Track-by-Track: From Please to Nonetheless

[Tom Angel]

It was a ballsy move opening their difficult second album with a 12" mix and a portent of what was to come with 'Introspective'. That said, I love the 7" mix of this version of 'One More Chance' on Further Listening. Also the performance of it in the empty ballroom at the end of 'It Couldn't Happen Here'.

What version is that? I'm assuming it's the album (Actually) version?

[D.J.]

What a confidence that was to start their second record that features songs like It’s a Sin, Heart, What Have I Done…, King’s Cross, Rent, with a sparse 12” mix of One More Chance… and still succeed, as the song is amazing!

[TallThinMan]

It was a ballsy move opening their difficult second album with a 12" mix and a portent of what was to come with 'Introspective'. That said, I love the 7" mix of this version of 'One More Chance' on Further Listening. Also the performance of it in the empty ballroom at the end of 'It Couldn't Happen Here'.

What version is that? I'm assuming it's the album (Actually) version?

I love ‘One More Chance (Seven-Inch Mix)’, track four on ‘Further Listening 1987-1988’. They edited down the ‘Actually’ version for consideration as a single.

Sorry, I can see how my post could be confusing. In my last sentence in my previous post, as you say, I was referring to the performance of the extended version from ‘Actually’ in ICHH.

[telys]

This could've been on their Inner City Turbulence by Subculture album in 1985-86 along with West End girls, A Man Could Get, In The Club, Why Don't We, In The Night, Was That, That's My Imp... etc

Remember also that the first two albums featured songs by Bobby O

[Patrick Bateman]

The first Pet Shop Boys song I ever heard, One More Chance has a unique meaning for me. From the intro’s jarring piano stab onwards the drama and atmosphere pulled me immediately into the Pet Shop Boys universe, where I have remained ever since.
Has any band ever dispelled more quickly and decisively anxieties over the quality of the difficult sophomore album?
This is an imperious album opener and the gold standard by which all other album openers should be judged.
I prefer the album version to the 7” precisely because the magical Middle 8 does not recur - it is one of the most exhilarating moments in the entire canon, and its uniqueness is key to the magic...

I'm similar. Can still recall the thrill of playing Please, Disco and Actually over and over again on my Walkman. Think I know those albums better than any I've heard since. Push me in a corner and I'll scream...

[rashomon]

In my opinion, One more chance has one of the best bridges/middle-eights they've ever done. Melody and lyrics make perfect match.
I also love the coldness in Neil's voice which really adds to the song's overall feel. It sounds especially impressive compared to his younger, playful voice in the original Bobby O version.

All of this ….

[One of the crowd]

One more chance was a superb opener for the 1989 tour

[jasonjohn]

Imagine first holding Actually in your hands, seeing their suited faces, the yawn, taking them home with anticipation, and spinning up One More Chance - woah.

Terrific opener. Slides perfectly into the opening chimes of What Have I...

[MikeyC]

It was also brilliant to mash it up with A face like that at the start of the Electric Tour! x

[Pinhead44]

One More Chance

It is late in 1987, I am 12 years old and me and my 2 best mates decide that we each need to commit to a music artist, buy all their records, and be loyal to them forevermore. Furthermore (!), for reasons which only made complete sense as 12 year olds, we think it is not cool for any of us to be choosing the same act.

My first mate is easy, he picks Belinda Carlisle, for no other reason than he fancies her. Me and my other mate both decide we want Depeche Mode, but under the rules this is not allowed. There is clearly only one way to settle who get's DM, with a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors. I go Rock, my mate goes paper, and I lose. Gutted, I then have to decide who to pick as my alternative choice.

Had this been a few months ago this would have been easy choice, PSB had released It's A Sin which I loved, and I had also liked all the 4 tracks they had released off Please (the rest of Please and Disco I would discover later), but since then, What Have I Done... and Rent had been released, and as a 12 year old, they weren't the It's a sin part 2 that I craved.

Pushed by my mates for an answer, I reluctantly go with PSB and the following day I go to the Our Price music store to buy Actually. There are rows upon rows of the vinyl, and the first thing that strikes me, is how different the cover is to all the other albums in the shop.

Once home, I put the vinyl on the record player and check the back for the track listing, track one 'One More Chance'. The Abba-esque keyboard slide kicks in and I sit there mesmerised for 5 and a half minutes, staring at the front cover of the album the whole time. The track ends, and I thank my lucky stars that I didn't go scissors in that game of rock paper scissors ! My musical journey with the boys starts right here !

I still adore this track today, and love that, like Please, it a non-release classic that kicks off Actually. 9/10

[TallThinMan]

One More Chance

It is late in 1987, I am 12 years old and me and my 2 best mates decide that we each need to commit to a music artist, buy all their records, and be loyal to them forevermore. Furthermore (!), for reasons which only made complete sense as 12 year olds, we think it is not cool for any of us to be choosing the same act.

My first mate is easy, he picks Belinda Carlisle, for no other reason than he fancies her. Me and my other mate both decide we want Depeche Mode, but under the rules this is not allowed. There is clearly only one way to settle who get's DM, with a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors. I go Rock, my mate goes paper, and I lose. Gutted, I then have to decide who to pick as my alternative choice.

Had this been a few months ago this would have been easy choice, PSB had released It's A Sin which I loved, and I had also liked all the 4 tracks they had released off Please (the rest of Please and Disco I would discover later), but since then, What Have I Done... and Rent had been released, and as a 12 year old, they weren't the It's a sin part 2 that I craved.

Pushed by my mates for an answer, I reluctantly go with PSB and the following day I go to the Our Price music store to buy Actually. There are rows upon rows of the vinyl, and the first thing that strikes me, is how different the cover is to all the other albums in the shop.

Once home, I put the vinyl on the record player and check the back for the track listing, track one 'One More Chance'. The Abba-esque keyboard slide kicks in and I sit there mesmerised for 5 and a half minutes, staring at the front cover of the album the whole time. The track ends, and I thank my lucky stars that I didn't go scissors in that game of rock paper scissors ! My musical journey with the boys starts right here !

I still adore this track today, and love that, like Please, it a non-release classic that kicks off Actually. 9/10

That’s a great story!

[Harry]

One More Chance

It is late in 1987, I am 12 years old and me and my 2 best mates decide that we each need to commit to a music artist, buy all their records, and be loyal to them forevermore. Furthermore (!), for reasons which only made complete sense as 12 year olds, we think it is not cool for any of us to be choosing the same act.

I still adore this track today, and love that, like Please, it a non-release classic that kicks off Actually. 9/10

Wonderful story!

[jasonjohn]

Nice one, Pinhead44!

However you would have saved a small fortune if you'd chosen to collect Belinda Carlisle

[Ghost within this house]

Nice one, Pinhead44!

However you would have saved a small fortune if you'd chosen to collect Belinda Carlisle

[rashomon]

Love that story Pinhead!