View Full Version : Album Club, July 2015: Tears for Fears - 'Sowing the Seeds of Love'.
Album Club
01-07-2015, 18:42
The Album Club choice for July comes courtesy of Audio Al. This is another chance for you to enjoy some more of Oleta Adams. Please listen to the album in its entirety before you vote.
My album of the month choice this time around is -
Tears For Fears - 'Sowing The Seeds Of Love'
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61LCdYDo%2BYL._SX355_.jpg
A bit about TFF:
Tears for Fears were an English new wave band formed in 1981 by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith. Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, they were initially associated with the new wave synthesizer bands of the early 1980s but later branched out into mainstream rock and pop, which led to international chart success.
Some people say the early years were best between 1981 and 1990 and that TFF were all over from the 90's onwards, I appreciate all the work this band produced
TFF also introduced Oleta Adams to the world by inviting her on tour with the band, In my opinion a match made in heaven. What with the superb vocal ability of Roland Orzabal and Oleta Adams does it get any better?
I love the band and admire how they combine everything, the percussion on some tracks is amazing (Woman in Chains), also the timing and production of the band is very well executed. On several occasions Phil Collins played drums with the band as well.
Full album link here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5-c...US3ylYy3wRWxta
The lead in / rhythm / timing is great on the " Advice for the young at heart " track
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As you can see I really rate this album
Hope you enjoy as well :)
Audio Al
01-07-2015, 19:25
Its a 10 from me :)
Superb album gets played a lot ;)
Really great album. A little overproduced but I don't mind that. There's a lot going on with some superb musicians on it which means it rewards repeated listens.
A 10 from me. Love it.
By the way, they wanted Robbie Robertson to record the vocals for Famous Last Words as Roland didn't feel that he could get the right depth for it.
Pedantic footnote: the album is called The Seeds of Love.
The 12" Picture disc singles from this album were quite beautiful. I still have all four.
http://cdn.discogs.com/MW501NUrYJAGDvlY2Rd6ERgEuaE=/fit-in/300x300/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb()/discogs-images/R-480643-1393535392-3166.jpeg.jpg http://eil.com/images/main/Tears-For-Fears-Woman-In-ChainsP-28893.jpg
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxNjAw/z/7UUAAOSwrklU4oO1/$_35.JPG http://cdn.discogs.com/CMYrMXmUj_NbHss1fc_becpgPwk=/fit-in/300x300/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb()/discogs-images/R-1098160-1244580427.jpeg.jpg
10/10 from me..superb album. Not my fave under the name that goes to the little known Raoul and the King of Spain.
Not my kind of music tbh, but did have a listen. I wont rate it as I dont feel I am knowledgeable enough of this style of music. Interesting choice though:)
HackneyRF
03-07-2015, 12:26
Not a bad record by a long shot, with some great tunes for sure. Some great musicians on it too, Jon Hassell and Phil Collins being two. But I think it suffers from over production as someone else mentions. And it just sounds very 80's which was great then i guess. It hasn't aged well for me, whereas the two earlier records - The Hurting and Songs From the Big Chair fare much better in my humble opinion. That said I did enjoy listening to it. Thanks for that Allen
Cheers
Loz
Audio Al
04-07-2015, 01:06
140 views and only 10 votes and 5 comments :scratch: come on people play the game :D
dantheman91
04-07-2015, 08:21
Just Playing The Vinyl.......Vote awaiting..
4/10
First Track is brilliant the rest not so good prefer Songs From The Big Chair....
Not listened yet but the title track is a fantastic song , one I never get tired of.
Not listened yet but the title track is a fantastic song , one I never get tired of.
Indeed. When it came out, I recall it being labeled as a Beatles pastiche. Jonathan King, then writer for The Sun's Bizarre music page, wrote that it was a lame effort, and that it just copied The Beatles and was nothing new (something like that anyway). Then a week later, he wrote again saying he'd changed his mind and that it was fantastic.
I happen to think it's better than anything The Beatles have ever done. Controversial maybe, but for me it is. It's like an amalgam of Strawberry Fields, Penny Lane and All You Need Is Love.
Stratmangler
05-07-2015, 20:17
Indeed. When it came out, I recall it being labeled as a Beatles pastiche. Jonathan King, then writer for The Sun's Bizarre music page, wrote that it was a lame effort, and that it just copied The Beatles and was nothing new (something like that anyway). Then a week later, he wrote again saying he'd changed his mind and that it was fantastic.
I happen to think it's better than anything The Beatles have ever done. Controversial maybe, but for me it is. It's like an amalgam of Strawberry Fields, Penny Lane and All You Need Is Love.
So if The Beatles had never recorded those three songs do you think Sowing The Seeds Of Love would ever have been written and recorded?
I think not.
The "Seeds Of Love" album as a whole owes very little stylistically to The Beatles. It's an album I know and love.
Sowing The Seeds Of Love has very obvious Beatles references, and it's a decent enough song in its own right. It wouldn't have been as good if it were not for the blatant use of some classic Beatles references.
So if The Beatles had never recorded those three songs do you think Sowing The Seeds Of Love would ever have been written and recorded?
I think not.
The "Seeds Of Love" album as a whole owes very little stylistically to The Beatles. It's an album I know and love.
Sowing The Seeds Of Love has very obvious Beatles references, and it's a decent enough song in its own right. It wouldn't have been as good if it were not for the blatant use of some classic Beatles references.
No of course not, I agree totally, but that doesn't make it any less brilliant. The Beatles couldn't have made some of what they did without prior influences, 'Because' being one example.
There are plenty of bands that are derivative but that doesn't mean what they produce is inferior and, on occasion, even better that what influenced it.
vinyl dragon
14-07-2015, 07:06
Difficult one this. I was wild about it when it was released, I played it constantly. Nowadays for me it's been superseded & doesn't hold up to bands like Talk Talk but still good for a 'nostalgia trip' evening. Gets a 7/10 from me :)
Graham
orbscure
14-07-2015, 07:57
I bought the CD yonks ago, but really only for Woman in Chains and the title track.. I'm sure the album was discussed elsewhere, so I decided to give the complete album an airing with Woman in Chains in particular sounding bloody marvellous on my system with the volume nice and loud... as a complete album, I was never a fan at the time, but in my opinion, its not really aged that much and production/sound wise it still sounds good... so 7/10 for me...
It's pleasant enough, I quite like the title track and Oleta Adams has a great voice but it doesn't really grab me. I doubt I would rush to play it again so can only give it a 6. I don't know whether I should be voting as I was never in to them despite them being a local band - not that locality has a significant influence but I probably paid them a bit more attention than I might otherwise have done. That said I remember coming back from the bar with a round of drinks in Moles nightclub in Bath one night in the early 80's and friends asking what I had said to Roland or Curt (can't recall which) who apparently I was stood next to for ages and spotted talking to, I didn't even recognise him and think I had just been whinging about getting served.
Good choice - An album I remember enjoying when it came out and I still have a copy on vinyl but I'd not listened to it in years. This one was picked up at a car boot sale when I was back in Wales and used quite a lot for turntable demos as it's an excellent sounding recording, but the vinyl has certainly seen better days now. I'm not sure I'd ever played it all the way through though - One of those albums I never touched side 2 of, and having now listened to it all the way through it seems I've not missed much.
Although I used to really enjoy the first 4 tracks, I don't think this album has aged particularly well - The earlier comments of over-production I agree with and they betray its age now whereas their older albums have stood the test of time much better and I still love The Hurting and play it occasionally.
To me, Swords and Knives is the only track that really stands up now and the album seriously runs out of steam by the end. Music for Tables is a dreadful bit of cut and paste MIDI composing and the reprise of the title track lyrics over the breakbeat in the last track is like a particularly cheesy Neneh Cherry track and it's pretty painful to listen to.
A slightly harsh 4/10 for me. I doubt I'll listen to this album again.
high.spirits
19-07-2015, 09:57
I was never a great fan of 80's music. However after giving this a listen I quite enjoyed it. Thanks for suggesting for the album club. 7/10.
The Album Club choice for July comes courtesy of Audio Al. This is another chance for you to enjoy some more of Oleta Adams. Please listen to the album in its entirety before you vote.
To whom do I send my remittance for the album please?
I do not own a copy but am quite willing to buy one so as to contribute.
Spectral Morn
20-07-2015, 11:37
Beautiful, well crafted, intelligence pop music with a wee hint of - at times - light west coast melodic techno/AOR. I love the harmonies, instrument interplay, a lovely uplifting vibe.
I haven't listened to this album in awhile and in away it reminds me of Prefab Sprout which share a similar musical sensibility, if not quiet the same style of music. The Lotus Eaters and mid period Talk Talk also.
In my view I think some of the best pop and rock music was made during this period.
I voted 8 out of 10
Regards Neil
Good choice - An album I remember enjoying when it came out and I still have a copy on vinyl but I'd not listened to it in years. This one was picked up at a car boot sale when I was back in Wales and used quite a lot for turntable demos as it's an excellent sounding recording, but the vinyl has certainly seen better days now. I'm not sure I'd ever played it all the way through though - One of those albums I never touched side 2 of, and having now listened to it all the way through it seems I've not missed much.
Although I used to really enjoy the first 4 tracks, I don't think this album has aged particularly well - The earlier comments of over-production I agree with and they betray its age now whereas their older albums have stood the test of time much better and I still love The Hurting and play it occasionally.
To me, Swords and Knives is the only track that really stands up now and the album seriously runs out of steam by the end. Music for Tables is a dreadful bit of cut and paste MIDI composing and the reprise of the title track lyrics over the breakbeat in the last track is like a particularly cheesy Neneh Cherry track and it's pretty painful to listen to.
A slightly harsh 4/10 for me. I doubt I'll listen to this album again.
To be fair, those tracks (music for tables and johnny panic...) are bonus tracks that are taken from b sides and shouldn't really be counted as part of the album.
The true final track, Famous Last words, is a belter in my opinion.
MikeMusic
23-07-2015, 11:49
5 from me
It's ok
Be interesting to play it again soon to check out the recording quality as they usually do a very good job
Bluesboy65
23-07-2015, 18:34
Album is very well recorded,was a fav of mine when it was first released,prob because of Oleta Adams,saw them live,was one of the best concerts I've ever been to,Oleta Adams voice was spine chilling.
............not yet one of the chaps who's opinion counts!
Oh well maybe next month.
Audio Al
23-07-2015, 19:23
............not yet one of the chaps who's opinion counts!
Oh well maybe next month.
Willing to buy what ?
All you need to do is listen and vote , simple ,
MikeMusic
24-07-2015, 06:37
Album is very well recorded,was a fav of mine when it was first released,prob because of Oleta Adams,saw them live,was one of the best concerts I've ever been to,Oleta Adams voice was spine chilling.
Ah. Different ball park.
I'd like to go back in time and see that
Audio Al
24-07-2015, 08:23
Ah. Different ball park.
I'd like to go back in time and see that
+1 me too :)
I saw them on the Seeds of Love tour with Oleta Adams at Wembley arena I think it was.
I remember the big power chord near the end of Woman in Chains being just huge. It was like a tsunami wave that started on stage and just washed over the audience. Awesome!
P.s. in case you hasn't guessed, Tears For Fears are one of my favourite bands so I am a little biased :)
Audio Al
24-07-2015, 11:00
Tears For Fears are one of my favourite bands so I am a little biased
And mine as well , Much respect :D
Tears For Fears are one of my favourite bands so I am a little biased
And mine as well , Much respect :D
Everybody Wants to Rule.... is one of my favourite songs ever but funnily enough I never bought it! I have the 12" versions of Head over Heels, Shout & Mothers Talk and the 7" of I Believe. How can I not have bought the other one? Of course, I had the album but still....
Us-&-Them
17-08-2015, 22:12
I like Tears For Fears a lot !! I saw them on the Songs From The Big Chair tour and they were superb. The band always had the right credentials to be big and they were, at the time I saw them !! The first and second albums are my favourites. Sowing The Seeds Of Love was another change of direction in music style and although I really liked it, it didnt quite do it for me like the previous albums.
Bought it on CD when it came out. Great album - I always got the feeling of a Beatles influence on the track "Sowing The Seeds Of Love"
Not the pop band they were in the past , far too polished lounge music for me. Title track is brilliant and does not fit in with the groove of the rest.
3/10.
vinyljunky
27-10-2015, 19:49
Seen these at Newcastle city hall the hurting tour sounds from my childhood my favourite track on this album is woman in chains my favourite track overall is the hurting off the first album love the beat on this track together with Roland's vocals class sowing the seeds of love still gets 9 for me
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