Elemental (Tears for Fears album)

Elemental is the fourth album by the 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 was essentially a solo effort by Roland Orzabal as Curt Smith had left the band by this time. 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, and Tim Palmer who was brought in as producer for the project. It was recorded at Orzabal's newly built home studio, Neptune's Kitchen, which was mentioned in the song "Fish Out of Water".

Elemental was the last album that Tears For Fears recorded for the Phonogram/Mercury label, whom the band had been signed to since 1981.

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link
Entertainment Weekly	B link
Rolling Stone	link

Track listing

All songs written by Orzabal/Griffiths, except * 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 (4)
John Baker – background vocals (2), additional backing vocals (3)
Julian Orzabal – background vocals (2)
Bob Ludwig – mastering
Mark O'Donoughue – engineer, Wurlitzer outro (10)
Howard Jones - acoustic piano outro (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.

References

Tears for Fears

Roland Orzabal Curt Smith Ian Stanley Manny Elias

Studio albums	The Hurting Songs from the Big Chair The Seeds of Love Elemental Raoul and the Kings of Spain Everybody Loves a Happy Ending

Live albums	Secret World Live in Paris

Compilations	Tears Roll Down (Greatest Hits 82–92) Saturnine Martial & Lunatic Shout: The Very Best of Tears for Fears

Singles	"Suffer the Children" "Pale Shelter" "Mad World" "Change" "The Way You Are" "Mothers Talk" "Shout" "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" "Everybody Wants to Run the World" "Head over Heels" "I Believe (A Soulful Re-Recording)" "Mothers Talk (US Remix)" "Sowing the Seeds of Love" "Woman in Chains" "Advice for the Young at Heart" "Famous Last Words" "Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams" "Laid So Low (Tears Roll Down)" "Break It Down Again" "Cold" "Goodnight Song" "Elemental" "Raoul and the Kings of Spain" "God's Mistake" "Secrets" "Falling Down" "Closest Thing to Heaven" "Everybody Loves a Happy Ending/Call Me Mellow" "Secret World" Ready Boys and Girls? (EP)

Video/DVD releases	The Videosingles In My Mind's Eye Scenes from the Big Chair Sowing the Seeds Going to California Tears Roll Down (Greatest Hits 82–92) Secret World (Live in Paris)

Related articles	Discography Graduate

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