Pet Shop Boys Community

I think we all agree the singles from Actually were great songs. Some of their best work. A big reason of why so many people really like Actually.

However . . . do people really like the non singles (the album tracks)?
Do people really like Shopping, Hit Music, I Want To Wake Up and the rest?

I am asking this because to me I feel Actually is lead by the singles and they are just so much better than the rest of the album, to the point that no one talks about these tracks. It's almost like Actually is just the singles and the rest are just forgotten about.

Am I wrong in saying this? What do you think about this?
Is actually as a whole album really as good as everyone says it is? Or is it just an album where all the best tracks became the singles and the rest just lie forgotten to history?

I think the side A album tracks are perfectly good but the side B album tracks are phenomenal, especially as a sequence.

I didn’t hear the album until 1994. I was 12, and I borrowed the LP from the local music library at the same time as I borrowed Behaviour, in both cases expecting to [illegally] copy just a couple of the singles, but I ended up taping the second half of both records in full because the five-track sequences at the back half of each album felt so rich and rewarding and well-constructed.

(I did buy both albums many times over the subsequent 29 years, btw, if their management or legal team are reading this.)

‘Actually’ is a phenomenal album. I still listen to it regularly and never get tired of hearing it. It’s in my top three.

There’s not a duff track on there. I think that ‘Hit Music’ is criminally underrated. The “I’ve been working hard all day…” bit may well be my favourite middle eight of theirs ever.

I love the sort of dream sequence in the middle of the album as ‘Hit Music’ fades out and ‘It Couldn’t Happen Here’ starts.

Starting the album with a 12” mix of ‘One More Chance’ was a baller move from a confident band. I love the longer mix of ‘Rent’ with the beautiful trumpets at the end.

They were working with the best of the best at this point. Not only Stephen Hague again but Trevor Horn’s own Wrecking Crew of Andy Richards and Julian Mendelsohn. These were the guys who helped put Frankie Goes to Hollywood at number one three times. Although it naturally sounds of its time, I adore their sound from this era.

It’s also fascinating to consider the ideas that didn’t make the cut. The album being named ‘Jollysight’. The painting they commissioned of themselves for the album sleeve. Using multiple producers including Cameo. The version of ‘It Couldn’t Happen Here’ with a real orchestra.

Actually had great singles, but the non single tracks are awesome. I want to wake up, Hit music, it couldn't happen here, kings cross are masterpieces.

the8thark wrote: Fri 29 Dec 2023, 11:04 pm I think we all agree the singles from Actually were great songs. Some of their best work. A big reason of why so many people really like Actually.

However . . . do people really like the non singles (the album tracks)?
Do people really like Shopping, Hit Music, I Want To Wake Up and the rest?

I am asking this because to me I feel Actually is lead by the singles and they are just so much better than the rest of the album, to the point that no one talks about these tracks. It's almost like Actually is just the singles and the rest are just forgotten about.

Am I wrong in saying this? What do you think about this?
Is actually as a whole album really as good as everyone says it is? Or is it just an album where all the best tracks became the singles and the rest just lie forgotten to history?

It couldn't happen here and King's Cross are as good as anything they've ever done.

The only weak track imho is I Want To Wake Up, the rest of the album is brilliance.

Greetings,

leesmapman wrote: Sat 30 Dec 2023, 10:10 am The only weak track imho is I Want To Wake Up, the rest of the album is brilliance.

I'd add "Hit Music" to that.

But even then, the whole album does have a very cohesive sound, and even those two weaker tracks, still feel right at home.

Retro.

- King's Cross is musically the best ballad of the career of PSB in my opinion.
- One More Chance has single potential even Hit Music has too. In fact, both were thought to be singles and One More Chance was in the Bobby "O" era.
- Shopping and I Want to Wake up are album fillers.

The single version of One More Chance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKq7W-4ogzw

And I think if PSB had done a single version similar to the this live version oi the song with Cortney Pine on it, the song would have been really successful:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WPY4lqriWM

I'm not a fan of Hit Music, but I love I Want to Wake Up. The bit that goes:

It's mad, to be in love with someone else
When you're in love with he, she's in love with me
But you know as well as I do
I can never think of anyone but you
(All my life,
All my life

is pure bliss. One of my favourite PSB moments.

King’s Cross is one of the best tracks they’ve ever done.

One more chance:
Genius. Opening the album with a 12” mix is even more genius and presages what would come next on “Introspective.” Could have, and perhaps should have been a single (again).

Shopping:
One of my favorite all-time PSB tracks. Witty, groovy, sardonic, and very electronic. I remember Chris commenting he played live on this. I’m paraphrasing, but he said something like before playing on this track he didn’t understand when musicians said they feel or get into the groove playing live, but after playing live in studio on this recording he finally understood and thought that made a difference here. In my opinion a perfect PSB track.

Hit music:
I have mixed feelings about this. The production far outshines the actual quality of the song. The music and lyrics are kind of s**t, but it's immaculately produced. It's kind of filler.

It couldn't happen here:
One of my least favorite PSB songs. It's so specifically personal it doesn't really have the ability to speak to a wider audience. The music is boring as well. I would've replaced this with "A new life" which would have made a career highlight album even stronger.

I want to wake up:
This is another one of my all time favorite PSB recordings. The topic is universal and it's gorgeously produced. This is also Johnny Marr's favorite PSB song ever so that's high praise right there. This easily could have been a single and I think it would have fared well in international markets.

King's Cross:
Not a favorite of my 16 year old self but it has grown on me immensely over the years. Extremely well written and produced. I've heard many say over the years this should have been a single, and perhaps for the UK but I don't think it would have done as well in international markets. Still, one of, if not the best PSB album closer.

It's all good.

Love Kings Cross, Wake Up, Shopping

And it all works good together as a package.

It's somewhat of its time, but shines way beyond that also.

I guess if you spun it up for the first time today it could go a little unappreciated in places. Heart has a clunky mix and Happen Here is verging on dreary, but given a bit of time you can get a good feel it.

Danimal wrote: Sat 30 Dec 2023, 9:08 pm One more chance […]

Shopping […]

Hit music […]

It couldn't happen here […]

I want to wake up […]

King's Cross: […]

What could I say more? You summarized it pretty well.

Overall, I get the impression that "I Want to Wake Up" is pretty underrated by some members here. I want to remind everybody that Johnny Marr made this awesome mix of it in the early 90s:

https://youtu.be/jJBEdgcozt8?si=V6tQoemwOJoOjzvA

There's not a bad song on the album. Love them all.


StevePSB

The greatest album ever made