| "Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams" | |
|---|---|
 UK single B-side label | |
| Song by Tears for Fears | |
| A-side | "Advice for the Young at Heart" |
| Released | 19 February 1990 (B-side) |
| Genre | |
| Length |
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| Label | Fontana |
| Songwriter(s) | Roland Orzabal |
| Producer(s) |
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| "Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams | ||||
| Released | 21 January 1991 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length |
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| Label | Fontana | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Roland Orzabal | |||
| Producer(s) |
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| Tears for Fears singles chronology | ||||
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"Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams" is a song by the British band Tears for Fears, originally appearing as the B-side to their 1990 single "Advice for the Young at Heart" before being remixed by the techno producer/DJ band Fluke and released as a single in its own right in 1991. The remix was later included on the band's B-side compilation album Saturnine Martial & Lunatic.
It became a number-one hit on the UK Dance Chart, while reaching number 70 on the UK Singles Chart. Although still a Tears for Fears track, the Fluke remix single was credited only as "Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams". The cover of the single features a still photo of Keir Dullea as David Bowman from the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Background
"The B-side for 'Advice for the Young at Heart' from the Seeds of Love album. The title was stolen from a book of the same name by Sylvia Plath. At the time, I was curious to hear the verse of 'Sowing the Seeds' sung as a rap and it was this combined with a Talking Heads-style chorus sung over the chord structure of 'Shout' that gave rise to the track. Due largely to the use of a rather fashionable (at the time) drumloop, the track received a fair bit of play in dance clubs where it caught the attention of a young band called Fluke who consequently remixed it into a much higher state. The remix was then released anonymously as a single in its own right and got to number 1 in the British dance chart."
- Roland Orzabal (Saturnine Martial and Lunatic booklet)
The song is named after "Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams", a short story by Sylvia Plath that was posthumously published in 1977 in a collection of the same name.
The song features two sets of vocals. The original verses of the song are performed in a gospel style, alternating with the lyrics from Tears for Fears' 1989 hit "Sowing the Seeds of Love" which are performed as a rap by vocalist Biti Strauchn.[1] An instrumental version of the song (without the gospel verses or the rap) also appears on the CD-single of "Advice for the Young at Heart".
Track listing
- "Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams" (Mix One) – 6:22
- "Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams" (Mix Two) – 5:55
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the liner notes of "Advice for the Young at Heart" and Tidal.[1][2]
- Biti Strauchn – rap
Tears for Fears
- Curt Smith – producer, bass guitar
- Roland Orzabal – producer, songwriter, drum programming, electric guitar, keyboards, vocals
and
- David Bascombe – producer
Studio personnel
- Heidi Cannavo – assistant recording engineer
- Lee Curle – assistant recording engineer
- Steve Chase – engineer
"Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams (Fluke remix)" (1991)[3]
- Fluke – remix, additional production
- Stylorouge – technoart
- Chris Craske – videoburst
Charts
| Chart (1991) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (OCC)[4] | 70 |
References
- ^ a b Fontana Records (1990). "Advice for the Young at Heart" (Media notes). Tears for Fears.
- ^ "Credits / The Seeds Of Love (Super Deluxe) / Tears For Fears". Mercury Records Limited. Retrieved 21 January 2024 – via Tidal.
- ^ Fontana Records (1991). "Johnny Panic and The Bible Of Dreams" (Media notes).
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
