BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1984
“Mothers Talk” is a 1984 song by the British band Tears for Fears. Written by Roland Orzabal and Ian Stanley and sung by Orzabal, it was the band’s seventh single release (the first to be taken from their second album Songs from the Big Chair (1985) and fifth UK Top 40 chart hit. The song was released six months in advance of the album and showcased the band’s edgier sound, as compared to their debut LP The Hurting (1983). It was also a moderate success internationally.
“Mothers Talk” was written in 1983 and was first publicly performed during the band’s late 1983 tour. In early 1984, the band went into the studio to record the song as their next single, though the recording sessions with their new producer Jeremy Green did not work out as planned and the recording was scrapped. The band’s previous producer, Chris Hughes, was then brought back into the fold and the song was re-recorded and finally released as a single in August 1984. Hughes stayed on with the band to record their second album, Songs from the Big Chair.
Along with its B-side, “Empire Building”, “Mothers Talk” was one of the first Tears for Fears songs to demonstrate a creative use of sampling. The strings at the beginning of the song were culled from a Barry Manilow record, while the drum sample around which “Empire Building” is built was lifted from the Simple Minds song “Today I Died Again”. This was the second Tears for Fears single for which Phonogram Records would use the picture disc and colored vinyl gimmicks as a promotional tool, as well as the first one to feature multiple 12″ releases offering different remixes of the track. Limited quantities of the 7″ single also came with a free Tears For Fears window sticker of the band’s new logo.
SIDE A:
Mothers Talk (Beat Of The Drum Mix) 8:55
Producer – Chris Hughes
Written-By – Stanley*, Orzabal*
SIDE B:
Empire Building 2:51
Written-By – Smith*, Stanley*, Orzabal*
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Mercury – IDEAR 712, Mercury – 818 838-1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic
Style:New Wave, Synth-pop
CREDITS:
Backing Vocals – Stevie Lange
Design – J.B.*, Peter Jones (15)
Photography By – Mike Prior (2)
NOTES:
‘At last he’s asleep
now to give him what he deserves’
Find the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Isolation: Auralex Acoustics ISO-Tone Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube: Tung-Sol 12AX7 TubeGold Pins
Soundcard: Novation Audiohub 2×4 Audio Interface
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner
SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2, ocenaudio
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
Boy, I am intrigued by this mix!! So looking forward to hearing this version. I know I love the flip-side because I included it on the mix CDs we traveled with. And I like your readers so very much. Like them, I love and cherish you most highly. You’re the best, Paul. You know how I feel about you. I was bragging to my Father-in-law about you and your work and our friendship. You bring out the very best in me and, of course, the music.
Your Friend,
Jeff
I played this to death back in the day! My vinyl is probably a tad worse for wear…but hey I can play this to death and it’s like new everyday! Yes as some have said it doesn’t really bear any similarity to the original version and I usually hate over reworked mixes (like some of Adrian Sherwood’s Depeche Mode remixes) but I loved this from day one. Never had the ‘proper’ 12″ of it. Well now I have both on my hard drive. A small question though Paul…this along with A LOT of your recent posts replicates rips that were… Read more »
Hi Ian, I have no plans to replicate anything that he posted. He posted 80s stuff too there is bound to be some overlap. I did not follow that blog so I have no idea what the content was. I think we only spoke to each other a couple of times BTG came before him and I remember giving him suggestions when he first started. 🙂
> TEARS FOR FEARS
YES !
> UNHEARD OF SINGLE TO ONE OF MY FAV TRACKS
YES !
Doing God’s work Paul, Keep it Up !
Thank you Kaex 🙂
In the note, you say, “Limited quantities of the 7″ single also came with a free Tears For Fears window sticker of the band’s new logo.” I had that 7″ and, irritatingly, it was inserted backwards. That meant the stick rubbed against the vinyl and ruined the ability to play the single (which was on green vinyl) or to the use the sticker!
But I will say, unlike a lot of people, this was — and remains –of my my favorite Tears for Fears singles.
That sucks I hate when things like that happen. Enjoy the music VanceMan 🙂
I used to have the window sticker on the inside of the dust cover of my turntable at the time. Still have the green vinyl 7″, but not the turntable or sticker!
Hi Paul,
thanks not only for this release. You are doing a fantastic job.
Just for information the full version of Mothers Talk (Beat Of The Drum Mix) is actually a bit longer than this version. It ends at 9:18 mins and is available only on 12″ acetate released by CBS Mastering 18/06/1984.
Cheers,
Chris
Thank you, Chris. I will have to look for that acetate 🙂
thank you Paul for this experimental remix. TFF record company was quite daring to releasing such un-commercial record. I found lyrics of this special remix At last he’s asleep Now to give him what he deserves we can work it out here in New York here in New York here in New York City here in New York here in New York here in New York City here in New York here in New York here in New York City the beat of the drum the beat of the drum the beat of the drum [distorted] James Brown James Brown… Read more »
Very cool bodyalive. Thank you 🙂
Hi Paul, thanks for another classic remix from Tears for Fears. This is one my favorite songs from them, and like Holger said, it’s very experimental. At first, I was very surprised at the sound of it, but later accepted it, (much like the owner of lonely heart (red and blue remix). I didn’t even know there was an alternate remix until much later. And when they re-released it, they did another shorter more convemntial remix for the US. The good news is that there is something for everyone, the samples from this song were very timely, the preacher, the… Read more »
Thank you -1 for always being an honest great addition to BTG 🙂
No need to keep bringing it up. I think we already agreed that not everybody feels the same way about the sound quality. Stop flogging a dead horse. Also I can’t stand this remix. I’ve always pefered the album version.
My sister gave this to me as a birthday present. Has it really been that long ago? Unbelievable. I fondly remember the pure joy when I unwrapped the twelve inch. And the jersey of my favourite German soccer team. I feel so young and then I´m not. Dear me…. 🙂
Thank you Song_and_Dance for sharing that fun story with us 🙂
Paul, you deserve yourself a hug, thank you so much! I remember buying this record back in 1984, and how disappointed I was after listen to it for the first time. Let’s be honest, it’s a quite experimental Remix, and hard to recognize the original song at all. Then I realized that there is another 12″-single of this song (you already posted it), and I felt somehow “betrayed” or something, yes I was really pissed. Of course I bought the other one as well, and quickly realized that these two versions somehow belong together, and I started to like this… Read more »
To me, there was no contest. ‘I Believe’ is one of the worst 12 inches (and 10 inch) of all time from them, with ‘Head over Heels’ remix also being just as terrible.
It’s like they didn’t even bother trying with those. This is a masterpiece compared
to those, which i got anyways, since I’m a completist.
I even got the Everybody wants to Run the World which is better.
The mancrab single was equally terrible, but at least they tried something with it.
Johnny panic and the bible of dreams had some redeeming qualities to it.
later
-1
“Johnny panic and the bible of dreams had some redeeming qualities to it.”
Most definitely, i was blown away when i first heard it in one of their compilations when i was much younger. Everything was going CD by then by i would kill to a hear any DJ PaulT vinyl rip of any remixes of it – if they exist *wink*
You’re welcome, guys. Thanks for your insight I really love hearing what your take is on the different singles and mixes. I agree on first listen this 12″ was a bit disappointing and irritating that you had to buy another 12″ just to get a real extended version. But after getting a bit used to it I really love that they took a chance on this mix.
Paul, thank you so much for this post!
I downloaded a subpar rip years ago from some music site, and recently started listening to it again. I was actually planning on requesting this.
You’re very welcome Rick. 🙂
Thanks Paul.
You’re welcome Omar 🙂