Tears for Fears

They say that big things come in small packages. Take Tears for Fears, the Bath, England, duo behind some of the most majestic sounds of the '80s. Seriously, what would MTV have been without staples like "Shout," "Everybody Wants to Rule the World," "Change," and "Mad World"? Maybe just an obscure cable station beamed to one out of 100 homes from midnight 'til two.

From their synth-pop roots ("Suffer the Children"), Tears for Fears grew into one of the most accomplished bands of their era, experimenting with lush, jazz-inflected pop ("Standing on the Corner of the Third World"), gorgeous sunshine pop ("Brian Wilson Said"), and even late-period Beatles ("Who Killed Tangerine?").

Welcome to the Deep Cuts, where we get to roll up our sleeves and have some real fun, pulling out awesome remixes of "Shout" and "Mad World," plus extended versions of "Change" and "Pale Shelter." Did we mention original iTunes sessions of "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" and "Sowing the Seeds of Love"? Hardcore Tears for Fears fans, get comfortable.

From the ominous synth-pop of The Hurting to the hook-heavy pop-rock of Songs from the Big Chair, the psych- and gospel-drenched Sowing the Seeds of Love right up to the late-period Beatles-influenced reunion Everybody Loves a Happy Ending, Tears for Fears has evolved like few other bands, continuously charting new musical territory without once compromising its identity. If you ever wondered how Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith transcended their time and place, while so many of their peers failed, our playlist tells the tale.