TEARS FOR FEARS "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" 12” Vinyl BBC Archives

$

35

Artist: Tears for Fears

• Track(s):

• Side One: “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” (Extended Version)

• Side Two:

• “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” (7” Version)

• “Pharaohs” (Exclusive B-side)

• Label: Mercury

• Catalog Number: IDEA 912

• Format: 12-inch Maxi-Single, 45 RPM

• Year: 1985

• Country: UK Pressing

• Matrix Information: Likely hand-etched with IDEA 912 A// and B//, typical of Phonogram UK.

Special Attributes

• BBC Gramophone Library Copy:

This is a former BBC archive library record, evidenced by:

• BBC Gramophone Library Stickers & Labels on both front and back sleeves.

• Stamped and inked BBC marks on the record labels (“BBC GRAMOPHONE LIBRARY”).

• BBC Checkout Card attached to the front (marked “Please Return Promptly”).

• Provenance Significance:

BBC copies are unique because they were part of the national broadcasting collection, used in radio programming during the 1980s. Such provenance adds collectible interest, especially to fans of Tears for Fears and BBC memorabilia collectors.

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Track Significance

• Everybody Wants to Rule the World is one of Tears for Fears’ biggest global hits, from the album Songs from the Big Chair (1985). This 12” single includes the extended remix and the rare “Pharaohs” track, which was not available on the main album.

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Condition Assessment (Visual from Photos)

• Outer Sleeve:

• Overall good shape, minor wear at edges, BBC stickers intact (collectible element).

• Some creasing on lower front area.

• Record Vinyl:

• Appears to have surface dust and light marks. No obvious deep scratches visible in photos.

• Labels:

• Clean, readable, some stamps and BBC marks add character.

Please understand that this is an official UK archival record from the British Broadcasting Corporation and the sleeve(s) may contain archival stickers from the BBC. Some of these stickers are 'on top' of the plastic with some 'underneath' (i.e. on the sleeve itself). Some sleeves have been 'laminated' either by way of 'punching' the plastic wallet to two parts of the sleeve or by fully wrapping the plastic to the sleeve. Where sleeves are laminated stickers can be removed with the use of appropriate sticker removal fluids however it is unlikely that stickers can be removed from any sleeves that are not laminated. The sleeves as such in this collection are generally graded as VG with the records often VG+ to Ex+.

The BBC Gramophone Library: A Historic Institution in British Broadcasting

Overview

The BBC Gramophone Library was the centralized archive and distribution hub for music and spoken-word recordings used by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) across its radio and television networks. Established in the 1930s and reaching its peak usage from the 1950s through the 1980s, the library served as a critical resource for programming, background music, and live broadcasts.

Primary Roles:

1. Music Programming & Licensing

• The BBC did not allow advertising, so it relied heavily on pre-licensed or internally approved music for airplay.

• The Gramophone Library held tens of thousands of LPs, singles, and 78s, carefully cataloged and labeled for legal and logistical reasons.

2. Record Circulation Across Studios

• Library copies were loaned out to BBC producers and engineers working on everything from Radio 1 pop shows to classical music programs and regional BBC radio stations across the UK.

• Many records bear checkout stickers and barcodes with issued/returned fields, tracking circulation between studios.

3. Archiving Broadcast-Ready Media

• The BBC required high-quality and clean copies for broadcasting, so many library records were early or first pressings sourced directly from record labels or distributors.

• Labels often provided the BBC with promo or advanced copies, which were then filed and made broadcast-ready.

4. Editing, Marking, and Custom Labeling

• Library staff often marked faults or added stickers (e.g., “STEREO”, “DO NOT USE SIDE B”, “OBSCENE LYRICS”) based on BBC content standards.

• Some records have cue sheets or fade/duration notes handwritten on inner sleeves for radio DJs and engineers.

5. Preservation & Disposal

• When formats shifted (vinyl to CD, then digital), the BBC began deaccessioning large portions of the library.

• Many records were sold, gifted to staff, or disposed of — though some were retained for archival and legal purposes.

Collecting Significance

Records from the BBC Gramophone Library are now highly sought after due to:

• Direct association with British radio history

• Unique, institutional provenance (often impossible to fake convincingly)

• Early pressings used during the golden age of BBC radio (1950s–1980s)

• The possibility that famous BBC DJs (e.g., John Peel, Annie Nightingale) handled or played the exact copies

Legacy

The BBC Gramophone Library remains a legendary archive in British media history, now largely digitized or merged into newer holdings. Physical copies like yours are time capsules, often tied to decades of public service broadcasting, music history, and cultural memory.