Today, I'm wrapping up my 1980's discography of Pet Shop Boys. I touched on two of their three albums, in 2021 (Actually), and 2024 (Introspective). So, now, I just have to make my way through 1986's Please, which also serves as the duo's first studio album.
Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe met when Tennant needed a cord for his Korg MS-10 synthesizer which sparked a conversation with Lowe. The two would find they had similar tastes in music, and soon they became friends. Finding inspiration in the same pioneers of electronic music, the two began working together to create their own songs, labeling themselves initially as West End before settling on Pet Shop Boys.
Working for Smash Hits in 1983, Tennant found himself on the way to New York to interview Sting. It was while here that he set up a meeting with Bobby Orlando of hi-NRG, giving him a demo tape with It's A Sin, and Opportunities (Let's Make Lots Of Money). Seeing the potential, Orlando would work with the duo, recording multiple tracks, which included West End Girls, among several others. However, it would be the aforementioned, which would be released as a single, becoming a club hit in Los Angelos, and San Francisco. From there, it became a frequently requested song on local radio stations.
After long negotiations, the two decided to separate from Orlando. Unfortunately, doing so would require them to pay significant royalties for the songs completed with him. They would sign with Parlophone. They would return to the studio in 1985 to re-records West End Girls which slowly rose in the British charts to number one. This was followed by a release in the USA, Canada, Finland, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, New Zealand and Norway, where it is estimated to have sold a combined total of 1.5 million units.
Pet Shop Boys released their second single, Love Comes Quickly, which reached number nine on the UK charts. This was then followed by their debut studio album, Please. The album would go platinum in the UK, Canada, and USA, peaking in the top ten in several other countries.
Wow, what a fantastic album this was. I honestly wasn't expecting much, only to find myself being repeatedly treated to the hits, West End Girls, Opportunities (Let's Make Lots Of Money), Love Comes Quickly, and Suburbia. Then, on top of that, you get the hidden gems, which frankly consists of the entire second side.
This is synth pop goodness at its best. So good, that frankly, there's not much more to say. This would have definitely been a wall contender.
Pet Shop Boys continued to release platinum selling albums through 1993, and while sales faltered over time, they remained certified gold or silver through 2009 for their tenth studio album. They remain one of the few bands from the 80's to not only survive the 90's, but continue to release albums to this day, with their latest being 2024's Nonetheless. Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe show no signs of stopping anytime soon. Kudos to them for sticking it out for a storied multi-decade career. Not bad for two kids who met at a music shop.
And before I go for the day, did you know that the letters on the Hollywood sign are owned by various people? It's true.
H: Terrence Donnelly (publisher of the Hollywood Independent Newspaper)
O: Giovanni Mazza (Italian movie producer, co-founder of Panaria Film)
L: Les Kelley (founder of Kelley Blue Book)
L: Gene Autry (actor)
Y: Hollywood Chamber of Commerce in honor of Hugh Hefner (founder of Playboy)
W: Andy Williams (singer)
O: Warner Bros. Records, currently known as Warner Records
O: Alice Cooper (singer), who donated in memory of comedian Groucho Marx
D: Dennis Lidtke (businessman, graphics company Gribbitt), donated in the name of Matthew Williams
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