30 years of Please - Stephen Hague answers questions from forum members

[Dog]

To mark the 30th anniversary of the release of Pet Shop Boys’ debut album Please, producer Stephen Hague kindly takes time out from producing the new Whitey album at his East Sussex studio to answer questions submitted by Community forum members.


Stephen on West End girls

Did you listen to the Bobby O version before you started working on the track? (Old Soak)

Yes… I could tell that the song was very cool, but from the beginning it seemed too fast to me, so we slowed our version way down. One thing led to another once we started working on it… It invented itself as we went along.

Did you think West End girls would become such a great record when you first started working on it? (le petit corbusier)

We had no idea at all! But I do remember taking the mix home the night we finished it, listening to the cassette on headphones, and giving myself a quiet pat on the back. I was very happy with how it had turned out.  

When it hit number one in the UK though, it seemed like something had gone wrong with the charts! When it went back down things got back to normal. Funny that.

Exactly how was that famous West End girls bass sound created? (TallThinMan)

If I recall, it was a combination of an Oberheim OBX, and a kick drum sound from a drum machine over midi. It was hand played… Everything was on that track, except the basic drum machine pattern.

Do you consider that your mix of West End girls is quite possibly the reason Pet Shop Boys became the force they are? Is it something you are proud of and consider one of your best achievements? (JSDOUVRES)

I do have a real fondness for West End girls, and I'm pleased to have been a part of their ‘arrival', so to speak. But the real credit goes to their song writing. It doesn't matter how cool the record is if the song isn't there. And yes, it's one of my favourite records that I've worked on… It still sounds good all these years later.


Stephen on Please

How did you get involved in the project? (dynamobjornen)

I think my name came up because of some recent work I'd done around that time with OMD and Malcolm McLaren, but you'd have to ask Neil and Chris.

What were your influences at the time? (Pod) 

I was (and am) an American who grew up listening to English pop music, and became especially attached to the current synth-based records, like OMD, Gary Numan, Bowie in Berlin, etc. Also Kraftwerk of course, and the Cluster / Eno / Connie Plank records of the late 70s.

Was there anything on the album you argued should or shouldn't be there? (Pod) 

Well, I was never a great fan of It’s a sin, and so it was left off Please. It ended up being used on Actually, and of course it became a big hit. Shows how much I know, haha!

Would you agree that Please is the greatest pop album in history (or at least the best debut album)? (BlueSwan)

I think it has a lot of competition in that category, Mr BlueSwan.


Stephen on Pet Shop Boys

What were your first impressions of Neil and Chris? (dynamobjornen)

Hmmm… What can I say? Smart, cool, very clued up and aware. They were quite 'green' in terms of studio experience, but so was I in many ways. I learned fast though, and so did they.

What is your favourite Pet Shop Boys track you have produced? (No Muscle Mary)

It’s hard to pick one, but some of my favourites are West End girls, Love comes quickly, What have I done to deserve this? and King's Cross.

Is there any Pet Shop Boys album or song that you wished you had worked on? (le petit corbusier)

Hallo Spaceboy with Bowie.

What do you think of their recent work? (le petit corbusier)

I'm an ongoing fan of Neil and Chris as song writers. Although I may have mixed feelings about some of the records they've made in terms of production, they occupy a unique place in British pop and the quality of their work, both onstage and in the studio, is always top-notch.

Do you think Pet Shop Boys might be one of the best bands of all time? (whateverman42)

Well, they are certainly the best Pet Shop Boys of all time!


Stephen on the recording process

Did you see them write any songs and if so, how does the process look? (Tom Angel)

Although there was some 'tinkering' with songs in the studio, in my experience they would write and complete the songs before we began proper recording. Old school - I wish more artists had that discipline.

How would you describe your working relationship? Did you bounce ideas off each other? Did you come up with sounds and experiment together? (MikeyC)

There was always a 'workshop' atmosphere. You can never have too many good ideas… The trick is to know which ones make the difference. Some tracks I would have a big influence on in terms of arrangement and/or performance, other tracks I would just make sure they had fresh tea and keep out of the way!

Did you find them easy to work with? (jasminewok13)

Yes. The sessions were almost always low-stress and fun. The occasional disagreement always led to a better final result… If only all my sessions were like that!

From all the tracks you’ve produced for the boys, which was the most difficult to finish? (Nightcrawler)

Back in the mid 80s we were still wrestling with some technical issues that never really come up anymore, like midi actually working, sequencers and drum machines locking to tape, time code slipping, etc… The bad old days! The difficulties were rarely creative, but there were time consuming shit storms involving gear more often than I care to remember.

Can you tell us more about how you achieved Very’s distinctive sound? (le petit corbusier)

It's hard to tell how a record actually sounds until it's finished and you can have some distance from it… Of course by then it's too late to change anything! 

I like that album a lot, but we were just working away, trying to get it done and be happy with it. Glad you think it has a 'distinctive' sound... Thanks.


Stephen on his career

If you could go back and remix a track, or mix one that you didn't do, which would it be? (df118junkie)

Regret by New Order. Every time I hear it I think the tambourine is too loud, and Hooky's too soft, but there you go. We were high!

Are there any lesser known albums you have worked on that you are really proud of? (verbow79)

Let's see… In the 'overlooked' category, I liked Got No Breeding and Bad For Business by Jules and the Polar Bears (I was a member), Heaven And The Sea by Pete Shelley, Jerry Burns by Jerry Burns, Strange Education by Cinematics, and I'd always hoped Dubstar would be bigger than they ended up being… Fantastic songs.

Which artist has been your favourite to work with overall? (No Muscle Mary)

It’s a funny old job sometimes… You sort of join the band for a few weeks, then it's finished and you all get on with your real lives. I'm fortunate to have had some great recording adventures, and have made some lasting friendships along the way. 

It’s impossible to pick a favourite though.


Stephen on the future

I miss the hits from the 80s you did with Pet Shop Boys. Would you like to collaborate with them again in order to recreate that massive sound? (Nickname)

It comes up sometimes when Neil and I talk… We'll see. They have my number!

Would you consider producing another Pet Shop Boys album? (Pod)

Of course. Neil and I stay in touch, and the songs are better than ever… You never know!

[Dog]

As promised - enjoy!

Thank you to everyone that submitted a question. Apologies to anyone whose isn't answered above.

[Suburban_Boy]

Great stuff!

[boyjohn]

great stuff, thanks

[joepsb]

thanks for that,great read

[spacewalker]

What a read, thank you so much for this!

[Drico One]

Well done, Dog, and contributors. That's a great interview.

Drico.

[goughsjd]

Really good read that thanks dog

[Sandy Shaw]

Thanks Dog and great to meet you at Symposium!

[le petit corbusier]

Hey, one of my questions was edited! ; )
I thought it woukd take him a lot longer to answer. Thanks!

[JSDOUVRES]

Thank you mate, excellent read! So true that technology has changed massively since then and the things that went wrong must have been a nightmare!

[Effen Vida]

What a treat! Thank you and thank you, Mr Hague.

[Nickname]

Thank you
Thanks Hague.

Good read

[Ghost within this house]

Thanks - brilliant.

Who knows? They could come full circle and work with him again...

[Gabby]

A great read. Nice to get some insight into those early years.

Thanks to everyone who was instrumental in putting this together!