Tears For Fear’s debut album The Hurting was released on March 7th, 1983, and peaked at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart in its second week. The album reached Platinum status in January 1985. The album contains Tears For Fears first three hit singles Mad World, Change, and Pale Shelter all of which reached the top five in the UK.

This half-speed was engineered by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios using a half-speed mastering technique that produces a superior vinyl cut.