Tears for Fears Co-Founder Announces ‘Mayfield’ Release

Curt Smith’s out-of-print solo album, Mayfield, will be re-released on November 15, 2011. The re-release of the 1997 album will include a new bonus track, “Trees,” featuring Janice Whaley.

“Mayfield was a band I formed after moving to New York, a couple of years into my hiatus from Tears For Fears,” Smith explained in the press release. “The premise was to not use my name (hence ‘Mayfield’: Curt-is Mayfield, get it?) and just try to rediscover the joys of music through playing live. We played at downtown New York clubs like Brownie’s, Mercury Lounge and CBGB’s. Those were a couple of the most enjoyable years I’ve spent as a musician.”

Smith’s longtime collaborator Charlton Pettus (who’s played with Smith in the Tears for Fears touring band since 2004) wrote the songs, and the tracks on Mayfield were recorded live with, according to Smith, “overdubbing and editing used sparingly.”

Mayfield was made up of Smith (bass/lead vocals), Pettus (guitar/backing vocals), Doug Petty (keyboards), Russ Irwin (keyboards/backing vocals), and Shawn Pelton (drums).

Smith says Mayfield will be “available in digital format from all major online retailers, and in physical CD format from Amazon.com and at Smith’s shows.” He also also plans a limited edition Mayfield deluxe bundle that will include exclusive collectibles, which will be available only on his website at curtsmithofficial.com.