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Tears For Fears / The Hurting SDE-exclusive blu-ray audio – unboxed!

SDE editor Paul Sinclair takes a first look at No 9 in the SDE Surround Series, Tears For Fears’ 1983 album The Hurting.

This physical product features FOUR exclusive versions of the album and two bonus tracks, as follows:

  • A 2023 Dolby Atmos Mix of The Hurting (by Steven Wilson)
  • A 2023 DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Mix of The Hurting (by Steven Wilson)
  • The 1983 mix of The Hurting in hi-res stereo as remastered by Miles Showell for the half-speed mastered vinyl
  • A hi-res 2023 stereo instrumental mix of The Hurting (by Steven Wilson)
  • A hi-res stereo remix of The Hurting (by Steven Wilson)
  • Two previously unreleased bonus tracks: ‘Mad World’ (Mike Howlett Version) and ‘Watch Me Bleed’ (Mike Howlett Version). Both newly mixed to hi-res stereo by Steven Wilson.

This product is not available anywhere else. It is No.9 in the ongoing SDE Surround Series and ships with a collectible SDE slipcase.

The Hurting SDE-exclusive blu-ray is released on 9 June 2023. These are temporarily available again due to cancellations/contingency stock. Order while you can via the SDE shop using this link or via the buy button (‘pre-order’) below.

TECHNICAL NOTES: This blu-ray audio requires a blu-ray player. Decoding the Dolby Atmos mix requires a Dolby Atmos-certified soundbar or a Dolby Atmos-compatible AV Receiver/Amp. The Dolby Atmos mix will ‘fold down’ to 5.1 or stereo if a Dolby Atmos decoder is not detected.
EU SHIPPING NOTES: If you are ordering from the EU please be aware that that goods may be subject to import VAT when they arrive from the UK. The prices the SDE shop charge you do not include VAT

Tracklisting

The Hurting Tears For Fears /

    • ‘The Hurting’ in Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (96/24), stereo &  Instrumental Mix (96/24) and original stereo mix
      1. The Hurting
      2. Mad World
      3. Pale Shelter
      4. Ideas As Opiates
      5. Memories Fade
      6. Suffer The Children
      7. Watch Me Bleed
      8. Change
      9. The Prisoner
      10. Start Of The Breakdown
      Previously unreleased bonus tracks
      1. Mad World (Mike Howlett Version)
      2. Watch Me Bleed (Mike Howlett Version)
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60 Comments

60 thoughts on “Tears For Fears / The Hurting SDE-exclusive blu-ray audio – unboxed!”

  1. Tangentially related, I just found out that there are two different mixes of “The Conflict”. Post about it here. So along with the original mix of “We are Broken”, the original b-side version of “Ideas as Opiates” (and “Saxophones” but we don’t talk about that), the “black vinyl” 7″ edit, aka “funk mix” of “Mothers Talk” (which is just an edit of the LP version, as opposed to the dry mix [“1st mix”] that has been a bonus track on the SFTBC deluxe editions), the Full Version of “Sowing the Seeds of Love” (which is on a CD single at least) and maybe the radio mixes of “Suffer the Children” and “Change” from Massey Hall, that would be another track for a potential rarities/oddities collection. Could throw in the Howlett versions from this BDA as well, if they’re ever going to be on CD.

  2. Just getting around to playing many of my SDE Blu-rays and the bonus Mike Howlett versions are fascinating! Worth the price of admission alone in stunning clarity! The Steven Wilson stereo mix also sounds fantastic! Can’t wait to get my much-delayed stereo surround finished setting up!

  3. I have been listening to several Atmos mixes in the SDE series with great pleasure, but this one is simply stellar and trumps them all!

  4. Not sure if you noticed, but this release charted at number 40 last week! This is one of the best sounding discs in my collection…

    1. #10 on the UK albums sales chart (based on sales of CDs, vinyl, cassettes and digital downloads) and, as mentioned by Paul, #9 on the UK physical albums chart (based on sales of CDs, vinyl and other formats). What an achievement!

  5. I’m heartbroken that my disc is already damaged during first listen (I didnt inspect the disc before putting it in my drive so I dont know if it had arrived this way or my player caused the damage). SO I am unable to listen to Watch Me Bleed. Thankfully, I was able to enjoy the rest of the album. And it’s nice having the Canadian album cover!

  6. Paul, we’ve never met but I wanted to send my sincerest thanks for your reissue of this album, with none-less than the best remastering person (Steven Wilson) in the universe at the helm. Also to thank you for your involvement in the other SDE boxes they’ve put out so far. You literally have no idea what this album means to me, in my personal and professional life and it is my favourite album of all time. To say that it resonated would be a massive understatement.

    I would also love for Roland Orzabal to be recognized for the songwriting and I think Mad World should be in the top 500 songs of all time. I think it is criminal that it is not. I don’t think anybody who seriously listens to music could have put this album on for one of the singles and not be blown away by the start-to-finish onslaught of brilliance. He is a 3 time Ivor Novello Award winner for songwriting and this album has stood the test of time. Mad World in particular is being recognized and remade more than ever; it reveals a deep pain and disillusionment/disconnect with such intensity.

    The sterile recording tone of the album matches the content so well, and the singles matured from the pre-album phase in such an interesting way. Having all the material in the box set is so interesting (although I already had every single from every country I could ever get my hands on) and we have you to thank in part for that as well. I would love to see a box set of all the singles reproduced… I can dream anyway.. :-)

    I haven’t listened yet for the simple reason that I have to be in the right mood and devote the time to it. This is not something that I will put on casually, in the background. It deserves to be listened to with the same energy and attention that you and Steven Wilson have no doubt put into it. Thank you, once agin.

  7. A classic 80’s album for sure. The three huge singles plus my personal favourite, Memories Fade. If you’ve never heard it go on you tube and search Coldest Winter by Kanye West, a blatant copy, apparently no permission granted.
    Back to the re issue, never heard the sound quality of an audio Blu Ray, is it really that much better then a CD?

    1. Blu ray audio really is better than a CD, but you need at least a half-decent system to appreciate it. Even with only a stereo set-up you can hear the music in such improved clarity and depth.

  8. I just received my copy an hour ago! I turned off the phone and dimmed the house lights and cued up the Atmos mix. My 7.1.4 set roared to life …what can I say? I was completely blown away, Wilson has outdone himself to say the least! The Atmos effects are all tasteful and do nothing but add to the experience but I was especially impressed by the vocals. Curt and Roland sound like they are in the room. I don’t say this lightly but I’m willing to bet anyone with the proper gear will admit this album has NEVER sounded anywhere close to this good!

    I’m listening to the stereo instrumental at the moment and I consider this worth the price of the Blu Ray all by itself. I hope he eventually releases instrumentals for STSOL and SFTBC albums too. Thank you to everyone involved in producing and releasing this project. This release is everything physical media should be and more!

  9. Discogs listing for this release is very inaccurate. States that all 12 tracks are available in all the mixes. I no longer have an account there, due to their insistence on PayPal, so I can’t do an edit.

    Not listened to the whole disc yet, but Pale Shelter in 5.1 was a delight. Loved the MH version of Mad World, too.

    1. I have now finished listening. The wife was out all day so I got to listen at a decent volume, too!

      High points were both the end tracks of side A and B. Memories Fade and Start of the Breakdown. SW really went to town with those two. Best stuff he has done since Detonation from To The Bone IMO.

      Tried the Atmos mix, despite not having the kit. You can hear the high frequencies are being directed towards the ceiling so it sounds a little muffled in normal 5.1.

  10. Finally, a dynamic high resolution master of the original stereo mix, unlike the compressed 2013 master. Worth the entry price alone and still have the Steven Wilson mixes to listen to.

    Long may the SDE Surround series continue!

  11. Received mine today and I can’t believe how great the mix is. I didn’t think Steve Wilson would be able to create such an immersive mix with not having such multi layered tracks at his disposal (like he did with Seeds of Love). I was wrong.

    It’s like listening to it for the first time. I’m in awe of the work here. This is pure Audio Porn

    Thanks Paul for another incredible release.

    Here’s to the next

  12. Well…… I am stunned at the clarity that Mr Wilson has brought to this album. On first listen the Atmos mix is enveloping yet wide. The real stand out for me is the instrumental, there are pieces that I have never heard, little nuances that over time have obviously been buried in the mix but now are there to hear. have to mention the 2 bonus tracks as well. I was aware but never had heard either one. Mad world(the Howlett mix) would have been a sure fire hit of the time.

    Thank you Paul for all you do for this community, have you thought about a shop tie up with Mo-Fi? Might get more product out there and continue it to grow, also reciprically you could get product from them to sell in Europe without the steep import and postage fees….. win win for you them and us.
    Looking forward to what comes next!!

      1. Thats good to hear, there are some forthcoming(and older) SACDS that i would love to buy but the import fees and postage mostly double the cost of the disc itself.

  13. Looks incredible and super excited about receiving my bundle. Got my confirmation email saying my items were shipped yesterday so finger crossed delivery will be tomorrow. My favourite TFF album and in fact one of my all-time favourite albums. The Hurting is nothing short of a masterpiece.

  16. The switch to the duck pond cover is a really cool detail. I also cannot wait to listen to the instrumental version. Amazing that is included!

  18. I am not normally much of a fan of “me too” comments, but I cannot let the opportunity pass to also pass along my thanks to Paul for putting together this package with such blatant care. Simply awesome.

    1. I’m hoping the next PG album will get the SDE treatment. Can’t believe it’s looking like Pete will release a single a month before the album proper turns up mind with the cycle shenanigans. Really was hoping the album would drop before the tour.

  20. Really looking forward to this although my Atmos has died (boo hiss)-my half-speed vinyl lp arrived today from Amazon, they seem to be breaking release dates as I’ve had the Toyah ‘Sheep Farming…’ black vinyl for a month and its not released until the end of June!!

  22. Really looking forward to this arriving…yesterday my bundle of #10 Mike Oldfield “Tubular Bells” arrived….most excellent!! I guess #9 TFF “The Hurting” will arrive this week or next, then #7 TYA & my #11 Suede bundle…hmmm wonder what #12 will be?? Will order the George #6.5 with that…

  23. Paul, thanks for all your work on these special surround series recordings and agree with others on the care you have put into the details including the reversible cover.
    Has Steven Wilson besides doing the instrumental mix here in hires stereo, does he do the instrumental mix in surround as well? That to me would be a real interesting addition if it isn’t to much extra work. Steven Wilson, If you are reading, appreciate all the time you put in doing these surround mix’s. The love shows through that you have for these recordings. THANKYOU, :)

  24. Really looking forward to receiving this one. Thanks again Paul.
    I was on the SDE store earlier ordering the TYA Second Edition. (I did get the 1st edition but I also need the 2nd to keep the set fully complete. OCD – probably). Anyway, I noticed that some other SDE Blu-rays still appear to be available – ie George Harrison & Shakespears Sister. Also, that the Suede pre-order window of 10 days seems to be still open and accepting orders. If this is correct, it might be worth plugging it as there may be others – like me – who presumed the opportunity for these had long gone….

    1. As of this post, Suede, TfF, Shakespears Sister, Concert for George, and Ten Years After are currently available on theSDEShop. Unfortunately the 2 titles I didn’t manage to get are not.

  25. What a lovely design touch to include a reversible sleeve. That’s somebody really thinking about the overall experience right there.

    1. Yes, a brilliant touch. Personally I don’t think it can get much better than this….TFF in 5 versions (albeit not all of them I can listen to at present), excellent design and a sensible price. Can’t wait.

      1. Since I’m still waiting for mine, I’m gonna moan a bit and point out that this would’ve been a nice opportunity to rectify the mistakes of the 2013 box set – i.e. including the proper b-side versions of “Ideas as Opiates” and “We Are Broken” as bonus tracks. Of course I don’t know whether there would’ve still been space for them. (The music videos would’ve been nice too but it looks like that wasn’t possible.)

        Guess I’ll have to wait for the inevitable expanded Saturnine, Martial & Lunatic because where else would they be able to put those oddities?

  28. I’m looking forward to hearing this. ‘The Hurting’ has always been my favourite Tears For Fears album, and it’s great to see it included in this series. Small issue to some, I suppose, but I wish they’d also included the extended mixes of ‘Change’ and ‘Pale Shelter’. At a time when most extended mixes were ham-fisted, badly-spliced rackets these were nicely done. While I’m dreaming in technicolour: ABC’s ‘Lexicon of Love’ and ‘Lexicon of Love II’ in 5.1….

    1. Unsure about your “nothing else” comment. Just look at any Steven Wilson Blu-ray audio release. 2-3 variations of the album, bonus tracks, instrumental version[s], and maybe promo videos.

    2. This is a typical Robert Smith “Whatever I do is never enough” comment. Paul is doing an excellent job within contractual agreements with the various labels. Just because Steven Wilson is loading his blu-ray Audios up to the brim does not mean that labels agree for Paul to do the same.
      Be happy with what you got for once in a while. Jeeez.

      1. Just saw Robert Smith perform last week and there were def some songs with that sentiment played but they didn’t play ‘Never Enough’…

  31. I’ve not bought any of the Surround Series, mostly because I’m tech unsavvy and my ears are well worn out through gig going for over 40+ years so Atmos would be wasted on them, but I must applaud the effort that you have put in to these.
    This one in particular with the little, but significant, touches like the reversible sleeve.
    Makes me feel like someone properly cares about the music that you hold in your hands.
    Bravo Paul, here’s to many more.

      2. Ahh, yes, I did watch after posting here… I can’t wait to play this. It is very obvious a lot if care went into the making if this set. So glad you are a TFF enthusiast and have the connections to pull this off, one of my all time favorite albums.

  36. Is it possible to publish the DR (Dynamic Range) numbers of the stereo tracks for SDE releases when orders first go live?

    It would be great if SDE releases ensured consistently high numbers, as part of a commitment to audiophile sound quality.

    1. While I share your concern (and I think ProStudioMasters already does this)…. at least when Steven Wilson is involved, I don’t think we should have to worry.

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