Bernard Fanning - Tea & Sympathy

Tea & Sympathy is the debut solo studio album by Australian singer-songwriter and Powderfinger front-man Bernard Fanning, originally released in October 2005 via Dew Process.

The members of Powderfinger took a break from the band after the release of their 2004 compilation Fingerprints: The Best of Powderfinger 1994-2000, and Bernard Fanning commenced work on a solo album. He initially thought of making a country album, but changed his mind and instead made an acoustic driven album with influences of rock, country and folk.

The passing of his brother and the ending of a long-term relationship set the direction of the album with themes of love and loss at its heart.

The album was produced with Tchad Blake and recorded both in Brisbane and at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios in Bath, UK. The songs on the album are well constructed pop songs recorded with arrangements and instrumentation reminiscent of the style of records made in the early 1970s. The album brings back memories of Neil Young, Elton John (Tumbleweed Connection era) and Jackson Browne, with mandolins, fiddles, piano and acoustic guitars featuring throughout.

Three singles were released from the album “Wish You Well”, “Songbird” and “Watch Over Me”.

The album peaked at #1 on the Australian ARIA Albums chart and has since gone on to sell more than 350,000 copies. Tea & Sympathy was awarded "Best Cover Art" and "Album of the Year" at the 2006 ARIA Music Awards. "Wish You Well" won "Best Video", while "Watch Over Me" was nominated for "Single of the Year". "Wish You Well" topped the Triple J Hottest 100, 2005, and was the most broadcast song on Australian radio in 2006. Fanning won "Best Male Artist" for his work on the album.

This album is a 2023 repress on black vinyl housed in a single pocket sleeve with a printed inner sleeve, pressed in Australia via Dew Process.