Everybody Loves a Happy Ending

Infobox Album | Name = Everybody Loves a Happy Ending
Type = Album
Artist = Tears for Fears


Released = September 14, 2004 (US) March 7 2005 (UK/ Europe)
Recorded = 2000-2003
Genre = Psychedelic rock
Length = 54:35
Label = New Door, Gut Records
Producer = Tears for Fears, Charlton Pettus
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:o1rx286l05ja~T1 link]
Last album = "Saturnine Martial & Lunatic" (1996)
This album = "Everybody Loves a Happy Ending" (2004)
Next album = "Secret World Live in Paris" (2006) |

"Everybody Loves a Happy Ending" is the sixth studio album by Tears for Fears, released some 9 years after the previous studio album "Raoul and the Kings of Spain" (which was essentially a solo record by Orzabal). "Happy Ending" was released on September 14, 2004 in the US, and March 7 2005 in the UK and Europe. This was the first album featuring Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith together since 1989's "The Seeds of Love".

Work on the album began in 2000, after Smith and Orzabal ended their longstanding feud, though many people "mistakenly" believe the album was made in the wake of Gary Jules' successful cover version of "Mad World" for the film soundtrack to "Donnie Darko". The album's release was delayed several times due to record company problems (it was initially to be released on Arista but the band decided not to remain with the label following the company's change in upper management).

Influences from both Pink Floyd and The Beatles seem evident on the album, with the intro and bridge of the title track featuring the same chords (Em7 and A7) as the main parts of the former's "Breathe", and the main verses bearing resemblance to the latter's "A Day in the Life". Additionally, "Who Killed Tangerine?" also appears to have a sample from the instrumental transition in "A Day in the Life", and was also featured prominently in the climax of the 2005 film "Fever Pitch". They even borrow from their own work on "Closest Thing to Heaven" using a drum break lifted directly from the title track in "Sowing the Seeds of Love".

Track listing

#"Everybody Loves a Happy Ending" (Orzabal, Pettus, Smith) – 4:21
#"Closest Thing to Heaven" (Orzabal, Pettus, Smith) – 3:36
#"Call Me Mellow" (Orzabal, Pettus, Smith) – 3:39
#"Size of Sorrow" (Orzabal) – 4:43
#"Who Killed Tangerine?" (Orzabal, Pettus, Smith) – 5:33
#"Quiet Ones" (Orzabal) – 4:22
#"Who You Are" (Pettus, Smith) – 3:41
#"The Devil" (Orzabal) – 3:30
#"Secret World" (Orzabal) – 5:12
#"Killing With Kindness" (Orzabal, Pettus, Smith) – 5:25
#"Ladybird" (Orzabal, Pettus, Smith) – 4:50
#"Last Days on Earth" (Orzabal, Pettus, Smith) – 5:41

The UK and French releases had two additional tracks:

13. "Pullin' a Cloud" – 2:48
14. "Out of Control" – 5:08

Personnel

Nearly all of the music was created and played by Roland Orzabal (who sang lead on many tracks), Curt Smith (who also sang lead vocals), and the producer, Charlton Pettus.

Drums were played by Fred Eltringham.

Additional musicians were credited as follows:
* Everybody Loves a Happy Ending - Trumpet: Rick Baptist

* Size of Sorrow - Drums: Brian Geltner; Additional guitar: Kenny Siegal

* Who Killed Tangerine? - Background vocals: Kenny Siegal, Gwen Snyder, Alexander Giglio. Crowd vocals: Julian Orzabal, Laura Gray

* Secret World - Orchestra arranged and conducted by Paul Buckmaster. Contractor: Suzie Katayama, Bob Becker - viola, Charlie Bisharat - violin, Denyse Buffman - viola, Eve Butler - violin, Mario de Leon - violin, Joel Derouin - violin, Stefanie Fife - cello, Armen Garabedian - violin, Berj Garabedian - violin, Barry Gold - cello, Gary Grant - trumpet, flugelhorn, Maurice Grants - cello, Julian Hallmark - violin, Vahe Hayrikyan - cello, Norm Hughes - violin, Suzie Katayama - cello, Roland Kato - viola, Peter Kent - violin, Steve Kujala - flute, Gayle Levant - harp, Michael Markman - violin, Miguel Martinez - cello, Robert Matsuda - violin, Carole Mukogawa - viola, Sid Page - violin, Sandra Park - violin, Sara Parkins - violin, Joel Peskin - baritone saxophone, tenor saxophone, Bob Peterson - violin, Karie Prescott - viola, Dan Smith - cello, Rudy Stein - cello, Lesa Terry - violin, Josefina Veraga - violin, David Washburn - trumpet, flugelhorn, Evan Wilson - viola, John Wittenberg - violin

Production

*Producers: Tears for Fears, Charlton Pettus
*Engineers: Steve Churchyard, Neil Dorfsman, Mark O'Donoughue, Charlton Pettus, Tom Schick
*Mixing: Tim Palmer
*Mastering: Stephen Marcussen
*Programming: Jayce Murphy
*Product manager: Michael Kachko; Project coordinator: Cindi Peters; Production coordination: Ute Friesleben; Assistants: Andy Gwynn, Pete Novak, Miles Wilson
*Illustrations and logo design: Alan Aldridge; Photography: Zoren Gold; Additional Design: Ryan Rogers

Charts

Singles