Pet Shop Boys Community

Does anyone know the background story to Phil Oakey's involvement with This used to be the future?
When the song was written, did they have him in mind?

In Literally 34 pages 8-9 it discusses this. To cut a long story short, when yes was released the psb wanted to release an album of instrumentals of the songs. Farrow exclaimed "like that human league album love and dancing'. And the idea was set. This used to be the future was originally on the album between king of rome and pandemonium but the boys felt the album was too long. It doesnt suggest they had him in mind when it was written.

I read somewhere that Oakey was working in a nearby studio, they got talking and they thought it'd be a good idea

They sent him an email.

They were going to ask Bernard Sumner weren't they-

Utterly LOVE this track. File with Fugitive - as in , why the HELL was it not on the parent album??

Tom Angel wrote:They were going to ask Bernard Sumner weren't they-

Utterly LOVE this track. File with Fugitive - as in , why the HELL was it not on the parent album??

My best guess is apart from the album too long issue, the track just does not fit with the album's theme. Just like After The Event does not fit. The most amazing track (which I think After The Event is) does not always make the cut. It can be too good and overshadow the rest of the album, make the album too long, or not fit with the album theme or a host of other reasons.

I guess After The Event cound have replaced the god aweful Legacy though. But I do think The Way I Used To Be is the perfect ending to the album so Legacy is on permanent skip for me. A little off topic but I think Fundamental suffered from this too. Indefinite Leave To Remain is a great ending track. Integral is an amazing song though, just not album ending material.

the8thark wrote:

Tom Angel wrote:They were going to ask Bernard Sumner weren't they-

Utterly LOVE this track. File with Fugitive - as in , why the HELL was it not on the parent album??

My best guess is apart from the album too long issue, the track just does not fit with the album's theme. Just like After The Event does not fit. The most amazing track (which I think After The Event is) does not always make the cut. It can be too good and overshadow the rest of the album, make the album too long, or not fit with the album theme or a host of other reasons.

I guess After The Event cound have replaced the god aweful Legacy though. But I do think The Way I Used To Be is the perfect ending to the album so Legacy is on permanent skip for me. A little off topic but I think Fundamental suffered from this too. Indefinite Leave To Remain is a great ending track. Integral is an amazing song though, just not album ending material.

I agree with everything you said up until Integral. Are you kidding me? It's a fantastic ending. I'd go so far as to say it's the best closing track on any of their albums. Fits the theme and the sound of the album perfectly and gives a whopper of a finale!

Please tell me your reasons for this [outrageois claim]. ;P

As for Integral, it's a thought provoking song.

...slightly off topic but...

Last year my friend was being followed around the supermarket by some bored security guy. I asked him why he did this as he was a regular customer.

His reply was ''so you have a guilty conscience then?''
I replied that it wasn't a police state, and he said ''Yes it is''

I called him a ''fat lazy c**t and he should get a life, and he's just a loser working for the minimum wage''

the8thark wrote:

Tom Angel wrote:They were going to ask Bernard Sumner weren't they-

Utterly LOVE this track. File with Fugitive - as in , why the HELL was it not on the parent album??

My best guess is apart from the album too long issue, the track just does not fit with the album's theme. Just like After The Event does not fit. The most amazing track (which I think After The Event is) does not always make the cut. It can be too good and overshadow the rest of the album, make the album too long, or not fit with the album theme or a host of other reasons.

I guess After The Event cound have replaced the god aweful Legacy though. But I do think The Way I Used To Be is the perfect ending to the album so Legacy is on permanent skip for me. A little off topic but I think Fundamental suffered from this too. Indefinite Leave To Remain is a great ending track. Integral is an amazing song though, just not album ending material.

After the event wasn't recorded for Yes though. It was written durinf the Fundy era and completed specifically for a Yes b side.

I have to admit to initially hating Legacy with the rest, but it's actually a pretty grand song, and a perfect end to an album. It's a grower.

Legacy isn't a huge favourite of mine but I like it and I've never skipped it, which I can't say for lots of the other songs on the album. No idea why people slag it off so much on this forum.

This used to be the future should have replaced Vulnerable, or they could have just added it and made peace with the album being "too long".

Tom Angel wrote:They were going to ask Bernard Sumner weren't they-

Utterly LOVE this track. File with Fugitive - as in , why the HELL was it not on the parent album??

Totally agree with you!

Neil jus wouldn't sound right singing this but there must have been a demo of some kind

Tom Angel wrote:I have to admit to initially hating Legacy with the rest, but it's actually a pretty grand song, and a perfect end to an album. It's a grower.

It is indeed grand. Always thought it was great and a perfect ending to Yes. I love This used to be the future, but I think they did the right thing when they didnt include it on the propper album. I dont think it would have fitted in very well. I love Oakeys part, his voice suits it perfectly.

Had completely forgotten about this song.
Just played it four times on the bounce.
In terms of 'hidden gems' it's up there with Miserablism for me.