Raoul and the Kings of Spain is the fifth studio album by British pop rock band Tears for Fears, released on 10 October 1995 by Epic Records. Like the band's previous album, Elemental (1993), it is essentially a solo effort by Roland Orzabal — neither album being made with the involvement of Curt Smith, who had left the band by that time.
Orzabal's primary musical collaborator for Raoul and the Kings of Spain was Alan Griffiths, who acted in the same role for Elemental, co-writing most of the album with Orzabal. Raoul and the Kings of Spain also retained producer Tim Palmer from Elemental. Raoul was a commercial and critical disappointment for the band, becoming their lowest charting album in both the UK and US up to that point and receiving mixed to negative reviews. The failure of the album led Orzabal to put Tears For Fears on hiatus for the rest of the 1990s; he and Griffiths would go on to collaborate on Orzabal's debut solo album Tomcats Screaming Outside (2001).
Raoul and the Kings of Spain was recorded between 1993 and 1994 by Roland Orzabal, Alan Griffiths, and the band they toured with during the Elemental tour of August-December 1993 (Gail Ann Dorsey, Brian MacLeod, Jeffrey Trott, and Jebin Bruni). Recording sessions for the album took place in Neptune's Kitchen (Orzabal's home studio in Dyrham, England, where Elemental was recorded) and in the Record Plant in Los Angeles.
The album, according to Orzabal, has a recurring theme of familial relationships and delves into his own Spanish heritage. The album's title was mooted as far back as the 1980s as a possible contender for the band's third album (which ultimately became The Seeds of Love). Raoul was originally Orzabal's first name given at birth before being anglicized by his parents to Roland (Orzabal later gave the name "Raoul" to his first son, born in 1991).
The album was originally scheduled to be released by Mercury Records but the project was cancelled after Tears for Fears left the label to sign with Sony/Epic Records. The album was eventually released by Sony in October 1995 with a slightly different track listing and new cover art.
The album peaked at number 41 in the United Kingdom and number 79 in the United States, but was more successful in continental Europe, reaching number 13 in Belgium (Wallonia)[3] and number five in France. It was poorly received by critics, with much of the criticism directed at Orzabal's lyrics, which Tom Demalon of AllMusic described as "either inscrutable or embarrassingly silly". He also described some of the album's musical arrangements as "genuinely pretty, if unexciting".
The album features a reunion with Oleta Adams, who had recorded and toured extensively with the band for The Seeds of Love album, and here duets with Orzabal on the track "Me and My Big Ideas".
The front cover photo titled, Running Them In at Pamplona, is by Jose Galle and is a depiction of the annual "Running of the Bulls" festival held in Pamplona in Spain. Several inner sleeve photographs were by David Tack, taken from his book Impressions of Spain published by Quartet (the Bullfighter on Horseback on page 4 is Rafael Peralta, a renowned Spanish Rejoneador bullfighter). Inner sleeve photos of Roland Orzabal were taken by Pamela Springsteen, shot at the historic Mission Inn in Riverside, California, where the promo video for "Raoul and the Kings of Spain" was filmed.
Subsequent to Raoul and the Kings of Spain, Roland Orzabal dispensed with the Tears for Fears name and released the album Tomcats Screaming Outside (2001) under his own name as his first (and to date only) solo album. After reuniting with Curt Smith in 2000, Orzabal reactivated the band name and Tears for Fears' sixth album, Everybody Loves a Happy Ending, was released in 2004.
Raoul and the Kings of Spain was re-released in August 2009 by Cherry Pop Records,[4] complete with seven bonus tracks (see below).
Due to the band's label switch to Sony in 1994, none of the B-sides from the album's singles (tracks 13–17 on the 2009 reissue) are included on the Tears for Fears B-sides collection Saturnine Martial & Lunatic, which was released in 1996 by Phonogram/Mercury, the band's old record company.
"All of the Angels", "Queen of Compromise", and "The Madness of Roland" originally appeared as B-sides in the UK 2-disc single release of "Raoul and the Kings of Spain." "Queen of Compromise" had also appeared in early promo versions of the Raoul and the Kings of Spain album (which omitted two tracks that would appear in the final version of the album, "Humdrum and Humble" and "I Choose You").
"Raoul and the Kings of Spain (acoustic)" was originally released as a UK promo single and as a B-side in the single release of "God's Mistake."
"Until I Drown" and "War of Attrition" originally appeared as B-sides in the UK and US single release of "Secrets."
"Break It Down Again (acoustic)" originally appeared as a B-side in the European single release of "God's Mistake" and the US single release of "Secrets."
The only Tears for Fears B-side from this era not included in the 2009 reissue of Raoul and the Kings of Spain is a cover version of Radiohead's "Creep" recorded live in Birmingham during the Elemental tour on 14 December 1993. This track was included in the UK 2-disc single release of "Raoul and the Kings of Spain" and the US single of "God's Mistake."
^"Dutchcharts.nl – Tears for Fears – Raoul and the Kings of Spain" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
^"European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 44. 4 November 1995. p. 22. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
^"Le Détail des Albums de chaque Artiste". InfoDisc (in French). Retrieved 8 February 2022. Select "TEARS For FEARS" from the drop-down menu and click "OK".
^"Offiziellecharts.de – Tears for Fears – Raoul and the Kings of Spain" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
^"Swisscharts.com – Tears for Fears – Raoul and the Kings of Spain". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
^"Tears for Fears Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
January 20, 2023
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Raoul and the Kings of Spain is the fifth studio album by British pop rock band Tears for Fears released on 10 October 1995 by Epic Records Like the band s previous album Elemental 1993 it is essentially a solo effort by Roland Orzabal neither album being made with the involvement of Curt Smith who had left the band by that time Raoul and the Kings of SpainStudio album by Tears for FearsReleased10 October 1995Recorded1993 1994StudioNeptune s Kitchen England Record Plant Los Angeles GenrePop rock alternative rock progressive popLength50 16LabelEpicProducerTim Palmer Roland Orzabal Alan GriffithsTears for Fears chronologyElemental 1993 Raoul and the Kings of Spain 1995 Saturnine Martial amp Lunatic 1996 Singles from Raoul and the Kings of Spain Raoul and the Kings of Spain Released 25 September 1995 God s Mistake Released October 1995 Secrets Released January 1996 Falling Down Released February 1996Professional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingAllMusic 1 Entertainment WeeklyB 2 Orzabal s primary musical collaborator for Raoul and the Kings of Spain was Alan Griffiths who acted in the same role for Elemental co writing most of the album with Orzabal Raoul and the Kings of Spain also retained producer Tim Palmer from Elemental Raoul was a commercial and critical disappointment for the band becoming their lowest charting album in both the UK and US up to that point and receiving mixed to negative reviews The failure of the album led Orzabal to put Tears For Fears on hiatus for the rest of the 1990s he and Griffiths would go on to collaborate on Orzabal s debut solo album Tomcats Screaming Outside 2001 Contents 1 Background 2 Track listing 3 Personnel 3 1 Tears for Fears 3 2 Additional musicians 4 Production 5 Charts 6 ReferencesBackground EditRaoul and the Kings of Spain was recorded between 1993 and 1994 by Roland Orzabal Alan Griffiths and the band they toured with during the Elemental tour of August December 1993 Gail Ann Dorsey Brian MacLeod Jeffrey Trott and Jebin Bruni Recording sessions for the album took place in Neptune s Kitchen Orzabal s home studio in Dyrham England where Elemental was recorded and in the Record Plant in Los Angeles The album according to Orzabal has a recurring theme of familial relationships and delves into his own Spanish heritage The album s title was mooted as far back as the 1980s as a possible contender for the band s third album which ultimately became The Seeds of Love Raoul was originally Orzabal s first name given at birth before being anglicized by his parents to Roland Orzabal later gave the name Raoul to his first son born in 1991 The album was originally scheduled to be released by Mercury Records but the project was cancelled after Tears for Fears left the label to sign with Sony Epic Records The album was eventually released by Sony in October 1995 with a slightly different track listing and new cover art The album peaked at number 41 in the United Kingdom and number 79 in the United States but was more successful in continental Europe reaching number 13 in Belgium Wallonia 3 and number five in France It was poorly received by critics with much of the criticism directed at Orzabal s lyrics which Tom Demalon of AllMusic described as either inscrutable or embarrassingly silly He also described some of the album s musical arrangements as genuinely pretty if unexciting The album features a reunion with Oleta Adams who had recorded and toured extensively with the band for The Seeds of Love album and here duets with Orzabal on the track Me and My Big Ideas The front cover photo titled Running Them In at Pamplona is by Jose Galle and is a depiction of the annual Running of the Bulls festival held in Pamplona in Spain Several inner sleeve photographs were by David Tack taken from his book Impressions of Spain published by Quartet the Bullfighter on Horseback on page 4 is Rafael Peralta a renowned Spanish Rejoneador bullfighter Inner sleeve photos of Roland Orzabal were taken by Pamela Springsteen shot at the historic Mission Inn in Riverside California where the promo video for Raoul and the Kings of Spain was filmed Subsequent to Raoul and the Kings of Spain Roland Orzabal dispensed with the Tears for Fears name and released the album Tomcats Screaming Outside 2001 under his own name as his first and to date only solo album After reuniting with Curt Smith in 2000 Orzabal reactivated the band name and Tears for Fears sixth album Everybody Loves a Happy Ending was released in 2004 Raoul and the Kings of Spain was re released in August 2009 by Cherry Pop Records 4 complete with seven bonus tracks see below Track listing Edit1994 promotional CD Mercury Records 5 No TitleWriter s NotesLength1 Raoul and the Kings of Spain OrzabalGriffiths 5 172 Falling Down Roland Orzabal 4 553 Secrets OrzabalGriffiths 4 424 God s Mistake OrzabalGriffiths 3 475 Sketches of Pain OrzabalGriffithsMislabeled on CD back insert as Sketches of Spain the actual title of the track is a play on the Miles Davis s Sketches of Spain album of that name4 216 Los Reyes Catolicos OrzabalGriffiths 1 487 Sorry OrzabalGriffiths 4 488 Queen of Compromise OrzabalGriffithsBrian MacLeodJebin BruniGail Ann Dorsey 3 529 Don t Drink the Water OrzabalGriffiths 4 5610 Me and My Big Ideas OrzabalGriffiths 4 3311 Los Reyes Catolicos OrzabalGriffithsMislabeled on CD back insert as Los Retes Catolicos 3 43 1995 release Sony Epic Records No TitleWriter s Length1 Raoul and the Kings of Spain Roland OrzabalAlan Griffiths5 162 Falling Down Orzabal4 563 Secrets OrzabalGriffiths4 424 God s Mistake OrzabalGriffiths3 475 Sketches of Pain Orzabal4 216 Los Reyes Catolicos OrzabalGriffiths1 447 Sorry OrzabalGriffiths4 488 Humdrum and Humble OrzabalGriffiths4 119 I Choose You Orzabal3 2610 Don t Drink the Water OrzabalGriffiths4 5111 Me and My Big Ideas OrzabalGriffiths4 3312 Los Reyes Catolicos Reprise OrzabalGriffiths3 43 Bonus tracks 2009 Cherry Red Records reissue No TitleWriter s Length13 All of the Angels OrzabalGriffiths4 3114 The Madness of Roland OrzabalGriffiths5 1015 Queen of Compromise OrzabalGriffithsMacLeodBruniDorsey3 5716 Until I Drown OrzabalGriffiths3 2317 War of Attrition OrzabalGriffiths3 4518 Raoul and the Kings of Spain acoustic OrzabalGriffiths4 2919 Break It Down Again acoustic OrzabalGriffiths3 14 Notes Due to the band s label switch to Sony in 1994 none of the B sides from the album s singles tracks 13 17 on the 2009 reissue are included on the Tears for Fears B sides collection Saturnine Martial amp Lunatic which was released in 1996 by Phonogram Mercury the band s old record company All of the Angels Queen of Compromise and The Madness of Roland originally appeared as B sides in the UK 2 disc single release of Raoul and the Kings of Spain Queen of Compromise had also appeared in early promo versions of the Raoul and the Kings of Spain album which omitted two tracks that would appear in the final version of the album Humdrum and Humble and I Choose You Raoul and the Kings of Spain acoustic was originally released as a UK promo single and as a B side in the single release of God s Mistake Until I Drown and War of Attrition originally appeared as B sides in the UK and US single release of Secrets Break It Down Again acoustic originally appeared as a B side in the European single release of God s Mistake and the US single release of Secrets The only Tears for Fears B side from this era not included in the 2009 reissue of Raoul and the Kings of Spain is a cover version of Radiohead s Creep recorded live in Birmingham during the Elemental tour on 14 December 1993 This track was included in the UK 2 disc single release of Raoul and the Kings of Spain and the US single of God s Mistake Personnel EditTears for Fears Edit Roland Orzabal lead vocals keyboards guitarsAdditional musicians Edit Alan Griffiths keyboards guitars Jebin Bruni Hammond organ Jeffrey Trott guitars Gail Ann Dorsey bass Brian MacLeod drums percussion Oleta Adams guest vocalist on Me and My Big Ideas Mark O Donoughue backing vocalsProduction EditProducers Tim Palmer tracks 1 7 10 11 amp 12 Roland Orzabal and Alan Griffiths tracks 8 amp 9 Engineer Mark O Donoughue Mastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering Portland Maine Album Coordinators Jason Geake and Philippa Sprigg Design Gail Marowitz Front Cover Photo Jose Galle Inner Sleeve Photos David Tack and Pamela SpringsteenCharts EditChart performance for Raoul and the Kings of Spain Chart 1995 PeakpositionBelgian Albums Ultratop Wallonia 6 13Canada Top Albums CDs RPM 7 62Dutch Albums Album Top 100 8 70European Albums Music amp Media 9 16French Albums IFOP 10 5German Albums Offizielle Top 100 11 88Swiss Albums Schweizer Hitparade 12 42UK Albums OCC 13 41US Billboard 200 14 79References Edit AllMusic review Entertainment Weekly review Tears for Fears Raoul and the Kings of Spain ultratop be Ultratop Cherry Pop reissue August 2009 Archived 2 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine Raoul and the Kings of Spain Canadian Promo CD Ultratop be Tears for Fears Raoul and the Kings of Spain in French Hung Medien Retrieved 8 February 2022 Top RPM Albums Issue 2806 RPM Library and Archives Canada Retrieved 8 February 2022 Dutchcharts nl Tears for Fears Raoul and the Kings of Spain in Dutch Hung Medien Retrieved 8 February 2022 European Top 100 Albums PDF Music amp Media Vol 12 no 44 4 November 1995 p 22 OCLC 29800226 via World Radio History Le Detail des Albums de chaque Artiste InfoDisc in French Retrieved 8 February 2022 Select TEARS For FEARS from the drop down menu and click OK Offiziellecharts de Tears for Fears Raoul and the Kings of Spain in German GfK Entertainment Charts Retrieved 8 February 2022 Swisscharts com Tears for Fears Raoul and the Kings of Spain Hung Medien Retrieved 8 February 2022 Official Albums Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Retrieved 8 February 2022 Tears for Fears Chart History Billboard 200 Billboard Retrieved 8 February 2022 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Raoul and the Kings of Spain amp oldid 1091533679, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
