Elemental (Tears for Fears album)
| Elemental | ||||
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| Studio album by Tears for Fears | ||||
| Released | 7 June 1993 | |||
| Recorded | 1992–93 | |||
| Studio | Neptune's Kitchen | |||
| Genre | New wave, pop rock, alternative rock | |||
| Length | 46:51 | |||
| Label | Mercury, Phonogram | |||
| Producer | Roland Orzabal, Tim Palmer, Alan Griffiths | |||
| Tears for Fears chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Elemental | ||||
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Elemental is the fourth studio album by British pop band Tears for Fears. It was released on 7 June 1993 and includes the hit single "Break It Down Again". The album peaked at No. 5 in the UK and No. 45 in the US. It also reached the Top 10 in France and Italy, the Top 20 in Canada and the Top 30 in several European countries.[1] It has been certified Silver in the UK, and Gold in the US and France.
Elemental was the first new Tears for Fears album in four years, following 1989's The Seeds of Love. However, despite being released under the Tears for Fears moniker, it is essentially a solo effort by Roland Orzabal as Curt Smith had left the band in 1991. For much of the writing and recording, Orzabal was assisted by Alan Griffiths, who had been a session musician for Tears For Fears' world tour in 1985. The album was recorded at Orzabal's newly built home studio, Neptune's Kitchen, and was co-produced by Orzabal, Griffiths and Tim Palmer.
Elemental was the last album that Tears For Fears recorded for the Phonogram/Mercury label, to which the band had been signed since 1981.
| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   link |
| Entertainment Weekly | B link |
| Rolling Stone | link |
Track listing
All songs written by Orzabal/Griffiths, except "Cold", written by Orzabal.
- "Elemental" – 5:30
- "Cold" – 5:05
- "Break It Down Again" – 4:31
- "Mr. Pessimist" – 6:16
- "Dog's a Best Friend's Dog" – 3:39
- "Fish Out of Water" – 5:07
- "Gas Giants" – 2:40
- "Power" – 5:49
- "Brian Wilson Said" – 4:22
- "Goodnight Song" – 3:53
Personnel
Tears for Fears
- Roland Orzabal – producer, vocals, instruments
Additional personnel
- Alan Griffiths – producer, instruments
- Tim Palmer – producer, instruments
- Guy Pratt – additional bass guitar (track 4)
- John Baker – background vocals (track 2), additional backing vocals (track 3)
- Julian Orzabal – background vocals (track 2)
- Bob Ludwig – mastering
- Mark O'Donoughue – engineer, Wurlitzer outro (track 10)
- Howard Jones – acoustic piano outro (track 4)
- David Austen – design
Charts
| Year | Chart | Position | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | UK | 5 | Silver (60,000) |
| US | 45 | Gold (500,000) | |
| CAN | 18 | ||
| FRA | 5 | Gold (100,000) | |
| GER | 26 | ||
| NL | 22 | ||
| SWI | 24 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | "Break It Down Again" | UK Singles Chart | 20 |
| US Adult Contemporary | 25 | ||
| US Modern Rock Tracks | 1 | ||
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 25 | ||
| US Top 40 Mainstream | 10 | ||
| "Cold" | UK Singles Chart | 72 | |
| "Goodnight Song" | US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles | 251 |
- 1 – This position was taken from the US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, equaling #125 on the main US charts.