What's New? – Recent Updates & Additions
December 2, 2024
My Favorite PSB Mashups
Thanks so much to regular site visitor leesmapman for telling me about "Smells Like a Party Song," his marvelous new mashup of the Pet Shop Boys' "Party Song" and Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit," which was inspired by this very website! I had written how Neil and Chris have noted that "Party Song" originated with their aborted attempt to cover that Nirvana classic, and lessmapman took it on himself to demonstrate the remarkable linkage of the two songs via his mashup. I think it's terrific, so much so that I've added it to my list of my favorite PSB mashups.
November 30, 2024
Early Titles for Pet Shop Boys Songs and Albums
Thanks to Rafael Moretti for reminding me that I needed to add "Adrenaline" to my list of early titles for Pet Shop Boys songs and albums by virtue of it having evolved from a track originally titled "Suspension." I've now rectified that oversight.
The Rating Project
It's been pointed out to me that several recently released PSB tracks haven't yet been addressed in my Rating Project. I'm well aware of this fact but I'm going to hold off on running a new rating poll for those songs until I can be reasonably confident that everyone who might wish to take part has had ample opportunity not only to hear these newer tracks but also to have "digested" them such that they can objectively rate them. I figure that won't be until sometime shortly after the start of the new year. So a new survey is coming—just not until the early days of 2025. Stay tuned!
November 29, 2024
PSB Songs That Contain Biblical Allusions
Now that I've met my Thanksgiving social obligations, I can turn my attention back to my website obligations. First up, thanks to Steve N for pointing out that the line "In the midst of trouble" in "Adrenaline" comes from Psalm 138:7, earning it a spot at #27 in my list of Pet Shop Boys songs that contain biblical allusions.
PSB Songs That Have Been Used in Films and "Non-musical" TV Shows
Next, thanks to Jeff Durst for letting me know that "Feel" could be heard in this past Wednesday's episode of EastEnders, which I've noted in the entry for that song at #107 in my list of PSB songs that have been used in films and "non-musiccal" TV shows.
PSB Song Chronology
Thanks to David B for alerting me to a couple of errors, now corrected, related to the first release dates of Bilingual and Release in my PSB Song Chronology.
Mixes/Versions
Finally, t hanks to RichardB (whom I've just added to my Thank You page) for informing me of an error, also now corrected, in my notes about the Dave Spoon mixes of "Integral."
November 27, 2024
Personal Observations
As many if not most of you know, tomorrow is the Thanksgiving holiday here in the States. And, on account of that, we'll have a houseful of guests. I'm therefore going to be extremely busy today making preparations (cleaning the house and cooking my famous cranberry chutney, among other things—the turkey doesn't go into the oven until Thanksgiving morning) and, of course, playing host tomorrow. So, unless something truly monumental occurs in the "PSB world," I probably won't be able to make any website updates until Friday at the earliest, and I may not even have much time to respond to emails. In the meantime, I wish a very happy and safe Thanksgiving to those of you who observe the holiday tomorrow!
November 26, 2024
PSB Song Chronology
Thanks to Matteo for alerting me to an obscure fact that necessitates an adjustment to my PSB song chronology. Previously I had cited November 1987 as the month of the first official physical release of the Pet Shop Boys' cover of "Always on My Mind." But Matteo discovered that a special Japanese edition of Actually, released that September, had included (along with the Dub Mix of "Heart") a bonus 7-inch vinyl disc with a recording of their rendition of the song from the Love Me Tender TV tribute to Elvis Presley. So that turns out to be the chronological debut of PSB's AOMM in physical format. So, after verification research, I've modified my chronology accordingly. Meanwhile, the first appearance of "Do I Have To?" (the b-side of the AOMM single) remains in November 1987. Thanks again, Matteo!
November 24, 2024
PSB Studio Albums That Made Selected Major Music Publications' Year-end Lists
It's good to see that Nonetheless has made it onto Mojo magazine's recently published list (at #32) of the 75 best albums of 2024. With this announcement, I grant Nonetheless its debut on my list of Pet Shop Boys studio albums that made selected major music publications' year-end lists. I find this especially gratifying considering that their previous studio album, Hotspot, didn't make it onto any of the year-end lists that I track.
I'm also pleased to learn that music critic Tom Hull, who specializes in jazz but keeps his ears well tuned to other genres, has named Nonetheless one of "the best non-jazz albums of 2024." Of it he writes, "Formula by now, but it's a great formula, dancey and dreamy, clever and profound, their best in some time, most likely." As it turns out, Hull has a long history of appreciating and praising the Pet Shop Boys' music, having assigned most of their albums some sort of A grade (A+, A, or A-) and all the others some level of B.
Updates/Corrections
Thanks to Raymond Merkh for catching a couple of typos, now corrected, on my pages for "All the Young Dudes" and "Adrenaline." Speaking of the latter song, Raymond was also kind enough to send me its lyrics taken from the expanded edition of Nonetheless, which I haven't received yet (doggone it!). I've been able to use those lyrics to expand a bit on my analysis of that track.
November 23, 2024
Mixes/Versions
Thanks to Marco Lucht for reminding me that I hadn't yet updated the "Mixes/Versions" for all of the songs on Nonetheless to reflect the newly released demo versions. Oversight now addressed!
Song Annotations
Thanks to Ray W for sharing his delightful observation that, in the Pet Shop Boys' cover version of "All the Young Dudes," Neil's decision to repeat a line improvised by Ian Hunter—not written by David Bowie—toward the end of Mott the Hoople's 1972 original may reflect a certain aspect of his (Neil's) own youthful appearance. I discuss this briefly in a new final bullet-point annotation to my commentary on that song.
November 22, 2024
Updates/Corrections
With the release today of the expanded edition of Nonetheless, I've made significant updates to my entries for the new tracks "Adrenaline," "The Dark End of the Street," and "Miserere." These updates should be regarded as preliminary, however. I'll undoubtedly be making revisions and/or additions as I spend more time "digesting" these songs, especially once the Pet Shop Boys get around to posting the lyrics of "Adrenaline" (many lines of which I'm having trouble making out) on their official website. Stay tuned!
To my list of Pet Shop Boys songs with "extra lyrics" I've added "Loneliness" thanks to a significant difference in the third verse of the newly released demo version compared to the Nonetheless "standard." (The major lyrical difference in the previously released "A New Bohemia" demo had already been noted.)
Incidentally, I haven't yet received my copy of the expanded Nonetheless, which I ordered on the first day we were allowed to place pre-orders, just as I haven't yet received my copies of the "New London Boy"/"All the Young Dudes" CD single. I do hope they all arrive before too much longer!
November 18, 2024
I've Been Cited!
Thanks to Paul Atkin for letting me know that the Wikipedia entry for the song "All the Young Dudes" cites me in relation to something I wrote about it back in 1994 in my book Rock on the Wild Side, which I've now noted on my "I've Been Cited!" page. This got me to wondering just how many times I'm mentioned in Wikipedia, whether related to that book, this website, or some other aspect of my career. I was pleased to find that I'm cited in at least twenty entries there that I've discovered so far.
November 13, 2024
Updates/Corrections
Thanks to Richard Firth for alerting me to a probably outdated reference, now eliminated, on my page devoted to Neil Tennant's honorary doctorate.
November 12, 2024
Breaking News!
I've been preoccuppied with personal business and have therefore allowed a few things to fall behind. But, first off, the Pet Shop Boys have announced today on their website that their medley of "All the Young Dudes"/"West End Girls" is now available in two new studio versions produced by Stuart Price.
PSB Songs That Contain Biblical Allusions
Meanwhile, thanks to Steve N. for reminding me that the phrase "promised land" used in "Beauty Has Laid Siege to the City" is derived from the bible, which I've now noted in a new entry for that song at #26 in my list of PSB songs that contain biblical allusions.
Updates/Corrections
And thanks to Rob Bainbridge not only for pointing out a typo, now corrected, in the entry for "Suburbia" in my list of PSB songs used in non-musical films and TV shows but also for providing information that has inspired me to make a few additions and modifications to what I say about both that song and about "Absolutely Fabulous" in that same list.
Thanks as well to Paul Lefrere for pointing out that I had neglected to add several new PSB releases to my "Albums and Songs" summary. Oversight now rectified!
Finally, thanks to David B for telling me that the "Delinquent Version" of "All the Young Dudes" was not remixed by the duo Delinquent (apparently now disbanded) but rather is a full-fledged PSB production. I haven't received a physical copy of the single yet, so at this point I must rely on information supplied by others. Discogs reports it as a remix by Delinquent, but they may well be in error. At least unless and until I learn otherwise, I'll go with information provided by my usually quite reliable regular site visitors like David. So I've made this adjustment on the page for "Dudes" as well as on my pages devoted to PSB remixers and the Boys' own work as remixers.
November 9, 2024
"PSB Connections"
Thanks to Robert (who asked that I use only his first name) for informing me that a rare Italian 12-inch vinyl promo released in late 1985 featured the Pet Shop Boys' "West End Girls" on one side and Stevie Nicks's "I Can't Wait" on the other. I've now noted this fact as a new "PSB connection" with Fleetwood Mac on the page devoted to my other favorite artists.
November 8, 2024
Updates/Corrections
Thanks to Peter Sylvén for pointing out a couple of errors I made related to the members of Army of Lovers, to whom I refer in one of my annotations for the new song "Beauty Has Laid Siege to the City." And related to another annotation to that same song, thanks as well to Andrew Shaw for sharing some additional information about Piccadilly, specifically with regard to its reputation as a common cruising zone and site of "rent boy" pickups.
PSB Music Videos
I've added an entry for the new official video for the Pet Shop Boys' remake of "All the Young Dudes" to my page devoted to capsule descriptions of their music videos. (I don't think it's a "spoiler" to note here that Neil and Chris don't appear in it.)
November 7, 2024
Updates/Corrections
The new double-A single "New London Boy" / "All the Young Dudes" has been released digitally this morning. I've made a few pertinent updates, most notably to my entry for the bonus track "Beauty Has Laid Siege to the City." Speaking of the latter, I read a comment in Facebook in which someone noted that its introduction is reminiscent of that of the 1992 progressive house classic "Passion" by Gat Décor—a brilliant observation, if you ask me—but now I can't find that comment or credit who originally posted it. If I do locate it again, I'll make sure to credit that person here. In the meantime, I've now included that insight in my commentary on the song.
Thanks to Rafael Moretti for catching a few typos and oversights, which I've now addressed, on my page for "Clean Air Hybrid Electric Bus."
November 2, 2024
Updates/Corrections
Thanks to Nigel Brand for catching a typo, now corrected, on my page for "Dreaming of the Queen."
Personal Observations
For personal reasons that have nothing to do with the Pet Shop Boys or this website, I'm going to be extremely busy with other responsibiities over the next few days. I probably won't be able to make any site updates, and may not even have much time to reply to emails, until Tuesday. So if you email me and don't hear back from me until then, that's why. I'll be sure to get back to you—and make any site updates, as appropriate—as soon as I'm free again. In the meantime, thank you for your patience and understanding!
November 1, 2024
Personal Observations
To my longtime regular site visitor Bill Bahlman – I've tried twice to reply to your most recent email to me, but both times my reply has bounced back as "undeliverable." This isn't happening with other emails that I'm sending or replying to. I don't know what the problem might be. You may want to look into it from your end.
October 31, 2024
PSB Songs Used in Non-musical Films and TV Shows
Happy Halloween! On a not wholly unreleased note, thanks to Matteo for telling me that the Pet Shop Boys' rendition of the Bee Gees classic "I Started a Joke" was used at the beginning of a recent episode of the Amazon Prime series The Devil's Hour, a fact that earns the song a new spot at #108 in my list of PSB songs used in non-musical films and Tv shows.
October 30, 2024
Mixes/Versions
Thanks to Nigel Brand for letting me know that the official video that's promoting the new "Pet Shop Boys Since 1984" tea set newly offered for sale on the PSB website uses a previously unknown instrumental mix of "Dreaming of the Queen" as backing music. I'm not sure how best to categorize it, but at least for the time being I'm calling it "official but unreleased," although the very concept of "release" has become rather amorphous in recent years.
October 29, 2024
PSB Songs Used in Non-musical Films and TV Shows
Thanks to Jeff Durst for letting me know that "Feel" could be heard on this evening's edition of EastEnders, which I've now noted in the entry for that song at #107 in my list of Pet Shop Boys songs used in non-musical films and TV shows.
October 24, 2024
Song Annotations
Thanks so much to longtime visitor "Toaster in the Bath" for sharing a fascinating fact about the Japanese edition of Behaviour and its song "Nervously," which I've noted in a new annotation to my commentary on that song.
PSB U.S. and U.K. Gold and Platinum Records
No, it's not gold or platinum, but at the end of my list of the Pet Shop Boys' U.S. and U.K. gold and plantinum records I do list their U.K. silver certifications as well. And Michael Fick has just informed me that Smash has indeed received silver certification, which is actually rather impressive considering its hefty price tag. Thanks, Michael!
October 22, 2024
Films That Have Featured PSB Songs
PSB Songs That Have Been Used in Films and "Non-musical" TV Shows
Thanks to Des for letting me know that the Pet Shop Boys' rendition of "Always on My Mind" can be heard briefly about two-thirds of the way through the new film The Apprentice. I've made note of this in two lists: "Films that have featured PSB Songs" and "PSB songs that have been used in films and 'non-musical' TV shows."
October 17, 2024
PSB Remixers
Thanks to Tobias Gadau for catching an error, now corrected, I had made with regard to Boy Harsher (namely, which song they've remixed) on my page devoted to the Pet Shop Boys' remixers. He also shared some information with me about a July 2024 interview with Neil on the U.K. radio show This Classical Life in which he discussed, among other things, the unreleased track "In the Club or in the Queue," which inspired me to make a few additions to my commentary on that song.
October 16, 2024
Celebrity Fans of the Pet Shop Boys Outside the Field of Music
Thanks to Lee Richards for letting me know (along with the requisite evidence) that Japanese video game designer/producer Hideo Kojima deserves a spot in my list of celebrity fans of the Pet Shop Boys outside the field of music.
PSB Songs Used in Non-musical Films and TV Shows
Thanks to Gary Beavan from Nottingham for telling me about the use of "Feel" on today's edition of The One Show. I've noted this fact in a new entry for that song at #107 in my list of PSB songs used in non-musical films and TV shows.
October 15, 2024
Breaking News!
The Pet Shop Boys have just announced the pending release next month of a fifth single from Nonetheless, namely "New London Boy," paired with "All the Young Dudes" as a double-A single. They will be released digitally and on two CD singles with remixes and a pair of bonus tracks, "Clean Air Hybrid Electric Bus" and the previously unreleased "Beauty Has Laid Siege to the City." I've also made a few appropriate additions to my page devoted to remixers for the Boys.
Updates/Corrections
Having received his permission to do so, I've added Simon Sloane's name to my Thank You page in recognition of his contribution of information yesterday (see just below). Thanks again, Simon!
Fan Inquiry
One of my regular site visitors, Patrick Seyve (aka Cubitainer), has been searching without luck for the modified version of the Dub Mix of "Always on My Mind" that can be heard in trailers for the film All of Us Strangers (though not in the film itself, which uses the far more familiar single version). So he asked me to put the matter before you, our fellow fans. Are any of you aware of whether a full-length recording of this new version of the AOMM Dub Mix is available anywhere? If so, please let me know and I'll pass that information on to Patrick as well as share it here. Thanks so much!
October 14, 2024
PSB Songs That Have Been Used in TV Commercials
Thanks to Simon Sloane for letting me know that an edited but lengthy version of the Pet Shop Boys classic "Left to My Own Devices" is being used in a new commercial for the U.K. mobile/broadband provider EE. So I've now added that song at #15 to my list of PSB songs that have been used in TV commercials. And if you would like to see this ad, it's available online. And let me just say that the PSB music, together with the imaginative nature of the ad itself, makes it considerably more enjoyable to watch than most other commercials, its two-minute length notwithstanding!
October 13, 2024
Updates/Corrections
Thanks to Richard Firth for providing some background information about the song "Closer to Heaven" of which I was unaware. This has led me to make an update to what I say about the influence of Babylon Zoo (attested to by the Boys themselves) on the song.
October 6, 2024
Updates/Corrections
Two days ago I updated my website's entry for The Hidden Cameras' "Colour of a Man," remixed by the Pet Shop Boys, in response to their official website's notification that it's finally seeing official physical release. I didn't feel the need to call it out on this page because it had already received attention there. But a couple of site visitors have written to me about it, so I guess I do need to make note of it here on my "What's New?" page as well.
Also, it seems that there's some uncertainty about the authenticity of the "Party in the Blitz" promo that I mentioned yesterday (see just below). It may be a bootleg. But I just don't know for sure at this point. I'll see if I can learn anything more definite about it. If I do, I'll make any appropriate adjustments.
October 5, 2024
Mixes/Versions
Thanks to Sotirios Dimadis for letting me know about a new Parlophone promo CD that seems to give the "Loneliness" b-side "Party in the Blitz" the quasi-single treatment. This promo CD features "Party in the Blitz" exclusively with four official Superchumbo mixes—two that had been previously released and two more previously unreleased, including a "radio mix." This promo has been issued in the U.K. and Germany. Could it be that Parlophone believes "Party in the Blitz" has single potential in Germany? I'm going to see if I can learn more about this before I seriously consider adding it to my list of PSB "singles that weren't." In the meantime, I've gone ahead and noted these two additional mixes in the "Mixes/Versions" section on my page devoted to that song.
October 4, 2024
Happy birthday to Chris Lowe!
October 3, 2024
Mixes/Versions
Thanks to José Díaz for sharing information about authentic but officially unreleased mixes ("Pre-Release Metropolis Mastering Demos") of "I Don't Know What You Want But I Can't Give It Any More" and "In Denial," which I've used to update my entries for the mixes/versions of those songs.
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