Pet Shop Boys - Reserve - the b-sides and bonus tracks 1985-2024

[daveid]

We have enough b-sides now for a third collection and I've been working on ideas for some time. The problem with a third collection is that at the point we left Format, there is a load of cover versions which I cannot see them front-loading a new album with. They have said that the 7" of Fugitive could start the next volume but even so, that would mean starting with a Germany/US b-side then a load of non-PSB written tracks. I wondered then if a complete collection from 1985 would be the best option, presented in six discs and with a few additions / corrections to make it more complete. I thought "Reserve" was a good name as it refers to tracks held back and is almost the same as "Reverse". Anyway, here's my stab at it, with occasional notes explaining inclusion.

Pet Shop Boys Reserve The complete b-sides and bonus tracks 1985 – 2024

Disc 01. 85-90

01. In the night 4:51 1985
02. A man could get arrested (12-inch b-side mix) 4:11 1985 * the 7" version is hideous
03. That’s my impression (7-inch version) 4:45 1986 * the shorter version not on Alternative or FL
04. Was that what it was? 4:45 1986
05. Paninaro 4:40 1986
06. Jack the lad 4:30 1986
07. You know where you went wrong 5:51 1987
08. A new life 4:55 1987
09. I want a dog 4:59 1987
10. Do I have to? 5:14 1987
11. I get excited (You get excited too) 4:54 1988 *not the edit
12. Don Juan 3:54 1988
13. The sound of the atom splitting (short version) 3:39 1988 *from the single
14. One of the crowd 3:54 1989
15. Your funny uncle 2:16 1989
16. It must be obvious 4:24 1990
17. We all feel better in the dark 4:00 1990

total: 75:42

Disc 02. 91-96

01. Bet she’s not your girlfriend 4:28 1991
02. Losing my mind 4:34 1991
03. Music for boys 3:36 1991
04. Miserablism 4:11 1991
05. Hey, headmaster 3:00 1993
06. What keeps mankind alive? 3:25 1993
07. Shameless 5:03 1993
08. Too many people 4:19 1993
09. Violence (Hacienda version) 4:58 1993
10. Decadence 3:56 1994
11. If love were all 2:58 1994
12. Can you forgive her (swing version) 4:53 1994 *not released on any album - this may be a purely Richard Niles track, hence the exclusion
13. Some speculation 6:33 1994
14. Euroboy 4:28 1994
15. Girls and boys (live in Rio) 4:55 1995 *on the JP version of Alternative - a b-side on a single promoting a b-side collection but not on the album itself!
16. The truck-driver and his mate 3:33 1996
17. Hit and miss 4:07 1996
18. In the night (1995) 4:18 1996

total: 77:16

Disc 03. 96-02

01. Betrayed 5:20 1996
02. How I learned to hate rock’n’roll 4:38 1996
03. Discoteca (new version) 3:47 1996
04. The calm before the storm 2:49 1996
05. Confidential (demo) 4:47 1996
06. The boy who couldn’t keep his clothes on (7-inch vsn) 5:44 1997 * the much-overlooked original version
07. Delusions of grandeur 5:04 1997
08. The view from your balcony 3:46 1997
09. Disco potential 4:07 1997
10. Silver age 3:32 1999
11. Screaming 4:54 1999
12. The ghost of myself 4:02 1999
13. Casting a shadow 4:37 1999
14. Lies 4:40 2000
15. Sail away 4:33 2000 * excluded from Format for no logical reason
16. Sexy Northerner 3:40 2002
17. Always 5:02 2002

total: 74:22

Disc 04. 02-09

01. Nightlife 3:54 2002
02. Searching for the face of Jesus 3:27 2002
03. Between two islands 5:11 2002
04. Friendly fire 3:23 2002
05. Positive role model 4:03 2002 * If Fugitive makes the grade then why not this German b-side?
06. We’re the Pet Shop Boys 4:55 2003
07. Transparent 3:52 2003
08. I didn’t get where I am today 3:37 2004
09. The resurrectionist 3:09 2006
10. Girls don’t cry 2:34 2006
11. In private (7-inch mix) 4:13 2006
12. Blue on blue 3:13 2006
13. No time for tears (7-inch mix) 3:35 2006 * controversial inclusion but I won't argue with N&C
14. Party song 3:41 2006
15. Bright young things 4:55 2006
16. Gin and Jag 4:29 2009
17. We’re all criminals now 3:55 2009
18. After the event 5:19 2009
19. The former enfant terrible 2:41 2009
20. Up and down 3:44 2009

total: 77:50

Disc 05. 09-16 (and here come all the cover versions)

01. Fugitive (7-inch mix) 3:31 2009 * well, they said it in Literally.
02. My girl 3:41 2009 * Yes, Christmas was an EP, but an EP with two physical radio promos and IDOSAC was on Smash, so this is a b-side IMO.
03. Viva la vida/Domino dancing 5:42 2009 * I refer the honourable gentleman to my previous answer
04. Glad all over 3:25 2010
05. I cried for us 3:47 2010
06. A certain ‘Je ne sais quoi’ 4:57 2012
07. The way through the woods (long version) 5:41 2012
08. I started a joke 3:16 2012
09. Hell 3:35 2012
10. In his imagination 4:56 2012
11. Baby (demo) 3:45 2012
12. Listening 4:19 2012
13. One night 4:05 2012
14. Inside 2:53 2012
15. Entschuldigung! 5:03 2013
16. Get it online 3:36 2013
17. No more ballads 3:44 2013
18. Odd man out 3:46 2013
19. In bits 3:32 2016

total: 77:14

Disc 06. 16-24

01. One-hit wonder 3:21 2016
02. The white dress 3:33 2016
03. Wiedersehen 4:16 2016
04. A cloud in a box 4:09 2016
05. The dead can dance 2:57 2016
06. Left to my own devices (Super version) 5:31 2017 * we're in the grey area of Annually CDs and digital singles now, but We're all criminals now was a digital-only b-side and was on Format.
07. An open mind 3:52 2019
08. No boundaries 3:38 2019 * a great b-side but also on My beautiful laundrette. Unique in being in two near-simultaneous releases.
09. Decide 4:49 2019 * BtH wasn't on Smash but if this isn't a b-side then neither are their pre-1987 ones!
10. At rock bottom 3:17 2020
11. New boy 4:11 2020
12. West End girls (new lockdown version) 3:13 2021 *Oh go on - it got commercial release.
13. Party in the Blitz 3:09 2024
14. Through you (extended mix) 7:01 2024
15. Sense of time 4:10 2024
16. If Jesus had a sister 4:12 2024
17. It’s not a crime 3:17 2024
18. I’ve got plans (involving you) 4:27 2024
19. Everybody will dance 4:35 2024

total: 77:35

[Eleven]

Thats a great idea, you have made such a great work here
Im missing an extra CD with those tracks that for some reason never got to be released, either for them to consider unfinished or else like Bounce, In the Club or in the Queue, Only love... And Im sure they got more tapes of interesting things that they dony really care that can fill this cd pretty quick

[Dog]

Love a b-sides compilation discussion.

There’s definitely enough material for a new collection and I think we could realistically see this being the next big Parlophone PSB reissue focus. Rather than revisiting and revising Alternative and Format (after all, we know revisionism isn’t a very PSB thing: the catalogue is the catalogue), I could see Parlophone taking the opportunity to reissue both, including releasing Format on vinyl for the first time.

Thinking about a new third compilation, I always thought it was interesting that Format was subtitled “b-sides and bonus tracks” - meaning we don’t have to get too hung up wondering whether or not a track was a b-side or not - if it’s not on SMASH or on a conventional PSB album, it must be in contention for this next compilation.

For me, the key question is how they’ll treat the three EPs they’ve released since Format. If we’re considering including tracks from Christmas (and I think we should), then it follows that we should consider tracks from Agenda and Lost as well. Adding all 12 tracks feels excessive, so my proposal would be to play the “bonus track” card and add the “lead” track from each: All over the world (new version), Give stupidity a chance, and The Lost Room. This approach also serves to remove the opening run of covers. Another option would be to consider the two tracks from their first Record Store Day release (Love life and A powerful friend) but I suggest this would be less likely.

And… If we’re including EP tracks then we should definitely also consider Cricket wife. It’s exactly the alternative side of their work these compilations are intended to showcase.

While I agree the new versions of Left to my own devices and West End girls must be contenders, I think they would interrupt the flow somewhat here. Given we’re not entertaining the inclusion of Furthermore tracks, I propose also excluding these. These versions will instead eventually find their home on the next Further Listening discs.

My proposed title is “Deep” - cos they’re “deep cuts” but also a nod to the fact that it also includes some of their more thoughtful and experimental work. So my neat two-disc compilation becomes:

Pet Shop Boys: Deep
b-sides and bonus tracks (2009-2024)

1. Fugitive (seven-inch mix)
2. All over the world (new version)
3. Glad all over
4. I cried for us
5. A certain “Je ne sais quoi”
6. The way through the woods (long version)
7. I started a joke
8. Hell
9. In his imagination
10. Baby (demo)
11. Listening
12. One night
13. Inside
14. Entschuldigung!
15. Get it online
16. No more ballads
17. Odd man out
18. In bits
19. One-hit wonder

1. The white dress
2. Wiedersehen
3. A cloud in a box
4. The dead can dance
5. Give stupidity a chance
6. An open mind
7. No boundaries
8. Decide
9. At rock bottom
10. New boy
11. Cricket wife
12. The lost room
13. Party in the Blitz
14. Through you (extended mix)
15. Sense of time
16. If Jesus had a sister
17. It’s not a crime
18. I’ve got plans (involving you)
19. Everybody will dance

[jasonjohn]

Can't describe it exactly, but there's something 'clean' sounding about the majority of this latest batch. Probably the change in digital production methods? There's a certain modern sparseness to their later b-sides.

[Lleonard Pler]

Love a b-sides compilation discussion.

There’s definitely enough material for a new collection and I think we could realistically see this being the next big Parlophone PSB reissue focus. Rather than revisiting and revising Alternative and Format (after all, we know revisionism isn’t a very PSB thing: the catalogue is the catalogue), I could see Parlophone taking the opportunity to reissue both, including releasing Format on vinyl for the first time.

Thinking about a new third compilation, I always thought it was interesting that Format was subtitled “b-sides and bonus tracks” - meaning we don’t have to get too hung up wondering whether or not a track was a b-side or not - if it’s not on SMASH or on a conventional PSB album, it must be in contention for this next compilation.

For me, the key question is how they’ll treat the three EPs they’ve released since Format. If we’re considering including tracks from Christmas (and I think we should), then it follows that we should consider tracks from Agenda and Lost as well. Adding all 12 tracks feels excessive, so my proposal would be to play the “bonus track” card and add the “lead” track from each: All over the world (new version), Give stupidity a chance, and The Lost Room. This approach also serves to remove the opening run of covers. Another option would be to consider the two tracks from their first Record Store Day release (Love life and A powerful friend) but I suggest this would be less likely.

And… If we’re including EP tracks then we should definitely also consider Cricket wife. It’s exactly the alternative side of their work these compilations are intended to showcase.

While I agree the new versions of Left to my own devices and West End girls must be contenders, I think they would interrupt the flow somewhat here. Given we’re not entertaining the inclusion of Furthermore tracks, I propose also excluding these. These versions will instead eventually find their home on the next Further Listening discs.

My proposed title is “Deep” - cos they’re “deep cuts” but also a nod to the fact that it also includes some of their more thoughtful and experimental work. So my neat two-disc compilation becomes:

Pet Shop Boys: Deep
b-sides and bonus tracks (2009-2024)

1. Fugitive (seven-inch mix)
2. All over the world (new version)
3. Glad all over
4. I cried for us
5. A certain “Je ne sais quoi”
6. The way through the woods (long version)
7. I started a joke
8. Hell
9. In his imagination
10. Baby (demo)
11. Listening
12. One night
13. Inside
14. Entschuldigung!
15. Get it online
16. No more ballads
17. Odd man out
18. In bits
19. One-hit wonder

1. The white dress
2. Wiedersehen
3. A cloud in a box
4. The dead can dance
5. Give stupidity a chance
6. An open mind
7. No boundaries
8. Decide
9. At rock bottom
10. New boy
11. Cricket wife
12. The lost room
13. Party in the Blitz
14. Through you (extended mix)
15. Sense of time
16. If Jesus had a sister
17. It’s not a crime
18. I’ve got plans (involving you)
19. Everybody will dance

I think this could work. Tight, coherent and ready to go.

[Leonidas]

I take my hat off to you guys for making these lists. Very impressive. What you have done is given the Boys a working template.

[ElectriCity]

« Besides » seems a clever PSB compilation album title

[tottenhammattspurs]

Title:- “betterthantheAside”

[Dog]

« Besides » seems a clever PSB compilation album title

This was the intended title for Alternative. They made a last minute switch because the band Sugar took the same name for their b-sides compilation.

[telys]

Where is Je t'aime moi non plus?

[daveid]

Where is Je t'aime moi non plus?

Last seen hanging out with Break 4 love and they're both annoyed.

Regarding Dog's list, I really can't see them treating opening tracks from EPs as contenders. AotW was an intended single and was a single-of-sorts complete with video. GSaC was the lead track from Agenda with a video-of-sorts (although Social media felt more like the main song to me), Lost Room was clearly meant as the lead track of a themed EP and had a sort-of video. What about My beautiful launderette? That's an EP of-sorts so would anything from that be included? Like I said, I see Christmas as a single disguised as an EP whereas Lost, Agenda, etc. are non-promotional EPs mainly for the fans. As for Cricket wife, a ten minute experimental track can't be a b-side, but there's a case for West End girls, if we treat the release as a two-track single. The case for other "bonus tracks"? That terminology definitely referred to single bonus tracks, not album bonus tracks - if it were the latter then we'd have had the full version of Fugitive as well as This used to be the future on Format. Whatever the case I'm certain Neil knows what, in his mind, qualifies a track to make the cut.

And a final thought - the Brits medley wasn't included on Format despite being a digital bonus track on the Did you see me coming? single. Would they be so bold as to launch their next compilation with this?

[Dog]

Where is Je t'aime moi non plus?

Last seen hanging out with Break 4 love and they're both annoyed.

Regarding Dog's list, I really can't see them treating opening tracks from EPs as contenders. AotW was an intended single and was a single-of-sorts complete with video. GSaC was the lead track from Agenda with a video-of-sorts (although Social media felt more like the main song to me), Lost Room was clearly meant as the lead track of a themed EP and had a sort-of video. What about My beautiful launderette? That's an EP of-sorts so would anything from that be included? Like I said, I see Christmas as a single disguised as an EP whereas Lost, Agenda, etc. are non-promotional EPs mainly for the fans. As for Cricket wife, a ten minute experimental track can't be a b-side, but there's a case for West End girls, if we treat the release as a two-track single. The case for other "bonus tracks"? That terminology definitely referred to single bonus tracks, not album bonus tracks - if it were the latter then we'd have had the full version of Fugitive as well as This used to be the future on Format. Whatever the case I'm certain Neil knows what, in his mind, qualifies a track to make the cut.

And a final thought - the Brits medley wasn't included on Format despite being a digital bonus track on the Did you see me coming? single. Would they be so bold as to launch their next compilation with this?

Personally I can’t see the difference between Christmas (which you are including without question), and Agenda and Lost. Given none of the tracks I am suggesting for inclusion earned a place on SMASH (so therefore presumably aren’t considered “true singles”) they must qualify at least for consideration for the follow up to Alternative and Format - particularly given these compilations are designed to showcase “the other side of Pet Shop Boys”. Even the title “Format” acknowledged that they were pulling in tracks from a whole range of single types. To walk past two out of three EPs would seem odd. The notion of a “b-side” is pretty much buried and I’m sure they’ll continue to think more broadly about their criteria for inclusion. Yes, My Beautiful Laundrette could be considered but equally they have that covered with No boundaries.

They could choose to overlook these tracks but I think the compilation would sound all the better with them included and be of more worth particularly to the casual fan as a result.

[daveid]

I think it's because IDOSAC was on Smash that I see MG and VlV/Domino dancing as being contenders. As for AotW, that really should have been on Smash too. Obviously it'd be great to have more stuff on the next compilation but I suspect Neil would see Lost and Agenda as themed mini albums and keep their respective tracks back for absorption into future FLs to appear in approximate recording order - presumably Living in the past would be on a Furthermore FL as it was recorded in 2023 with the others on a Super FL.

Anyway, it's nice to discuss this sort of thing.

[OakeyDokey]

I'd be chuffed with:

A B-sides collection for the stuff from later years that haven't got a Further Listening reissue of their parent album and are unlikely to.

Super-deluxe edition of the album "imperial phase" ie Please up to Very.

[nervousboy]

I've always though these would make good b-side titles

Flipped
Backed
Coupled

Old days the single would be promoted with the b-side as b/1 or c/w hence backed or coupled