Pet Shop Boys -

Pet Shop Boys are the English electro-pop duo of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe. They emerged with the 1985 single “West End Girls,” an international hit included on their 1986 debut album Please, which spawned further hits with “Opportunities” and “Love Comes Quickly.”

Their 1987 album Actually charted with “It’s a Sin” and “What Have I Done to Deserve This?,” a collaboration with Dusty Springfield. In 1988, they charted with the Elvis Presley cover “Always On My Mind.” Their 1988–90 albums Introspective and Behaviour generated further hits with “Heart” and “Domino Dancing.”

Following this prolific initial period, Pet Shop Boys released sporadic discs into the 21st century.

Members: Neil Tennant (vocals), Chris Lowe (keyboards, vocals)

Background

Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe met in 1981 at a King’s Road hi-fi store, where Tennant’s purchase of a Korg MS-10 synthesizer prompted Lowe to introduce himself. They bonded over a shared passion for the electronic music of Depeche Mode, The Human League, Kraftwerk, Orchestral Manoeuvres In the Dark, and Soft Cell.

Tennant was born Neil Francis Tennant on July 10, 1954; the second of four children (and oldest son) of William W. Tennant (1923–2009, a sales rep) and Sheila M. (née Watson, 1923–2008). The family lived in Bruton Park, a suburb or Newcastle, where Neil attended St Cuthbert’s Grammar School, an all-boy’s Catholic school that inspired future lyrics. At sixteen, he played guitar and cello in Dust, a folk group inspired by the Incredible String Band. He was also a thespian at the Tyneside People’s Theatre.

In 1975, Tennant earned a history degree at North London Polytechnic. For two years, he worked as an editor for the UK branch of Marvel Comics, where he modified the dialogue in select titles with British English. With Marvel, he also interviewed comic-fan rock singers, including Marc Bolan and Alex Harvey.^>

Now situated in London, Tennant witnessed the city’s up-and-coming musical acts, including the Sex Pistols. In the letter’s column of the May 8, 1976, issue of New Musical Express, he writes of their shambolic 4/23 show at the Nashville Room:

“As you know, the Pistols are composed of three nice, clean, middle-class art students, and a real live dementoid, Johnny Rotten. Now on Friday night El Dementoid wasn’t really on top form…. So how do the Pistols create their atmosphere when their music has failed? By beating up a member of the audience. How else?… Mr Rotten joins in the fight…. He cackles, he leers, the amps are turned up… The Pistols finish another unforgettable act.”^>

Between 1977 and 1981, Tennant held editorial posts with Macdonald Educational Publishing and ITV Books. In 1982, he commissioned visual designer Stan Bush (of the UK music fortnightly Smash Hits) for design work on an ITV book on Madness. This led to Tennant’s two-year position as the assistant editor for Smash Hits, which featured his concert reviews and artist interviews.

Lowe (b. October 4, 1959) hailed from Blackpool, where he played trombone in the Arnold School big band One Under the Eight, which specialized in ’50s–’60s Hollywood standards. His grandfather played trombone in The Nitwits, a novelty jazz troupe led by Sid Millward (oft-dubbed the “British Spike Jones”). In 1981, Lowe was an architecture student at the University of Liverpool. His third-year project involved an industrial staircase design in Milton Keynes. He dropped from the program soon after his chance meeting with Tennant.

Bobby Orlando Sessions

The pair commenced their musical partnership at Tennant’s Chelsea flat. From 1982, they wrote and recorded demos at a Camden Town studio. They named their act after the employees of a pet shop in nearby Ealing. In August 1983, Tennant flew to New York City for a Smash Hits interview with Sting. While there, he handed a Pet Shop Boys demo tape to dance-music producer Bobby Orlando (The Flirts, Roni Griffith).

In the winter of 1983–84, Orlando produced a cassette for the unsigned duo, composed of eleven songs.

A1. “West End Girls”
A2. “One More Chance”
A3. “Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money)”
A4. “I Get Excited (You Get Excited Too)”
A5. “Two Divided by One”
A6. “Two Divided by One”
A7. “Rent”
A8. “It’s a Sin”
A9. “In the Club or in the Queue”
B1. “I Want a Lover”
B2. “Later Tonight”

Pet Shop Boys released their first single, “West End Girls,” on April 9, 1984, on Columbia Records. The B-side featured the instrumental track “Pet Shop Boys.”

A. “West End Girls”
B. “Pet Shop Boys”

They released a new version of “Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots Of Money)” on July 1, 1985, backed with “In The Night.”

A. “Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money)”
B. “In the Night”

A re-recorded version of “West End Girls” appeared on October 28, 1985, with “A Man Could Get Arrested” as its B-side. This later version of “West End Girls” became their breakthrough international hit.

A. “West End Girls”
B. “A Man Could Get Arrested”

Please

Pet Shop Boys released their debut album, Please, on March 24, 1986, on Parlophone.

The album contains eleven originals by the duo. Singer Neil Tennant and keyboardist Chris Lowe co-wrote everything apart from “Love Comes Quickly,” a three-way collaboration with auxiliary keyboardist/programmer Stephen Hague.

Please features Lowe on sequencer, synthesizer, keyboards, piano, samples, programming, and drum programming. Tennant performs vocals and plays further keyboards. Additional musicians include Hague, guitarist Ron Dean Miller, backing singer Helena Springs, and ex-Roxy Music saxophonist Andy Mackay.

A1. “Two Divided by Zero” (3:34)
A2. “West End Girls” (4:45)
A3. “Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money)” (3:43)
A4. “Love Comes Quickly” (4:19)
A5. “Suburbia” (5:50)
A6. “Opportunities” (reprise) (0:33)

B1. “Tonight Is Forever” (4:31)
B2. “Violence” (4:27)
B3. “I Want a Lover” (4:50)
B4. “Later Tonight” (2:46)
B5. “Why Don’t We Live Together?” (4:44)

Sessions occurred between August and November 1985, and January 1986, at Advision Studio in London. Stephen Hague handled production, with David Jacob engineering. Original recordings for “Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money)” were produced by J. J. Jeczalik and Nicholas Froome, with Ron Dean Miller also overseeing New York overdubs and original production on “Why Don’t We Live Together?”. Pet Shop Boys and Blue Weaver (ex-Bee Gees) produced the original recording of “I Want a Lover.”

Please appeared with a cover photograph by Eric Watson, who also provided inner sleeve photographs. Paul Rider, John Stoddart, Brian Aris, Joe Shutter, Ian Hooton, and Chris Burscough contributed additional inner sleeve photographs. Mark Farrow and Pet Shop Boys collaborated on the sleeve design.

Parlophone lifted “West End Girls” as the first single on October 28, 1985, followed by “Love Comes Quickly” on February 24, 1986. “Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money)” was released on May 19, 1986, and “Suburbia” on September 22, 1986.

The music video for “West End Girls,” directed by Andy Morahan and Eric Watson, features Tennant and Lowe wandering through various iconic London locations, including Waterloo Station and Petticoat Lane Market. It captures the city’s mood with shots of urban life, neon lights, and the duo’s distinctively aloof presence, reflecting the song’s themes of class and urban tension.

“West End Girls” reached No. 1 in Canada, Finland, New Zealand, Norway, UK, and US (Billboard Hot 100, Dance Club Songs, Cash Box Top 100 Singles). It charted prominently across Europe, including No. 2 in Ireland, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, West Germany, and No. 3 in Netherlands and Spain.

“Love Comes Quickly” reached No. 6 in Spain, No. 8 in New Zealand, and No. 10 on the US Dance Club Songs chart.

“Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money)” peaked at No. 2 in New Zealand, No. 3 on the US Dance Club Songs chart, No. 9 on the US Cash Box Top 100 Singles, and No. 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

The video for “Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money),” directed by Morahan and Watson, features Tennant and Lowe performing in various stylized, often brightly lit, industrial or minimalist settings. It visually emphasizes themes of ambition and materialism through its slick aesthetic and the duo’s cool, somewhat detached demeanor.

“Suburbia” reached No. 1 in Belgium, and No. 2 in Netherlands, Spain, and West Germany. It also achieved Top 10 positions in Ireland, Switzerland, New Zealand, Sweden, UK, and Austria.

Please reached No. 2 on the New Zealand Albums chart, No. 3 in Canada and the UK, and No. 4 in Finland. In the US, the album reached No. 7 on the Billboard 200. It also charted in Iceland, Spain, Australia, Norway, Europe, and Switzerland.

Disco (Remix LP)

Pet Shop Boys released their remix album, Disco, on November 17, 1986, on Parlophone.

The album features six extended mixes of previously released songs.

A1. “In the Night” (Arthur Baker’s extended mix) (6:25)
A2. “Suburbia” (Julian Mendelsohn’s Full Horror mix) (8:55)
A3. “Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money)” (Ron Dean Miller and Latin Rascals’ Version Latina) (5:29)

B1. “Paninaro” (Pet Shop Boys and David Jacob’s Italian mix) (8:35)
B2. “Love Comes Quickly” (Shep Pettibone’s Mastermix) (7:35)
B3. “West End Girls” (Shep Pettibone’s Disco mix) (9:03)

Disco credits Arthur Baker, Pet Shop Boys, Phil Harding, Julian Mendelsohn, Ron Dean Miller, Latin Rascals, J. J. Jeczalik, Nicholas Froome, David Jacob, and Shep Pettibone for remixing and production work. Additional musicians include Andy Richards on Fairlight, Gary Barnacle on saxophone, Blue Weaver and Khris Kallis on additional keyboards, and Adrien Cook on Fairlight.

Sessions occurred between 1985 and 1986.

Disco reached No. 10 on the German and Spanish Albums charts, and No. 12 on the US Dance Club Songs chart. It also charted in the UK, Netherlands, Europe, Austria, Switzerland, and New Zealand.

Actually

Pet Shop Boys released their second album, Actually, on September 7, 1987, on Parlophone.

The album contains ten songs. Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe composed eight tracks (“Shopping,” “Rent,” “Hit Music,” “It’s a Sin,” “I Want to Wake Up,” “Heart,” “King’s Cross,” and “I Want to Wake Up” from the original cassette). They co-wrote “One More Chance” with Bobby Orlando, and “What Have I Done to Deserve This?” with Allee Willis. “It Couldn’t Happen Here” was composed by Tennant, Ennio Morricone, and Lowe.

Actually features musical backing by Andy Richards, Blue Weaver, Gary Maughan, Adrian Cook, and J. J. Jeczalik on Fairlight and keyboard programming. Sixties soul-pop legend Dusty Springfield contributes guest vocals to “What Have I Done to Deserve This?”. Angelo Badalamenti provided orchestra arrangements for “It Couldn’t Happen Here.”

A1. “One More Chance” (5:30)
A2. “What Have I Done to Deserve This?” (4:18)
A3. “Shopping” (3:37)
A4. “Rent” (5:08)
A5. “Hit Music” (4:44)

B1. “It Couldn’t Happen Here” (5:20)
B2. “It’s a Sin” (4:59)
B3. “I Want to Wake Up” (5:08)
B4. “Heart” (3:58)
B5. “King’s Cross” (5:10)

Sessions occurred in 1987 at Sarm West and Advision studios in London. Julian Mendelsohn, Stephen Hague, David Jacob, Pet Shop Boys, Shep Pettibone, Andy Richards, and Dave Meegan handled production and engineering. Tony Phillips also contributed engineering.

Actually features cover design by Mark Farrow and Pet Shop Boys, with photography by Cindy Palmano (cover) and Eric Watson (inner sleeve).

Parlophone lifted “It’s a Sin” as the first single on June 15, 1987, backed with “You Know Where You Went Wrong.” This was followed by “What Have I Done to Deserve This?” on August 10, 1987 (b/w “A New Life”), “Rent” on October 12, 1987 (b/w “I Want a Dog”), and “Heart” on March 21, 1988 (b/w “I Get Excited (You Get Excited Too)”).

The dramatic video for “It’s a Sin,” directed by Derek Jarman, vividly portrays themes of sin, confession, and judgment through stark, theatrical imagery inspired by medieval morality plays. It features Neil Tennant being subjected to various religious trials and punishments, with Chris Lowe observing, creating a powerful and visually arresting narrative.

“It’s a Sin” reached No. 1 in Austria, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, West Germany, and Zimbabwe.

“What Have I Done to Deserve This?” reached No. 1 in Ireland, and on the US Dance Club Songs and US Cash Box Top 100 Singles charts.

The vibrant video for “What Have I Done to Deserve This?” is a playful homage to a classic variety show, featuring the Pet Shop Boys performing alongside Dusty Springfield. It evokes a glamorous, retro television aesthetic with its stylized set, dynamic camera work, and the charming interaction between the artists.

“Rent” peaked at No. 5 in Ireland and No. 8 in the UK. “Heart” reached No. 1 in Canada (Dance/Urban), Europe, Finland, Ireland, New Zealand, Switzerland, UK, and West Germany.

Actually reached No. 1 in Finland and Iceland, No. 2 in Germany, Spain, Sweden, and the UK, and No. 3 in Norway and Switzerland. In the US, the album reached No. 25 on the Billboard 200. It also charted in Europe, Austria, Netherlands, New Zealand, Italy, Australia, Canada, and France.

“Always On My Mind”

On November 30, 1987, released a standalone cover of “Always On My Mind,” an Elvis Presley evergreen backed with “Do I Have To?”

A. “Always On My Mind”
B. “Do I Have To?”

“Always On My Mind” reached No. 1 in Canada (The Record, RPM), Europe, Finland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, UK Dance, and West Germany.

Introspective

Pet Shop Boys released their third album, Introspective, on October 10, 1988, on Parlophone.

The album contains six originals. Singer Neil Tennant and keyboardist Chris Lowe composed four songs (“I Want a Dog,” “Domino Dancing,” “I’m Not Scared,” “Always on My Mind / In My House”). They co-wrote “Left to My Own Devices” with Trevor Horn and Stephen Lipson. “It’s Alright” was composed by Sterling Void, Marshall Jefferson, and Paris Brightledge. The bonus disc Further Listening 1988–1989 features additional tracks and remixes.

Additional musicians include Richard Niles for orchestra arrangement and conducting, Sally Bradshaw on additional vocals, Josh Milan on piano solo, Fro Sossa and Mike Bakst on additional keyboards, Nestor Gomez on guitar, Tony Concepción, Kenneth William Faulk, Dana Tebor, and Ed Calle on brass. Lewis A. Martineé provided brass arrangements. The Voice in Fashion contributed backing vocals.

A1. “Left to My Own Devices” (8:16)
A2. “I Want a Dog” (6:15)
A3. “Domino Dancing” (7:40)

B1. “I’m Not Scared” (7:23)
B2. “Always on My Mind / In My House” (9:05)
B3. “It’s Alright” (9:24)

The Pet Shop Boys split production chores with Stephen Lipson, Pet Shop Boys, David Jacob, Frankie Knuckles, Lewis A. Martineé, Julian Mendelsohn, and ZTT founder Trevor Horn (Art of Noise, Buggles). Engineering was handled by Lipson, Jacob, Mike Nielsen, John Poppo, Mike Couzzi, and César Sogbe. Frankie Knuckles provided mixing and additional production on “I Want a Dog.” Martineé also engineered and mixed “Domino Dancing.”

Programmers include Blue Weaver, Andy Richards, and Gary Maughan on Fairlight. Additional vocals on “It’s Alright” were provided by Judy Bennett, Sharon Blackwell, H. Robert Carr, Mario Friendo, Derek Green, Michael Hoyte, Herbie Joseph, Paul Lee, Gee Morris, Dee Ricketts, Iris Sutherland, and Yvonne White.

Introspective features cover design by Mark Farrow and Pet Shop Boys, with photography by Eric Watson.

Parlophone lifted “Domino Dancing” as the first single on September 12, 1988, backed with “Don Juan.” “Left to My Own Devices” followed on November 14, 1988, with “The Sound of the Atom Splitting” as its B-side. “It’s Alright” was released on June 26, 1989, backed with “One of the Crowd” and “Your Funny Uncle.”

“Domino Dancing” reached No. 1 in Finland and Spain. It charted highly across Europe, including No. 2 in Canada (Dance/Urban) and Denmark, No. 3 in Europe, Italy, and West Germany, and No. 4 in Ireland and Puerto Rico.

“Left to My Own Devices” reached No. 3 in Greece and Ireland, and No. 4 in the UK. “It’s Alright” peaked at No. 2 in Ireland, No. 3 in West Germany, and No. 4 in Finland.

Introspective reached No. 1 in Finland, and No. 2 in Switzerland, the UK, Germany, and Spain. It also charted in Europe, Iceland, Sweden, Japan, Austria, Italy, Canada, and Norway. In the US, the album reached No. 25 on the Billboard 200.

Behaviour

Pet Shop Boys released their fourth album, Behaviour, on October 22, 1990, on Parlophone.

The album contains ten originals, all composed by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe. The Japanese special edition includes three bonus tracks: “Miserablism,” “Bet She’s Not Your Girlfriend,” and an extended mix of “This Must Be the Place I Waited Years to Leave.”

Behaviour features the Balanescu Quartet, arranged by Alexander Bălănescu and conducted by Angelo Badalamenti. Guest players include programmer Dominic Clarke (plastic tube), backing singer Jay Henry, and guitarists J.J. Belle and Johnny Marr.

A1. “Being Boring” (6:49)
A2. “This Must Be the Place I Waited Years to Leave” (5:30)
A3. “To Face the Truth” (5:33)
A4. “How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously?” (3:56)
A5. “Only the Wind” (4:20)

B1. “My October Symphony” (5:18)
B2. “So Hard” (3:58)
B3. “Nervously” (4:06)
B4. “The End of the World” (4:43)
B5. “Jealousy” (4:48)

Sessions occurred between May and June 1990 at Red Deer (Munich), Sarm West (London), and Abbey Road (London) studios. Pet Shop Boys and Harold Faltermeyer handled production. Brian Reeves, Bob Kraushaar, Julian Mendelsohn, and Haydn Bendall served as engineers, with Bob Kraushaar also handling vocal recording and Haydn Bendall for orchestra and strings recording.

Behaviour features photography by Eric Watson and design by Mark Farrow and Pet Shop Boys.

Parlophone lifted “So Hard” as the first single on September 24, 1990, followed by “Being Boring” on November 12, 1990. “How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously?” and “Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can’t Take My Eyes Off You)” were released as a double A-side on March 11, 1991. “Jealousy” was released on May 27, 1991.

“So Hard” reached No. 1 in Finland, and No. 2 in Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and on the US Dance Singles Sales chart. It also charted highly in Europe, Germany, Ireland, Sweden, and the UK.

“Being Boring” peaked at No. 5 in Finland and Italy, and No. 10 on the US Dance Singles Sales chart.

“How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously?” / “Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can’t Take My Eyes Off You)” reached No. 2 in Ireland and No. 4 in the UK.

“Jealousy” peaked at No. 4 in Finland, No. 8 in Ireland, and No. 12 in the UK.

Behaviour reached No. 2 in the UK, No. 3 in Finland, and No. 4 in Germany. It also charted in Europe, Japan, Spain, Sweden, Iceland, Switzerland, Italy, Canada, and Norway.

Discography: