[1] After offering them free use of his recording facility,[2][3] Stanley became a member of Tears for Fears, contributing on synthesizers, drum machines, organ, pianos and backing vocals on their first three albums.
He also co-wrote (with Roland Orzabal) many of their songs from the period 1983–1985,[4] and was a part of the production team during this era as the band worked with producer Chris Hughes at their studio, the Wool Hall, in Bath.
[citation needed] Following the success of Songs from the Big Chair, Stanley collaborated with Roland Orzabal on the 1986 side project Mancrab, releasing a single, "Fish for Life", which was made for the soundtrack of the film The Karate Kid Part II.
Stanley also began working on Tears for Fears' third album, The Seeds of Love, but (along with producer Chris Hughes) left the project due to creative differences.
[8] Since the 1980s, Stanley has produced such artists as Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, a-ha, the Pretenders, Howard Jones, Ultra, Republica, Naimee Coleman, Stephanie Kirkham, Natalie Imbruglia, Propaganda, the Human League and Tori Amos.