Pet Shop Boys Community

gregf wrote: Q. Was Relentless available separately to Very ?

Only if someone had lost Very and the accompanying bubble-wrap and sold Relentless to their local Cash Converters. I saw such a copy in there once.

Actually, that's not entirely true, because there was also the limited promo 3 x 12" edition.

Retro.

Danimal wrote:Isn't it interesting that while they consider Introspective a proper album they don't seem to consider Relentless a proper album even though it's longer than an EP and contains all original material.

Good point. Although Relentless is an album in the generally accepted view of what an album is - check out the Wikipedia entry for just how loose said term is - it isn't regarded as a "proper" album because it was never meant to be a mainstream release. This makes it a kind of One-Off Wonder in the PSB catalog.

Frankly, considering how prolific N&C are = even their Singles almost qualify as albums.

Oh no ____ it just occured to me: Is Alternative a "proper" album/ "proper" albums?

its a perfect example of quality topping over quantity, IMO their greatest album album ever ! In 6 songs they convey an entire range of moods from loneliness to detachment to heartbreak to defiance to optimism, all written and sung so well by the boys. The music was totally epic, entire Left to my own devices..the transitions in Always on my mind, all those electronic layer bleeps in Its Alright are just stunning and timeless.

I dont listen to this ever so often, but each time i do, its a delight to the senses. The futher listening just enhances the appeal. The bsides were so exemplary as well.

ok there..ive gushed enuf. Please dont compare this diamond with the hotch-potch Disco XXX efforts

If we/'re going to get technical about b-sides then surely only tracks available on the flip side of a vinyl single can properly qualify. IMO 'bonus tracks' is the best way to lump all these tracks together, and therefore the tracks on Disco 3 plus hard-to-get ones like C2H (slow version) are all bonus tracks.

Ohhh CTH (Slow version) a hidden gem.

In the end, I decided a B-side is a song that (probably) what most of us consider
to be a B-side.

Factors :
- The serious definition, "A song not before released by N+C on a PSB album or single".
- The OS discography.
- Waynes List. Gives us consistent voting data.
- Not released on obscure CDs.

But in the end it is popular gut feel.

http://users.bigpond.net.au/vermilion/PSB-B-sides.html

It's a bit strange indeed that Introspective is considered a "regular" album, when in fact it is basically the same kind of record as Disco: extended versions/remixes of the singles plus two other songs (all b-sides except for "I'm not scared") in extended mixes.

Definitely a unique album package! Are there other artists who have done anything similar, as you know of?

I'm not very fond of the Instrospective version of "It's alright", as I think it's really not much of a PSB song; they did not write it and they did not produce it, and there are lots of extra musicians and singers on it. Does Chris play on it at all?
Also I think that "Domino dancing" becomes too repetitive in an extended mix.
Otherwise it's a great record, especially "I'm not scared" (too bad they haven't made a short version of it as well) and "I want a dog" is better here than the original b-side version.

I've made my own version of Introspective, which i consider an album - I regard the original Introspective as a selection of extended 12" mixes of original songs. The versions of "Always On My Mind" and "It's Alright" are not very good and would have been better off as b-sides I think.

My version
Left To My Own Devices (LP Mix)
I Want A Dog (LP Mix)
It's Alright (10" Version)
Domino Dancing (LP Mix)
I'm Not Scared (LP Mix)
Always On My Mind (Remix 12" Version)
Don Juan (12" Mix)
One Of The Crowd
Your Funny Uncle

Hillbilly wrote:It's a bit strange indeed that Introspective is considered a "regular" album, when in fact it is basically the same kind of record as Disco: extended versions/remixes of the singles plus two other songs (all b-sides except for "I'm not scared") in extended mixes.

That's why I'm still not wholly convinced it should be classified as a 'proper' album. Looking at it clinically, it's basically extended remixes of existing tracks and 2/3 new songs.

Radiophonic wrote:

Hillbilly wrote:That's why I'm still not wholly convinced it should be classified as a 'proper' album. Looking at it clinically, it's basically extended remixes of existing tracks and 2/3 new songs.

Always on my Mind was taken from Introspective (well, since it was not from the album, actually, you can classify it under "track from Introspective").
So new tracks on Introspective:
Left To My Own Devices
Domino Dancing
Always On My Mind
It's Allright.

By new songs I mean not covers.

An album proper. And my favourite.

gregf wrote:Q. Was Relentless available separately to Very ?

A. Only as a 3x12" promo set. Its only commercial release has been as part of the limited edition Very Relentless package.

I think PSB referred to it as a "dance album".

markreed wrote:I've made my own version of Introspective, which i consider an album - I regard the original Introspective as a selection of extended 12" mixes of original songs. The versions of "Always On My Mind" and "It's Alright" are not very good and would have been better off as b-sides I think.

Hehehe...

I think the Introspective versions of Always on My Mind and Its Alright are significantly the better versions.

Introspective is definitely a proper album, recorded at their pomp which allowed them to do as they wish; i.e. record an album of album version 12"s.

Also it remains one of my favourite records ever, and my favourite sleeve. The sleeve bit is funny as in Catalogue Neil says he didn't like it much! I was gobsmacked when I read this. I have the record sleeve on my wall...it reminds me of Peter Saville New Order stuff.

The Intro version of Always on my mind still amazes me to this day. Great, great tune and the best version by far!

I also love the Intro version of 'It's Alright' too. I like it because it is different and I also like the backing singers.

As a whole, I think Intro is one of their best albums. Only 'I want a dog' lets the album down, and even then, not much as it isn't a bad track.


StevePSB