PSB Songs Recorded by Other Artists

By 1989—only three years after they made their initial splash with "West End Girls"—the songwriting team of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe began to be widely recognized by other musicians for the quality of their work. The following songs written by the Pet Shop Boys have been recorded and released by other artists. This includes both artists responsible for the song's original release and those who simply covered material originally released by PSB. These songs are listed in alphabetical order followed by the names of the artists who have recorded them.

  • If the artist's version of the song was released before the Pet Shop Boys released their own version, the artist's name appears in green.

  • If a version by the Pet Shop Boys has never been officially released, the artist's name appears in red. (Please note that, for the purposes of this page, I don't count exclusive free availability for listening only on the official PSB website as an "official release"; hence Alcazar still appears in red for their rendition of "Love Life.")

  • If the rendition listed has, as far as I know, been released only as a digital download or has otherwise been available only online, the artist's name appears in purple.

  • In order to counter the charge occasionally leveled that "only artists that nobody's ever heard of cover the Pet Shop Boys," I've indicated those artists that I personally had heard of before they covered PSB (or at least before I had learned of their having done so) with a "filled square bullet" (n) before their names. All other artists—those whom I hadn't heard of previously—are preceded with an "empty circle bullet" (¡). (It's possible, however, that on account of your individual computer system and/or browser setup you may not be able to see these particular images or they may appear different than as described here.)

Please note that I do not include the following:

  • The special case of the original cast recordings of the songs that the Boys wrote for their stage musical Closer to Heaven.
  • Chris and Neil's (or just Neil's) collaborations with Electronic (because those can't truly be considered "covers of Tennant/Lowe songs").
  • Songs in which just one of the Boys is credited as a writer.
  • Karaoke recordings.
  • "Symphonic" instrumental renderings (remember the notorious "Longines Symphonette"?) of whole albums of songs, which manage to reduce exquisite pop to execrable elevator music.
  • Songs that the Pet Shop Boys did not themselves write or co-write, such as "It's Alright" and "Go West."
  • Online renditions that are, in my judgment, clearly "informal" or amateurish, such as people fooling around on YouTube.
  • Versions that are mentioned in one or two places online but for which I've found no other evidence of their actual existence.
  • Those mysterious releases with anonymous artists—such as "Studio 99" and "Unlimited Beat," both of whom have released hefty "Pet Shop Boys compilations"—who do their damnedest to replicate the sound of the original artist either (1) to deceive unattentive consumers who think they're getting the original recordings or (2) to lure penny-pinching consumers who know full well they're buying "facsimiles" but don't care as long as they don't have to pay as much for them as they would for the real thing. Of special note is that I make no exception for the "various artists" who slaughter PSB music on the 2005 Azzura Music release The Best of Pet Shop Boys, which holds the distinction of possibly being on its way to becoming a cult classic among PSB fans for its sheer awfulness: so bad that it's good. (OK, maybe not "good"—just funny.)

Incidentally, if you figured that the most-covered PSB song would surely be "West End Girls," you would be wrong—at least right now and as far as I can tell. That distinction appears to go to "It's a Sin."

Here are the covers:

  • All or Nothing
    • Miyuki Motegi - On her 2002 album MIU (Motegi herself wrote the Japanese lyrics).

  • Before
    • KoolTURE - A 2007 cover by this Argentine artist, so far available (as far as I know) only as a download.

  • Being Boring
    • Knochen=Girl - On her/his/their (?) 1993 German album Gammler und Bulimie.
    • Autopulver - The b-side of their 1997 single "Frisbee."
    • Merril Bainbridge - On her 1995 album The Garden and a b-side to her 1996 single "Mouth."
    • Exotron - On their 1996 EP Mindfusion.
    • David J (aka David J. Haskins) - This former member of Bauhaus and Love and Rockets provided his cover version on the 2001 various-artists PSB tribute album Very Introspective, Actually.
    • West End Girls - I've been accused of "PSB idolatry" on account of this website, but I've got nothing on this Swedish duo. Not only did they name themselves after the first PSB hit, but their 2006 debut album titled Goes Petshopping consists entirely of PSB covers, including "Being Boring." If that weren't enough, their official website and videos also pay homage to the Boys. Check it out!
    • Lloyd Cole - Although his rendition has never been officially released, he has performed the song live on a number of occasions, accompanying himself on acoustic guitar. Bootleg recordings exist, sometimes even cropping up online.
    • Lulu Santos - A 2006 download-only (so far) rendition by this popular Brazilian singer, songwriter, and guitarist.
    • Kismet - Part of the officially unreleased PSB tribute project Attribute (some tracks of which have been distributed "unofficially").
    • Bernhard Eder - On this German artist's 2007 album The Livingroom Sessions.
    • Souvlaki - On this Chilean duo's 2005 EP This Sounds a Bit Like Goodbye.

  • Can You Forgive Her?
    • Sky High - On their 2003 album On the Cover.

  • Confidential
    • Tina Turner - On her 1996 album Wildest Dreams.

  • Daydreaming
    • Dusty Springfield - On her 1991 album Reputation, half-produced by PSB.

  • Do I Have To?
    • Inga (aka Inga Humpe) - On her 1990 album Planet Oz; also released as a single.
    • Wouter Berkhout - A rendition distributed online.
    • Azwel - A 2005 cover by a musical "project" led by New York singer-songwriter Jason Perrillo.

  • Domino Dancing
    • West End Girls - Their debut single, released in 2005; also appears on their 2006 debut album Goes Petshopping.
    • New Concept - On the 2006 limited-edition various-artists PSB tribute album Always on Our Minds.
    • Hot Blood - A 1988 cover version on the Japanese compilation Disco Hits Now!
    • Eläkeläiset - A Finnish-language cover version (retitled "Päivätanssit") on their 2002 album Pahvische.
    • Mel Merio - A "electro/emo/rock" version released as a dance single, complete with remixes, in 2007.
    • BTH - A 2003 rendition by this Latvian dance act.
    • Apple Green - A remake from some time ago (I'm not sure of the precise year) by this now-defunct Sri Lankan band.
  • Don't Drop Bombs
    • Liza Minnelli - On her 1989 PSB-produced album Results.

  • The End of the World
    • CAP, featuring Lina - Part of the officially unreleased PSB tribute project Attribute (some tracks of which have been distributed "unofficially").

  • Falling
    • Kylie Minogue - On her 1994 album Kylie Minogue.

  • Flamboyant
    • Roy Digre/Fox Fights Back - Online recording artist Roy Digre, working under the moniker Fox Fights Back (though he has more recently adopted the even cooler stage name of Technomancer), offered his cover of this song as part of his 2005 collection Virtual Fantasy.

  • Girls Don't Cry
    • Boki - A cool trance-y rendition on this aspiring Croatian musician's MySpace site.

  • Heart
    • Kerosene - The b-side of their 1993 single "Worthless."
    • Rhythm Inc, with Navada - Interpolated with another song in a 1995 single, retitled "Hold On (My Heart)."
    • Athan Maroulis & Zeitmahl - On the 2001 various-artists PSB tribute album Very Introspective, Actually.
    • Conetik - On this Norwegian duo's 2005 album Carbon Electriq v2.0.
    • Essex - On the 2006 limited-edition various-artists PSB tribute album Always on Our Minds.
    • KooLTURE - This Argentine artist's version can be heard on the 2006 Eternal Sunday compilation CD Southern Waves.
    • GayBoy - A revved-up, almost totally instrumental online rendition by an "electronica" artist/DJ.
    • West End Boys - This Seattle-based "PSB tribute duo" has posted their rendition of this song on their MySpace site.
    • Monoboy - A 2000 promo-only single retitled "Hearbeat."
    • Leo Garcia - This Argentine recording artist's live Spanish-language version, retitlted "Corazón," has appeared online.

  • Hit and Miss
  • Home and Dry
    • Lemon Joy - Covered in 2006 by this Lithuanian duo (not to be confused with an American quartet of the same name); availability unknown at this time.

  • I Can't Say Goodnight
    • Liza Minnelli - On her 1989 PSB-produced album Results.

  • I Don't Know What You Want But I Can't Give It Any More
    • Ben Lee - This Australian singer distributed his version of this song via online .mp3 in 2004, but I lack any further details.
    • Stephane Luciani - Part of the officially unreleased PSB tribute project Attribute (some tracks of which have been distributed "unofficially").

  • I Get Excited (You Get Excited Too)
    • Frozen Plasma - One of the tracks on their 2006 EP Emphasize.

  • I Want a Dog
    • Cosmicity - On the 2001 various-artists album New Wave Undercover.

  • I Want a Lover
    • S2S - Part of the officially unreleased PSB tribute project Attribute (some tracks of which have been distributed "unofficially").

  • I Want You Now
    • Liza Minnelli - On her 1989 PSB-produced album Results.
  • I'm Not Scared
    • Eighth Wonder - On their 1988 album Fearless; released as a single, which also featured a French-language version titled "J'ai Pas Peur" (which translates literally as "I Don't Have Fear" or "I Have No Fear").
    • Gea - On the 1995 various-artists album Sentimental Dance.
    • R.F.L.M. - A 1997 single.
    • Levy 9 - A 1998 12-inch single.
    • Natalie Browne - On her 2005 collection Justified: The Best of Natalie Browne.
    • Jimmy Samijn - A 2000 single by this Belgian artist, former lead singer of the group Get Ready.
    • West End Girls - On their 2006 debut album Goes Petshopping.
    • The Soundlovers - The b-side of a 2006 single, "Can't Stop Dancing," by this Italian dance group. It's also available as a digital download.
    • Sarah Lee - A 2007 online cover by what I believe is a U.K. drag or transexual artist (or am I mistaken about that?).

  • In the Night
    • Kinky Boyz - A 1994 single.
    • Northern Electric - On the 2006 limited-edition various-artists PSB tribute album Always on Our Minds.

  • In Private
    • Dusty Springfield - On her 1991 album Reputation, half-produced by PSB; also released as a single.
    • Rosanna Fratello - Sung in Italian on her 1990 album Rosanna Ieri Rosanna Domani.
    • Cristiano Malgioglio - Sung in Italian on the 1995 various-artists album Sentimental Dance.
    • Obsession - A 2005 single by a dance-music act that specializes in cover versions.
    • Liliane St. Pierre - A Flemish-language translation retitled "Ik wil alles met je doen" on this renowned Belgian singer's 1997 album Ik ben wie ik ben.
    • Nouveau Riche - A cover by this Swedish duo was released as a single in 2007 and appears as a hidden bonus track (#18) on their album Pink Trash; you can also hear it on their MySpace page, though how long it will be there is anyone's guess.
    • Karen Noble - This U.K. artist, who bills herself the "Queen of Sound-Alikes," includes a medley of three PSB/Dusty Springfield collaborations, including this one, on her 2003 album Dusty: The Musical Tribute.

  • It Always Comes As a Surprise
    • Yuri Kononov - Part of the officially unreleased PSB tribute project Attribute (some tracks of which have been distributed "unofficially").

  • It's a Sin
    • Paul Anka - On this 2005 album Rock Swings.
    • Miquel Brown - A 1997 single.
    • Delhusa Gjon - A 1988 release on the Hungarian various-artists compilation Pop-Tari-Top - Sinkerlista '87.
    • Crüxshadows - On the 2001 various-artists PSB tribute album Very Introspective, Actually.
    • Gamma Ray - On their 1999 album Powerplant.
    • JJ72 - A bonus track on their 2001 single "Algeria"; member Mark Greaney, working as a solo artist, has also performed it live in a rendition that can be accessed on YouTube.
    • Henry Mancini and the Royal Philharmonic Pops Orchestra - On the 1989 album Mancini Rocks the Pops.
    • To/Die/For - A "bonus track" on the Hong Kong import edition of their 2002 album All Eternity.
    • X-Perience - On a 2003 promo single by this German trio.
    • West End Girls - On their 2006 debut album Goes Petshopping.
    • XP8 - On the 2006 limited-edition various-artists PSB tribute album Always on Our Minds.
    • Danny Chan - A 1987 Cantonese-language version by this Hong Kong singer; the title was curiously translated as "Underground Jury."
    • Bleuw - A 1987 Japanese single b-side, the a-side of which bears the remarkable title (translated) "It Is Sad the Straw Raincoat Angel."
    • Corporal Punishment - On the 1997 various-artists heavy metal compilation A Black Mark Tribute.
    • Mandora - On their 2004 release 3 Song Demo.
    • The Jade - On this Finnish quartet's 2006 album Slow Motions on the Fast Lanes. (Incidentally, while "It's a Sin" is definitely a PSB cover, the same album also includes a track called "King's Cross" that shares only its title with PSB song; the melody and lyrics are completely different.)
    • Graveworm - On a special edition of this Italian-German metal band's 2003 album Engraved in Black, appearing as a bonus track.
    • Tenebre - On this Swedish goth-metal band's 1996 album Descend from Heaven.
    • C-Drone Defect - On the 2005 German various-artists electronic music compilation United Vol 1.
    • Babylon - A 2007 cover by this Brazilian dance band.
    • West End Boys - This Seattle tribute band has posted their version on their MySpace site.
    • The Rasmus - A live rendition (which has been making the online rounds, particularly in video format), I believe from 2004 or 2005, by this Finnish band.
    • Geese - On the 2007 downloadable various-artists compilation NineteenEightySeven.
    • Kittie Kittie - On the 2005 various-artists compilation La Fiebre De Los 80 - Tecno/New Wave.
    • Transmission - On the 2007 various-artists dance compilations Let's Hear It for the 80s Volume One and Menergy Volume One.
    • And One - This German synthpop band's live version can be viewed on YouTube.

      Note: There's a persistent Internet rumor that the U.K. dance duo Utah Saints (Jez Willis and Tim Garbutt) have also covered "It's a Sin," but it's not true. The Saints themselves have denied that they have ever recorded the song and profess no idea as to how the rumor may have started.

  • Jack and Jill Party
    • Pete Burns - A 2004 single; Burns contributed to the lyrics.

  • Jealousy
    • Dubstar - On the 1997 various-artists compilation album Come Again; it also appears on the 2004 collection Stars: The Best of Dubstar.
    • Hungry Lucy - On the 2001 various-artists PSB tribute album Very Introspective, Actually.
    • West End Girls - On their 2006 debut album Goes Petshopping.
    • The Electric Soft Parade - On the 2008 album Rewind 1, a various-artists compilation on the Buffetlibre label of "eighties covers"—though whether "Jealousy" (written and demoed in the eighties but not officially released until 1990) truly qualifies as an "eighties song" is a matter of perspective. (The Buffetlibre website curiously misidentifies the song as "Rent," but it really is "Jealousy.")

  • King's Cross
    • Foretaste - On the 2006 limited-edition various-artists PSB tribute album Always on Our Minds.
    • Massimo "Spee" Spinetti - Part of the officially unreleased PSB tribute project Attribute (some tracks of which have been distributed "unofficially").
    • Tracey Thorn - A bonus track accompanying the UK iTunes version of her 2007 solo album Out of the Woods; a "Hot Chip Remix" also became available in December 2007, apparently promoted to the dance market.

  • Later Tonight
    • Liam the Lemming (Liam Hesse) - An instrumental rendition on his 1996 album Autoemotive.
  • Left to My Own Devices
    • Motormark - On the 2001 various-artists PSB tribute album Very Introspective, Actually.
    • Almighty Allstars - On the 2006 compilation Almighty: The Definitive Collection 4.
    • Eurobeat Club - On the 1989 Japanese compilation Disco Hits Now! Vol. 2.

  • Love Comes Quickly
    • Hidemi Ishikawa - Possibly the earliest PSB cover (though sung in Japanese), released as a single in 1986; it also appears on her album Pastiche.
    • Sweep - On the 2001 various-artists PSB tribute album Very Introspective, Actually.
    • Memphis - On their 2004 album I Dreamed We Fell Apart.
    • West End Girls - On their 2006 debut album Goes Petshopping.
    • Intuition - On the 2006 limited-edition various-artists PSB tribute album Always on Our Minds.
    • Condition Icon - On their 1998 album Strange Inspirations.
    • Zinno, featuring Yasmina Millich - A 2005 single by this Belgian duo and a guest vocalist. It also appears on the album Zinno's Hits and Clips, released that same year.
    • Hip Kid - A 2005 cover reportedly done in an "electro" style.
    • Julie Neumark - This U.S. artist's 2008 debut Dimestore Halo (great album title!) not only includes an acoustic cover of "Love Comes Quickly" but also appears to pay an additional, more subtle PSB tribute by making it a "hidden" track that comes after two minutes of silence following the CD's ostensible "final" song, à la what the Boys did with "Postscript" on Very. Clever.

  • Love Is a Catastrophe
    • Sharon Eusebe - On her 2004 album 24 Hour Blackout (as well as a bonus track on her single of the same name).

  • Love Life
    • Alcazar - On their 2003 album Alcazarized; it was also released as a single.

  • Nervously
    • CAP, featuring Lina - Part of the officially unreleased PSB tribute project Attribute (some tracks of which have been distributed "unofficially").

  • A New Life
    • Helena Springs - She co-wrote the song with Chris and Neil; her version, apparently given the alternate title "New Love," appeared on an extremely obscure 1987 German album also titled New Love.
    • Blue Swan - Part of the officially unreleased PSB tribute project Attribute (some tracks of which have been distributed "unofficially").

  • New York City Boy
    • Icon Of Coil - On the 2001 various-artists PSB tribute album Very Introspective, Actually.
    • Randy Jones - The original Village People cowboy covers this song on his 2006 album Ticket to the World. (It's a natural, if not inevitable.)
    • Berlin Mitte Boys (actually the Berlin dance duo Maertini Broes collaborating with publisher/scenester Juergen Laarmann and several others) - A 2000 one-off German-language single, with "New York" replaced by "Berlin" and retitled "Berlin Mitte Boy."
    • New York Papers - On the 2001 various-artists compilation Macho Dance.
    • Teuvo Loman - Maybe not precisely a cover version, but close. This Finnish vocalist's 2002 single "Helsinki City Boy" (sung in his native tongue) was clearly inspired by the PSB song and has a similar though not identical melody. Let's call it a "quasi-cover" and leave it at that.

  • Nothing Has Been Proved
    • Dusty Springfield - Originally released as a single in 1989, it subsequently appeared on her 1991 album Reputation, half-produced by PSB.
    • Strings of Love - Released in 1990 as a "Euro house"/rave dance single produced, arranged, and mixed by Max Minola, Frank Minola, and Corrado Rizza.
    • Karen Noble - The second of the three PSB/Dusty Springfield collaborations included in a medley on this artist's 2003 album Dusty: The Musical Tribute.

  • Occupy Your Mind
    • Dusty Springfield - On her 1991 album Reputation, half-produced by PSB.

  • One in a Million
    • DJ Neon - A rendition distributed online.

  • One More Chance
    • Linus Loves - On his 2006 album Stage Invader.

  • Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)
    • Fictional - On the 2001 various-artists PSB tribute album Very Introspective, Actually.
    • Suretoss - On their 1998 cassette-only release Harmless Intentions.
    • Frank Bennett - On the Australian singer's 1998 album Cash Landing.
    • Chinese Theatre - On the 2006 limited-edition various-artists PSB tribute album Always on Our Minds.
  • Paninaro
    • Euthanasia - A 2001 single.
    • Thermostatic - On the 2006 limited-edition various-artists PSB tribute album Always on Our Minds; it also appears as a bonus track on the 2007 re-release of their 2005 album Joy-Toy.
  • A Red Letter Day
    • Eloquent - On the 2006 limited-edition various-artists PSB tribute album Always on Our Minds as well as on the band's own 2006 EP Carousel of Life.
  • Rent
    • Liza Minnelli - On her 1989 PSB-produced album Results.
    • Triffids - On their 1989 album Bury Me Deep in Love.
    • Suede (aka in the U.S. as London Suede) - A live version (with Neil guesting on backup vocal) appearing as a bonus track on their 1997 single "Filmstar."
    • Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine - As a bonus track on their 1990 single "Rubbish" and again on their 1998 album Live!
    • Behind the Scenes - On the 2001 various-artists PSB tribute album Very Introspective, Actually.
    • Frau Doktor - On this German band's 2002 album Penner Super Disco.
    • Lie Detector - This Russian band has covered it, too, but since I can't read Russian, I know nothing else about it.
    • West End Girls - On their 2006 debut album Goes Petshopping.
    • Sara Noxx - On the 2006 limited-edition various-artists PSB tribute album Always on Our Minds.
    • Kafkas - On the 2001 various-artists compilation album Punk Chartbusters Vol. 4.
    • Chet Lam - On this Hong Kong singer's 2006 album Camping - Classics Reborn.
    • Amanda Mason (?) - A cover version allegedly by this teenage beauty queen (a holder of the title "Miss Teenager United States") and aspiring singer is floating around the Internet, although I have no confirmation yet whether it's actually by her or if it will see official release.
    • Condition Icon - On their 1998 album Strange Inspirations.
    • Marit Bergman vs. Justus Köhncke - A 2006 mashup titled "Rentcode" in which Swedish songstress Bergman sings "Rent" overtop German electronic musician Köhncke's 2004 instrumental "Timecode."
    • Two Divided by Zero - A Brazilian act self-described as an "electronic music project" (and who take their name from another PSB song) covers "Rent" on their 2004 download/demo album Appearance.
    • Thirteen Senses - This U.K. quartet's cover is so far available only as a bonus download to those who have bought their 2007 album Contact.
    • Kittie Kittie - On the 2005 various-artists compilations La Fiebre De Los 80 - Tecno/New Wave and Pop Only Hits - Vol. 2.
    • Decadence - On this Greek band's 2003 album Something to Love, Something to Spend.
    • Marit Bergman - This Swedish singer-songwriter, who's quite popular in her native country and gaining notice elsewhere, has performed "Rent" live on a number of occasions, although so far I believe a recording is available only online, such as on YouTube.

  • Run Girl Run!
    • Chris Kalera - This German artist, best known for his 2005 PSB-esque single "Music in the Subway" (and for having a singing voice uncannily similar to Neil Tennant's) has covered this Closer to Heaven artifact on his MySpace page.

  • Se A Vida É (That's the Way Life Is)
    • Kittie Kittie - On the 2005 various-artists compilation Pop Only Hits - Vol. 2.

  • Shopping
    • West End Girls - On their 2006 debut album Goes Petshopping.
    • Chris Kalera - Available for your listening pleasure, once again on his MySpace page.
    • Skitanja - A 2007 techno-punkish cover by this UK duo with a Russian-sounding name, available on the downloadable various-artists compilation NineteenEightySeven.
    • Emotiquon - On the 2008 album Rewind 4, a various-artists compilation on the Buffetlibre label of "eighties covers."

  • So Hard
    • Momus - On the 2001 various-artists PSB tribute album Very Introspective, Actually.
    • Richter - On the 2006 limited-edition various-artists PSB tribute album Always on Our Minds.
    • Squareheads - On the 1994 various-artists compilation Draaa!

  • So Sorry, I Said
    • Liza Minnelli - On her 1989 PSB-produced album Results.

  • Suburbia
    • Throw That Beat - A 1996 single.
    • Endanger - On the 2001 various-artists PSB tribute album Very Introspective, Actually.
    • Sofie Clausen - Her version has appeared on several dance/remix compilations (such as Remixland Vol. 7), but I haven't yet been able to determine when it was recorded.
    • West End Girls - On their 2006 debut album Goes Petshopping.
    • Skin of Tears - On the 2001 various-artists compilation album Punk Chartbusters Vol. 4.
    • Condition Icon - On their 1998 album Strange Inspirations.
    • DJ Reche, featuring Nacho Serrano - A 2005 12-inch single.
    • Inka - On her 2006 album Inkas Grasgruner Tag.
    • Berk and the Virtual Band - On this Spanish "cool jazz"/lounge combo's 2007 album Jazz Chill Vol. 2.
  • The Survivors
    • VTB - Part of the officially unreleased PSB tribute project Attribute (some tracks of which have been distributed "unofficially").

  • This Must Be the Place I Waited Years to Leave
    • Human Drama - On the 2001 various-artists PSB tribute album Very Introspective, Actually.
    • Brand New Idol - Part of the officially unreleased PSB tribute project Attribute (some tracks of which have been distributed "unofficially").

  • Tonight Is Forever
    • Liza Minnelli - On her 1989 PSB-produced album Results.
    • Hidemi Ishikawa - On her album 1986 Pastiche.
    • Scribe Machine, featuring Tim Heireth of Brand New Idol - Part of the officially unreleased PSB tribute project Attribute (some tracks of which have been distributed "unofficially").
    • Massimo "Spee" Spinetti - A rendition distributed online.

  • Two Divided by Zero
    • Belltower (alias of Bridgit DeCook) - On her 2006 album Sweet Fruit.

  • Was That What It Was?
    • Wouter Berkhout - Part of the officially unreleased PSB tribute project Attribute (some tracks of which have been distributed "unofficially").

  • West End Girls
    • Nicole Blackman & John Van Eaton - On the 2001 various-artists PSB tribute album Very Introspective, Actually.
    • East 17 - A 1993 single; also on their greatest hits albums All Around the World (1999) and The Very Best of East Seventeen (2005).
    • West End Girls - A rare (but by no means unique) instance in which the name of the band and the title of the song are the same. Released in 2006, this is the second single from Goes Petshopping, the debut album of the female Swedish duo who specialize in PSB covers.
    • West End Boys - Not surprisingly, this other PSB tribute duo has posted their own rendition on their MySpace site.
    • My Morning Jacket - A previously unreleased track on their 2004 rarities collection Chapter 2: Learning. This is reportedly a "note-for-note cover," right down to the vocalist's attempt to replicate Neil's sing-speaking.
    • Starchaser - The dance/electronica duo of Fausto Fanizza and Thomas Schwartz released their cover on EP in early 2006 accompanied by several remixes.
    • !Disdain featuring Katrin P - On the 2006 limited-edition various-artists PSB tribute album Always on Our Minds as well as their own 2008 album Raise the Level.
    • Tammi, featuring Luvva J - On the 2006 various-artists collection Past Becomes Future, an "alternative soul/hip-hop" tribute album to music of the 1970s and '80s.
    • DeathBoy - A 2004 version distributed on this U.K. industrial act's official website.
    • Such-A-Mess - This independent U.S. rap/hiphop duo are distributing their 2006 cover version via their website.
    • 3D Picnic - This Los Angeles-based band of eighties-deconstructionists covered it on their 1991 album New Wave Party.
    • Klassix - On the 2000 various-artists compliation Reinventing the 80s: A Trance Tribute.
    • Ryan Schmidt - Part of the officially unreleased PSB tribute project Attribute (some tracks of which have been distributed "unofficially").
    • DJ Space'C - A 1993 12-inch single.
    • Ed Starink (of Star Inc.) - A 1988 single.
    • Saragossa Band - A version by a German studio band that specializes in covers, on the 1999 album Das Super Zazazabadak.
    • Minor Majority - A 2007 guitar-driven live rendition by this Norwegian band has surfaced on YouTube; it's especially noteworthy because they don't "rap" the verse lyrics but rather sing them using an original (albeit very simple) melody of their own creation.
    • Scotty - German dance artist Oliver Dix—who remixes under the name "DJ Scotty" and who records his own tracks as just "Scotty"—released his WEG cover as a single in 2007.
    • Mugatu - A curious version, even more curiously retitled "Assault on the West End Girls" (which tells you something about it, doesn't it?), appearing on the 2004 various-artists compilation The Great Soundclash Swindle: A Non-Stop Mix by Keoke.
    • Ronin - On this New York-based metal band's 2006 album Dissolving Pinch Roller.

  • What Have I Done to Deserve This?
    • The Del Rubio Triplets - On their 1988 album (a camp classic) Three Gals, Three Guitars.
    • Rhea's Obsession - On the 2001 various-artists PSB tribute album Very Introspective, Actually.
    • Junobot - On the 2006 limited-edition various-artists PSB tribute album Always on Our Minds.
    • Jason Prince, featuring Mama Yvette - On the 2006 album The Jason Prince Collection.
    • Prudence Lau (also sometimes transcribed as "Liew") - A 1987 Cantonese-language version by this Hong Kong singer; the title was translated as "Why?"
    • Certainly, Sir - A bonus track on their 2002 single "My Thing for You."
    • DeAundra Peek - This drag comedian makes an absolute travesty of the song on his/her DVD Meet Me at Odum's.
    • Karen Noble - The third of the three PSB/Dusty collaborations included in a medley on this singer's 2003 album Dusty: The Musical Tribute.
    • West End Girls with Magnus Carlson - The first single (2008) from the sophomore album by this fabulous distaff Swedish PSB tribute band, with guest vocalist Magnus Carlson of the band Weeping Willows taking the Dusty Springfield role. A totally effective gender-flip version!

  • Yesterday, When I Was Mad
    • Randy the Band - On the 1996 compilation Quality Punk Rock.
    • Amanda Mason (?) - A unusual adaptation of this song—which uses the chorus written by PSB but combines it with completely new verses reportedly written by the singer herself—has shown up on the Internet. I have no confirmation yet as to whether this song will be released officially or even if it really is by Ms. Mason, an aspiring singer who holds the title of "Miss Teenager United States 2006."

  • You Know Where You Went Wrong
    • Cleaner - On the 2001 various-artists PSB tribute album Very Introspective, Actually.

  • You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk
    • Sophia (with guest Adele Bethal of Arab Strap) - On a limited-edition CD sold at dates on this band's 2000 European tour; on subsequent occasions it was also given away on a promo 7" single.
    • Splendid - On their 2004 album States of Awake.
    • Element of Crime - A bonus track on this German band's 2005 single "Delmenhorst."
    • West End Girls - On their 2006 debut album Goes Petshopping.
    • Transmissionary Six - On the 2005 album 05.21.05 by this band from Seattle, Washington, which curiously seems to be more popular in Germany than anywhere else.
    • The Promise Ring - The b-side of their 2002 single "Stop Playing Guitar."
    • Xavier Lopez Serret - Part of the officially unreleased PSB tribute project Attribute (some tracks of which have been distributed "unofficially").
    • J'Aime - On the 2004 Spanish various-artists compilation This Is My Country: Teoría y Práctica Melódica II.

  • Young Offender
    • Navaira - Part of the officially unreleased PSB tribute project Attribute (some tracks of which have been distributed "unofficially").
Plus—

"Favourite Pet Shop" – A four-and-a-half minute PSB medley by the British quasi-novelty vocal act 4 Poofs and a Piano, appearing on their 2005 debut album Screamin' Party Anthems. The songs that constitute this medley are "West End Girls," "Left to My Own Devices," "I Can't Take My Eyes Off You," "Always on My Mind," and (naturally) "It's a Sin." If you visit the HMV website you can even listen to an audio sample. At least based on that brief snippet, it's not nearly as awful as the album reviews I'd read led me to believe.

Copyright © 2001-2008 by Wayne Studer. All Rights Reserved. All lyrics and images copyright © their respective dates by their respective owners. Brief quotations and small, low-resolution images are used for identification and critical commentary; it is therefore believed that they constitute Fair Use under U.S. copyright law.