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Information About

Mothers Talk




  Cover TFF_Mothers_Talkjpg
  Artist Tears For Fears
  From Album Songs From The Big Chair
  B-side "Empire Building"
  Released August 6 1984
  Format 7" , 12"
  Recorded Original: 1984<br>US Remix: 1986
  Genre New Wave
  Length Original: 3:53<br>US Remix: 4:14
  Label Mercury Records
  Writer Roland Orzabal <br> Ian Stanley
  Producer Chris Hughes
  Chart Position <nowiki></nowiki>
  Last Single " The Way You Are "<br/> (1983)
  This Single "Mothers Talk"<br/> (1984)
  Next Single " Shout "<br/> (1984)
  Misc {{Extra album cover
  Upper Caption USA Release (1986)
  Background coral
  Cover TFF_Mothers_Talk_USAjpg
  Lower Caption US Remix picture sleeve
  Last Single " Everybody Wants To Run The World "<br />(1986)
  This Single "'''Mothers Talk<br/>(US remix)'''"<br/>(1986)
  Next Single " Sowing The Seeds Of Love "<br />(1989)






"Mothers Talk" is a song originally written by Roland Orzabal and Ian Stanley of the British band Tears For Fears . It was the band's seventh single release (the first taken from their second LP '' Songs From The Big Chair '') and fifth UK Top 40 chart hit. The song was released well in advance of the LP and showcased the band's edgier sound, as compared to their debut LP '' The Hurting ''. 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 Mercury Records would use the Picture Disc and coloured vinyl gimmicks as a promotional tool, and the first one to feature multiple 12" releases offering different remixes of the track.

While America saw " Everybody Wants To Rule The World " as the first single release from the ''Songs from the Big Chair'' LP, "Mothers Talk" was eventually released there as the fourth and final single from the album in April of 1986 . This version of the song was completely re-recorded by the band after their ''Big Chair'' tour wrapped up and was mixed by Bob Clearmountain . In addition to a different picture sleeve, the single featured a Cover of Robert Wyatt's "Sea Song" as the B-side.


MUSIC VIDEOS


Three separate videos were filmed for the song in total. The original version, a performance clip set in a blue toned room and interspersed with shots of a young girl, was deemed unacceptable by the band and quickly disowned. A replacement video (directed by Nigel Dick ) was then filmed on a shoestring budget in Curt Smith's backyard. Both clips were released to UK and European markets in late 1984. The third and final video was made for the US Remix of the song in early 1986, and portrayed a family preparing a bomb shelter for nuclear fallout.





TRACK LISTINGS


7": Mercury / IDEA7 (UK)

# "Mothers Talk" (3:53)
# "Empire Building" (2:49)


7": Mercury / 884 638-7 (USA)

# "Mothers Talk Remix " (4:14)
# "Sea Song" (3:52)


12": Mercury / IDEA712 (UK)

# "Mothers Talk Version " (6:15)
# "Empire Building" (2:49)


12": Mercury / IDEAR712 (UK)

# "Mothers Talk of the Drum Mix " (8:54)
# "Empire Building" (2:49)


12": Mercury / 884 638-1 (USA)

# "Mothers Talk of the Drum Mix " (8:54)
# "Mothers Talk Version " (6:15)
# "Mothers Talk Remix " (4:14)


12": Mercury / TFF1 (Canada)


# "Mothers Talk (Beat Of The Drum Mix)" - 8:54
# "The Marauders" - 4:14
# "Mothers Talk (Extended Version)" - 6:15
# "Mothers Talk (Single Version)" - 3:53
# "The Way You Are (Extended Version)" - 7:33

  • also released on MC (Mercury / TFF 4 1)



EXTERNAL LINKS