Orzabal (Saturnine Martial and Lunatic booklet)

The title of the song is taken from a short story by the American writer Sylvia Plath, which was the title story in a collection of her short stories posthumously published in 1977.

The cover of the single features a still photo of Keir Dullea as David Bowman from the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Track listing

1. "Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams" (Mix One) – 6:22
2. "Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams" (Mix Two) – 5:55

References