Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams by Tears For Fears

"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 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. 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. 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". Some months later, the track was remixed by the techno producer/DJ band Fluke and released as a single in 1991. 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. 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.