Track-by-Track: From Please to Nonetheless

[rathound]

All a bit substandard these bonus track at this point. Haven't listened to them for years, none very memorable

I don't think any of the 3 albums - Bilingual, Nightlife or Release were terrible, but for whatever reason didn't hit the heights. Bilingual the best of the 3 by a distance but still a couple of duffers in there and they should have gone full out with the latin sound, it does sound a bit half arsed at times. Nightlife half great, half dross. Release is pleasant enough but not really what I want from PSB, can understand why they did it. Flamboyant, Miracles and Disco 3 all showed they still had the magic when they wanted

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

All a bit substandard these bonus track at this point. Haven't listened to them for years, none very memorable

On that note...

Track 125 : Believe / Song For Guy (feat. Elton John)
Chronology: Nightlife, FL-CD1:05

I had to go back and listen to this, to even remember what it sounded like. It turns out I barely remembered it.

Now that it's finished, I can still hardly remember it.

Chronologically, this was the first of three ill-fated and utterly pointless collaborations with Elton John.

However, merely being "utterly pointless" puts it leagues above the later sacrilege that this threesome would end up partaking upon In Private.

Retro.

[Lleonard Pler]

All those Elton collabs were atrocious. This doesn't belong in FL not even for completism.

[telys]

Greetings,

All a bit substandard these bonus track at this point. Haven't listened to them for years, none very memorable

On that note...

Track 125 : Believe / Song For Guy (feat. Elton John)
Chronology: Nightlife, FL-CD1:05

I had to go back and listen to this, to even remember what it sounded like. It turns out I barely remembered it.

Now that it's finished, I can still hardly remember it.

Chronologically, this was the first of three ill-fated and utterly pointless collaborations with Elton John.

However, merely being "utterly pointless" puts it leagues above the later sacrilege that this threesome would end up partaking upon In Private.

Retro.

It's all true. Working with Elton never really worked out well. This is one of those tracks on the FL-discs that's not "master quality".

[telys]

I guess lost opportunites have something to do about daring. They didn't dare to do that stripped down album "Release" that would made people, certainly the critics, go "wow".

Maybe I'm misunderstanding you, but are we pretending Release wasn't them being daring? It's basically the PSB equivalent of Dylan going electric!

No way near Dylan going electric. One example: where are the drums on Release? Did they forget or didn't they know what a real drummer does to a track. "Drum programming" (and some percussion), come on, having a real drummer that would've been daring and a proper "outside of comfort zone".
Marr plays guitar but isn't allowed that much. Maybe I would've prefered Neil's guitar on Release, perhaps it would've been more vulnerable.
So no Release is not a stripped down album, it's them pretending it is.

[rathound]

Greetings,

All a bit substandard these bonus track at this point. Haven't listened to them for years, none very memorable

On that note...

Track 125 : Believe / Song For Guy (feat. Elton John)
Chronology: Nightlife, FL-CD1:05

I had to go back and listen to this, to even remember what it sounded like. It turns out I barely remembered it.

Now that it's finished, I can still hardly remember it.

Chronologically, this was the first of three ill-fated and utterly pointless collaborations with Elton John.

However, merely being "utterly pointless" puts it leagues above the later sacrilege that this threesome would end up partaking upon In Private.

Retro.

It's all true. Working with Elton never really worked out well. This is one of those tracks on the FL-discs that's not "master quality".

yes another skip. In Private was certainly pretty poor, shame as I like the Dusty version

[Capsigrany]

That medley was not that bad at all, it only lacks a bit of studio work as it was intended to be a TV number only. But I agree, the PSB/Elton collaborations have never worked, I don’t think Elton’s voice suits electronic music. Talking about Elton… does anyone know what really happened between them? Are they still pissed-off?

[MikeyC]

Not a collaboration but many of us believe b-side Through you is about Elton. x

[leesmapman]

I thought Believe was a surprisingly good song that fits PSB very well.

The mashup with Song For Guy was done seamlessly.

[NotInvisible]

No way near Dylan going electric. One example: where are the drums on Release? Did they forget or didn't they know what a real drummer does to a track. "Drum programming" (and some percussion), come on, having a real drummer that would've been daring and a proper "outside of comfort zone".

You're right - it's an album that sounds like definitive Pet Shop Boys, exactly what everyone was expecting from them, and the fans adored it because it was so on-model for them. Where's a facepalm emoji when you need one?

So no Release is not a stripped down album, it's them pretending it is.

LMFAO

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

Pushing through...

Track 126 : Sail Away
Chronology: Nightlife, FL-CD1:06

Originally from the 1998 compilation "Twentieth Century Blues - The Songs Of Noël Coward" that Neil was executive producer on, and later as a b-side to 2000's You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk, this is the Pet Shop Boys' second Noël Coward cover, following on from 1994's If Love Were All.

It's a sweet enough tune, very inoffensive. It definitely doesn't bang like The Divine Comedy's Underworld-esque "I've Been To A Marvellous Party" from the aforementioned tribute album.

Retro.

[Capsigrany]

Nice homage. It sounds effortless and I think that it has aged surprisingly well.

[Gabby]

Just going back for one second to Elton John - this was about the time Elton started sounding like a parody of himself - like Vic Reeves' club singer in Shooting Stars. I had a really hard time listening to the PSB collabs with Elton as a result. Not my cup of tea - musically though all top notch imho. Just his vocals sounded a bit like pub karaoke.

Sail Away is a pretty song - nothing to write home about, but I wonder if Neil felt duty bound because he was producing the Noel Coward album, to do something befitting the man and let Neil Hannon loose instead (I've Been to a Marvellous Party is awesome btw)

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

Time now for...

Track 127 : It Doesn't Often Snow At Christmas
Chronology: Nightlife, FL-CD1:07 (Fan Club Mix)
Chronology: Yes, FL-CD2:02 (New Version)

Per Drico's rules in the OP, "any track appearing more than once will have all of its versions discussed on first appearance"... so feel free to discuss the original version, or the later version from the Christmas EP.

Retro.

[leesmapman]

Fantastic track, great hook. Always a christmas favourite here.