Tea & Sympathy (Bernard Fanning album)

After the 2004 release of Fingerprints: The Best of Powderfinger, 1994–2000, Powderfinger took a hiatus, and several members played in the side projects Drag and The Predators. Fanning decided to work independently and acted on direction he felt unable to explore as a member of Powderfinger. Some of his inspiration was derived from a will to see if he was capable of recording a solo album,{{cite web|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,17032570-16947,00.html|title=Love and other bruises|publisher=news.com.au|work=The Australian|author=Iain Shedden|date=29 October 2005|access-date=23 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529062340/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,17032570-16947,00.html|archive-date=29 May 2008|url-status=dead}} considering what he viewed as his limited guitar playing abilities; compared to bandmates Darren Middleton and Ian Haug. The distance from the band, coupled with the more relaxed writing process for Tea & Sympathy helped Fanning to unwind from the stress left over from 10 years working recording and touring with Powderfinger.{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2005/10/20/1129775894691.html |title=White with one|newspaper=The Age|author=Andrew Murfett|date=22 October 2005|access-date=23 May 2008 | location=Melbourne}}

Fanning wanted to create a politically oriented album with which he could attack then Prime Minister of Australia John Howard, following Howard's 2004 election victory over Mark Latham. However, the death of Fanning's brother from cancer in 2002, coupled with the end of a twelve-year relationship saw him steer the album in a different direction.{{cite web|url=http://www.dbmagazine.com.au/371/iv-BernardFanning.shtml |title=Bernard Fanning. |publisher=dB |author=Matt Connors |access-date=11 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080805041837/http://www.dbmagazine.com.au/371/iv-BernardFanning.shtml |archive-date=5 August 2008 |url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20060811/ai_n16655093 |title=Powderfinger's Bernard Fanning enjoying going solo |newspaper=Oakland Tribune |date=11 August 2006 |access-date=24 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529084234/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20060811/ai_n16655093 |archive-date=29 May 2008 |url-status=dead}} Fanning explained that after going through "a pretty weird time in the past twelve months", he did not intend to talk about his experiences, but to express them through music. The motivation for some songs came from the 2005 Big Day Out; disappointment with the antisocial nature of the event and the heavy metal music played spurred him to "make music that was the opposite of that".

Fanning worked with producer Tchad Blake and was funded by record label Dew Process. Sessions for the album began in February 2005 when Fanning and several other musicians recorded tracks at Fanning's Brisbane studio, Leafy Bug. Four of these—"Not Finished Just Yet", "Believe", "Wash Me Clean", and "Hope & Validation"—appeared on the album after being mixed by Blake. The other tracks were recorded and mixed at Real World Studios near Bath, England. In Bath, Fanning worked with musicians including Jerry Marotta, Keith Duffy, and John Bedggood.{{cite web|url=http://www.amo.org.au/release.asp?id=7506 |title=Tea And Sympathy|publisher=Australian Music Online|access-date=23 May 2008|author=Bernard Fanning|author-link=Bernard Fanning|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070905040326/http://amo.org.au/release.asp?id=7506 |archive-date=5 September 2007}} While writing Fanning listened to music of guitarists Lightning Hopkins, Tom Petty, and singer-songwriter Gillian Welch, who all influenced his work. "I'd love to play guitar like that, but I simply don't have the skill to do it", said Fanning of Hopkins' work.{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/music/sadness-love-and-the-gospel-truth/2005/10/30/1130607140325.html |title=Sadness, love and the gospel truth|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=30 October 2005|author=Christine Sams|access-date=24 May 2008}}

The album's title comes from a saying which Fanning explained to The Age as "you offer someone tea and sympathy, you sit down with them, have a cup of tea and you just talk." He noted that there is a credit on an album by The Rolling Stones for the provision of "tea and sympathy". The album cover photography and album inlay photography is by Ami Barwell

Fanning toured much of Australia to support Tea & Sympathy. Prior to the launch of two major tours, Fanning held a number of low-key album launch shows. These drew praise from critics—Time Off's Ben Preece reported, "The chemistry between the Powderfinger frontman and his band (nicknamed The Gap Jazz School Choir) is excellent and their constant in-between song banter is hilarious. Then, of course, there’s the music." He commended the multiple genre changes during the 90-minute performance, as well as Fanning's vocal showcase.

The Which Way Home? tour, named after the album's sixth track, was announced on 2 December 2005, and lasted from through February to March 2006. Fanning performed in Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide, Melbourne, Hobart, Perth and Brisbane. He was joined on tour by Perth band The Panics and Brisbane singer Andrew Morris.{{cite web|url=http://www.dew-process.com/artists-newsfull.cfm?id=3&artist=1 |title=Bernard Fanning announces Which Way Home? Tour|publisher=Dew Process|date=2 December 2005|access-date=6 June 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071027131950/http://www.dew-process.com/artists-newsfull.cfm?id=3&artist=1 |archive-date = 27 October 2007}} On 11 August, Fanning announced that tours across the United States and Canada would follow the album's 8 August North American release. An 11 September UK release was also announced with Dew Process revealing that numerous London shows had already been sold out.{{cite web|url=http://www.dew-process.com/artists-newsfull.cfm?id=46&artist=1 |title=Bernard Fanning Announces Yesterday's Gone Tour|publisher=Dew Process|date=11 August 2006|access-date=6 June 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071027131929/http://www.dew-process.com/artists-newsfull.cfm?id=46&artist=1 |archive-date = 27 October 2007}}

Performances in London attracted much expatriate support; Fanning joked, "I think I have about 14 English fans". The performances were received positively; musicOMH's Barnaby Smith rated his 4 September showing at London's Arts Theatre four stars, commenting on Powderfinger-esque "loud, anthemic, guitar-driven rock in a '70s vein", and praising Fanning's use of the piano and guitar as part of his performance, as well as his dedicating the song "Give It All Up" to the recently deceased Steve Irwin.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.musicomh.com/music/gigs/bernard-fanning_0906.htm|title=Bernard Fanning|magazine=musicOMH|author=Barnaby Smith|date=4 September 2006|access-date=6 June 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080606040804/http://www.musicomh.com/music/gigs/bernard-fanning_0906.htm|archive-date=6 June 2008}}

{{Listen|filename=Bernard Fanning-Wish You Well-20s.ogg|title="Wish You Well"|description=The optimistic chorus of "Wish You Well" was written by Fanning during an "unusually positive frame of mind".|format=Ogg}}

Tea & Sympathy was released in Australia on 31 October 2005, in North America on 11 August 2006, and in the United Kingdom on 18 September 2006. The album peaked at number one on Australia's ARIA Albums Chart and number 11 on New Zealand's RIANZ Albums Chart.{{cite web|url=http://www.australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Bernard+Fanning&titel=Tea+%26+Sympathy&cat=a |title=Bernard Fanning – Tea & Sympathy |publisher=australian-charts.com |access-date=24 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070918012920/http://www.australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Bernard%2BFanning&titel=Tea%2B&%2BSympathy&cat=a |archive-date=18 September 2007}} The Australian Record Industry Association has since certified Tea & Sympathy platinum five times over for sales in excess of 350,000 units.{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/ARIACharts-Accreditations-2006Albums.htm |title=ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2006 Albums |publisher=Australian Record Industry Association |access-date=29 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515024406/http://www.aria.com.au/pages/ARIACharts-Accreditations-2006Albums.htm |archive-date=15 May 2011}}

"Wish You Well" was the first single released from the album. Although it did not chart in Australia, it peaked at number 24 in New Zealand,{{cite web|url=https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Bernard+Fanning&titel=Wish+You+Well&cat=s |title=Bernard Fanning – Wish You Well|publisher=charts.nz|access-date=31 May 2008}} and topped the Triple J Hottest 100, 2005.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100/history/2005.htm|title=Hottest 100 {{!}} History|publisher=abc.net.au|work=Triple J|access-date=27 June 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104170930/http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100/history/2005.htm|archive-date=4 November 2012|url-status=dead}} The inspiration for the song came to Fanning when he woke one morning, "and 'Wish You Well' just arrived in a splurge. There were swallows flying around. I was in an unusually positive frame of mind."{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/gig-reviews/bernard-fanning/2006/10/12/1160246251381.html |title=Solo success doesn't make Bernard Fanning a loner.|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|author=Barry Divola|date=12 October 2006|access-date=31 May 2008}} musicOMH's Barnaby Smith described "Wish You Well" as reminiscent of Daryl Braithwaite and a "basic song with [a] catchy chorus you might sing round a campfire".{{cite web|url=http://www.musicomh.com/singles/bernard-fanning_0906.htm|title=Bernard Fanning – Wish You Well (Lost Highway)|publisher=musicOMH.com|author=Barnaby Smith|access-date=6 June 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512042623/http://www.musicomh.com/singles/bernard-fanning_0906.htm|archive-date=12 May 2008}} The online release "Songbird" was the album's second single. The song was broadly popular, and contributed to Fanning's winning "Songwriter of the Year" at the 2006 APRA Awards.{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,19371554-5001026,00.html |title=Songwriter Fanning is year's best|publisher=news.com.au|work=The Daily Telegraph|author=Kathy McCabe|date=6 June 2006|access-date=1 June 2008}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}} "Songbird" won "Most Performed Blues and Roots Work" at the 2007 ceremony and was nominated for "Most Performed Australian Work".{{cite web|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21857902-1702,00.html|title=APRA winners announced|publisher=news.com.au|work=The Australian|date=5 June 2007|access-date=1 June 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070612185224/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21857902-1702,00.html|archive-date=12 June 2007|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21700352-29277,00.html?from=public_rss |title=APRA music nominations announced|work=news.com.au|author=Michael Gadd|date=9 May 2007|access-date=1 June 2008}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}} The single did not appear on the ARIA Singles Chart, but peaked at number 11 on the Australian national airplay charts. It also reached number 14 on the Triple J Hottest 100, 2005.

"Watch Over Me" was released as the final single on 24 June 2006.{{cite web|url=http://www.ravemagazine.com.au/content/view/323/|title=Bernard Fanning Youngcare concert sold out!|publisher=Rave Magazine|access-date=2 June 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080731001451/http://www.ravemagazine.com.au/content/view/323/|archive-date=31 July 2008}} All proceeds from the single were passed on to Australian charity Youngcare. Fanning also toured with Kasey Chambers, again giving proceeds to the charity. Fanning said that "the aim of this show and the single release is to raise money for Youngcare but also to raise awareness of the terrible situation that these young people face", referring to children forced to live in aged facilities.{{cite web|url=http://maxtv.com.au/Max/Article.aspx?id=68|title=Bernard Fanning's new single and Brissy concert|publisher=Max|date=5 May 2006|access-date=2 June 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060824104010/http://maxtv.com.au/Max/Article.aspx?id=68|archive-date=24 August 2006}} "Watch Over Me" spent eight weeks on the ARIA Singles Chart, where it peaked at number 16.{{cite web|url=http://www.australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?key=251268&cat=s |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721074449/http://www.australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?key=251268&cat=s |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 July 2012 |title=Bernard Fanning – Watch Over Me |publisher=australian-charts.com |access-date=2 June 2008 }} The song was performed by Fanning, Chambers, and Clare Bowditch at the 2006 ARIA Awards.{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,20667181-5008322,00.html |title=Rock rules the Arias|work=news.com.au|author=Justine Parker|date=30 October 2006|access-date=2 June 2008}}

I realised about three songs into writing it how insulting that was to people who write country music ... someone like me trying to make a country record.

—Bernard Fanning
On why he abandoned his plan to make a purely country record.

The country-folk-alternative blend on Tea & Sympathy formed a stark contrast to Powderfinger's last work, Vulture Street—the band's heaviest work yet. Initially intended to be a purely country album, Fanning abandoned the prospect shortly into the writing phase because he did not think he was able to make music of the quality he had expected. He thus turned to an amalgamation of country, rock, and folk elements. Fanning considered Powderfinger music to "always [have] a song that just kind of grabs you" but doubted his album had similar elements; instead he focused on an album that as a whole would move the listener. The album is primarily acoustic—"Which Way Home?" a notable exception—and features fiddles and mandolins for backing music. The album centres on themes of love, in the context of the recent end to Fanning's relationship. Only three songs on the album exceed four minutes, while four are less than three minutes long; Fanning was critical of the "convention that a song should go on for 3 [and a half], four minutes".

Opening track "Thrill is Gone" was written by Fanning as a joke about a hypothetical ending in his relation with rock music. The song is reminiscent of 70s country/folk Led Zeppelin,{{cite magazine|url=http://harpmagazine.com/reviews/cd_reviews/detail.cfm?article_id=4664|title=Bernard Fanning, Tea & Sympathy|magazine=Harp|author=Brian Baker|date=September 2006|access-date=30 June 2008|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070309203523/http://harpmagazine.com/reviews/cd_reviews/detail.cfm?article_id=4664|archive-date=9 March 2007}} setting the mood for the rest of the album.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/article.asp?xid=983|title=Bernard Fanning stirs up "Tea & Sympathy"|magazine=Country Standard Time|author=Brian Baker|date=October 2006|access-date=30 June 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061021105101/http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/article.asp?xid=983|archive-date=21 October 2006}} Numerous songs on the album are influenced by Neil and Tim Finn; "Believe", "Sleeping Rough", "The Strangest Thing", and "Wish You Well" all have comparisons drawn to the brothers. "Not Finished Just Yet" and "Songbird", meanwhile, are reminiscent of Neil Young—a long-term Powderfinger influence. "Wish You Well", "Not Finished Just Yet", and "Yesterday's Gone" were noted as examples of "Fanning frankly prodding and probing matters of the heart" by dB.

On "Wash Me Clean", Fanning aimed to imitate Nick Drake; songs that "you to sleep because they've got so much air and space in them". This came as a contrast to the louder, more vocal Powderfinger work he was accustomed to. "Watch Over Me", released and promoted in support of Australian charity Youngcare, was one of the slowest and most emotional songs on the album—The Age{{'}}s Daniel Ziffer described it as "emotionally wrenching". It was written alongside "Believe" following the 2005 Big Day Out.{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/the-power-of-one-in-fanning-farewell/2006/11/03/1162340051028.html |title=The power of one in Fanning farewell|newspaper=The Age|author=Daniel Ziffer|date=4 November 2006|access-date=30 June 2008 | location=Melbourne}} Sometimes construed as a relationships-based song, "Watch Over Me" was written by Fanning after watching Pope John Paul II's funeral. "Down To The River" was equally slow in portions, mixed in with sections of "searing, heart-rending pleading"—praised as the best song Fanning had written by musicOMH's Barnaby Smith.

{{Album ratings

|rev1 = The Age

|rev1score = {{rating|3|5}}[http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/tea-amp-sympathy/2005/11/03/1130823314010.html The Age review]

|rev2 = Australian Broadcasting Corporation

|rev2score = (positive)[http://www.abc.net.au/tasmania/stories/s1496975.htm Australian Broadcasting Corporation review]

|rev3 = Allmusic

|rev3score = {{rating|3.5|5}}[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r817104|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic review]

|rev4 = BBC

|rev4score = {{rating|3|5}}[http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/music/2004/09/get_cape_sebastian_teller_bernard_fanning_shaun_colvin.shtml BBC review]{{Dead link|date=June 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

|rev5 = musicOMH

|rev5score = {{rating|3|5}}[http://www.musicomh.com/albums/bernard-fanning_0906.htm musicOMH review] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509110118/http://www.musicomh.com/albums/bernard-fanning_0906.htm |date=9 May 2008 }}

}}

Tea & Sympathy was awarded "Best Cover Art" and "Album of the Year" at the 2006 ARIA Music Awards; it was also nominated for "Best Blues & Roots Album" and "Highest Selling Album". "Wish You Well" won "Best Video", while "Watch Over Me" was nominated for "Single of the Year".{{cite web|url=http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-artist.php?letter=B&artist=Bernard%20Fanning|title=Artist: Bernard Fanning|publisher=ARIA Music Awards|access-date=25 May 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529113514/http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-artist.php?letter=B&artist=Bernard%20Fanning|archive-date=29 May 2008}} "Wish You Well" topped the Triple J Hottest 100, 2005, and was the most broadcast song on Australian radio in 2006.{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/music/and-the-most-played-song-is-/2007/01/08/1168104915488.html |title=And the most played song is ...|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=8 January 2007|access-date=31 May 2008}} Fanning won "Best Male Artist" for his work on the album, and as part of his acceptance speech challenged fellow Australian musicians to write protest songs—something they had been criticised for a lack of by ARIA Hall of Fame inductee Rob Hirst.{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/veronicas-get-aria-gong/2006/10/29/1162056867302.html?from=rss |title=Trio gets top gong, Fanning gets Sympathy vote|newspaper=The Age|author=Patrick Donovan|date=30 October 2006|access-date=5 June 2008 | location=Melbourne}} Tea & Sympathy was nominated for the inaugural J Award in 2005,{{cite web|url=http://www.bernardfanning.com/news.cfm |title=Bernard Fanning news |publisher=BernardFanning.com |date=18 November 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080531091412/http://www.bernardfanning.com/news.cfm |archive-date=31 May 2008 |access-date=1 June 2008 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/jaward/tea_and_sympathy.htm|title=Nominated albums: Tea and Sympathy / Bernard Fanning|publisher=abc.net.au|work=Triple J|access-date=27 June 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080505004501/http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/jaward/tea_and_sympathy.htm|archive-date=5 May 2008|url-status=dead}} and Fanning won "Songwriter of the Year" at the 2006 APRA Awards.{{cite web|url=http://www.apra.com.au/awards/music/winners2006.asp |title=2006 Winners|publisher=APRA Awards|access-date=25 May 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070906170421/http://www.apra.com.au/awards/music/winners2006.asp |archive-date = 6 September 2007}} MTV Australia named Tea & Sympathy "Album of the Year" at its 2006 Video Music Awards.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2006/04/13/1615274.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110216221624/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2006/04/13/1615274.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 February 2011 |title=Fanning takes out MTV's top award|publisher=abc.net.au|date=13 April 2006|access-date=5 June 2008}}

Tea & Sympathy{{'}}s critical reception was moderate. It was generally seen as being less entertaining than Fanning's Powderfinger work—The Age said Powderfinger were a "rock band ingrained in the national psyche" like Cold Chisel, but that Tea & Sympathy showed little resemblance to Cold Chisel frontman Jimmy Barnes's groundbreaking debut album, Bodyswerve.{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/tea-amp-sympathy/2005/11/03/1130823314010.html |title=Tea & Sympathy|newspaper=The Age|author=Craig Mathieson|date=4 November 2005|access-date=23 May 2008 | location=Melbourne}} Barnaby Smith of musicOMH said the album was not "a work to suggest [Fanning's] solo career might better Powderfinger".{{cite magazine|url=http://www.musicomh.com/albums/bernard-fanning_0906.htm |title=Bernard Fanning – Tea and Sympathy |magazine=musicOMH |author=Barnaby Smith |access-date=22 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509110118/http://www.musicomh.com/albums/bernard-fanning_0906.htm |archive-date=9 May 2008 }} The BBC's Jenna Bachelor wrote that the album is "pleasant enough without pulling up any trees".{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/music/2004/09/get_cape_sebastian_teller_bernard_fanning_shaun_colvin.shtml|title=Bernard Fanning – Tea and Sympathy|publisher=BBC|author=Jenna Bachelor|date=September 2006|access-date=20 May 2008}}{{Dead link|date=June 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Despite Fanning's claims he could not write a country song,{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/tasmania/stories/s1496975.htm |title=Disc of the week: Tea & Sympathy|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|author=Tim Cox|date=3 November 2005|access-date=22 May 2008}} the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and BBC drew comparisons to Neil Young and supergroup Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. The ABC said Tea & Sympathy resembled the band's work, "though without the hippy, drippy lyrics", while the BBC observed a "harmony porch style sound" highly similar to that of Young. Allmusic wrote that "Fanning's influences are strictly old school", noting Manassas' self-titled album and Elton John's Tumbleweed Connection as similar.{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r817104|pure_url=yes}} |title=Tea & Sympathy > Overview|website=Allmusic|author=Andy Whitman|access-date=19 May 2008}}

Fanning's vocals drew praise; Allmusic's Andy Whitman said he was a "fine, soulful singer" whose "vocal presence alone merits attention". Other aspects of the album, though, were seen in a more negative light. musicOMH said songs like "Wash Me Clean" "simply lack a strong enough melody", while the BBC wrote that Fanning "might have to be happy with 'straight in at 101,' in the UK" despite topping the ARIA Albums Chart. The Age concluded its review by calling Tea & Sympathy "a low-key but worthy personal offering".

In October 2010, Tea & Sympathy (2005) was listed in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums.{{Cite book | title = 100 Best Australian Albums | last1 = O'Donnell | first1 = John | authorlink1 = John O'Donnell (music journalist) | last2 = Creswell | first2=Toby | authorlink2 = Toby Creswell | last3 = Mathieson | first3 = Craig | authorlink3 = Craig Mathieson | publisher = Hardie Grant Books | date = October 2010 | location = Prahran, Vic | isbn = 978-1-74066-955-9 }}

1. "Thrill Is Gone" – 3:11
2. "Wish You Well" – 2:31
3. "Not Finished Just Yet" – 3:17
4. "Songbird" – 2:36
5. "Believe" – 3:07
6. "Which Way Home?" – 3:21
7. "Wash Me Clean" – 2:37
8. "Hope & Validation" – 3:09
9. "Sleeping Rough" – 4:34
10. "The Strangest Thing" – 3:14
11. "Further Down the Road" – 4:41
12. "Down to the River" – 4:13
13. "Yesterday's Gone" – 2:34
14. "Watch Over Me" – 3:31
15. "Weekend of Mystery" (iTunes bonus release) – 3:26

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Tracks 1, 2, 4, 6 and 9–14.

• Bernard Fanning – guitars and vocals
• Jerry Marotta – drums and percussion
• Keith Duffy – bass guitar
• John Bedggood – guitars, keyboards and backing vocals
• Tchad Blake – lap steel guitar
• Ben Quinn – backing vocals
• Stu Miller – backing vocals

Tracks 3, 5, 7 and 8.

• Bernard Fanning – guitars and vocals
• Duane Billing – drums and percussion
• Matt Engelbrecht – bass guitar and lead guitar
• Chris Bosley – bass guitar

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• Bernard Fanning – producer
• Tchad Blake – producer, engineer and mixer
  (Real World Studios, Box, UK)
• Claire Lewis – assistant engineer
  (Real World Studios, Box, UK)
• Mark McElligott – engineer and mixer
  (Leafy Bug Studios, Brisbane, Australia)

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{{Reflist|30em}}

{{good article}}

{{ARIA Award for Album of the Year 2000s}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Tea and Sympathy (Bernard Fanning album)}}

Category:2005 albums

Category:ARIA Award–winning albums

Category:Bernard Fanning albums

Category:Albums produced by Tchad Blake