A Pop Culture Scrapbook
Register
Advertisement
Pet-shop-boys

Pet Shop Boys are a pop music duo formed in London in 1981 by former music journalist Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe. Specialising in music with a strong electronic bass, their music has over the years encompassed many diverse musical styles ranging from synth-pop to ballads, dance, soundtracks and the theatrical, although largely ignoring the traditional 'rock' format. The group has also survived changes in musical trends over the decades, often going against the grain of the moment.

The duo are also characterised by a rage of strong visual images of themselves, often unexpected and in contrast to trends and fashion, favouring the avant-garde or flamboyant, in stark contrast to their deadpan and 'ordinary' selves. Album artwork and stage designs have also been an important part of their visual image.

Although considered prevalently a 'singles' band, Pet Shop Boys have to date released thirteen studio albums four remix albums, four soundtrack albums and two live albums. They have also collaborated with other artists, usually female vocalists, such as Dusty Springfield, Liza Minelli and Kylie Minogue. The Guinness Book of records lists the group as the most successful musical duo of all time.

Discography[]

UK only, albums with associated singles, or standalone singles (chart peak in brackets)

Year Album Singles
1986
1987
1988
1990
  • So Hard (4)
  • Being Boring (20)
1991
  • Where the streets have no name/Can't take my eyes off you/How can you expect to be taken seriously? (4) [7]
  • Jealousy (12)
  • Discography
  • DJ Culture (13)
  • Was It Worth It? (24)
1993
1994 tbc

Notes[]

  1. originally released 1984, re-recorded and re-released 1985
  2. first released 1985, re-recorded and re-released 1986
  3. 3.0 3.1 remix album
  4. non-album single
  5. features remixes/extended version of associated singles
  6. rel. 1989
  7. Only How can you expect to be taken seriously? and Jealousy feature on Behaviour . 'Seriously' is a remix
  8. remixed

Significant dates[]

1981-1985[]

PSB early pic Smash Hits, April 24, 1985 - p
  • 19 August 1981: Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe meet in an electronics store in London
  • 19 August 1983: Neil Tennant has lunch with producer Bobby O while in New York to interview The Police for Smash Hits.
  • April 1984: the group's first single, a version of West End Girls produced by Bobby O, is released.
  • March 1985: PSB cut contractual ties with Bobby O and sign to Parlophone.
  • 24 April 1985: Smash Hits announces that Tennant is leaving the magazine to pursue "pastures new", citing the leaving date as 05 April 1985. The magazine also predicted that his new group The Pet Shop boys would soon be "down the dumper" (a phrase invented partly by Tennant) and then he would soon be "crawling back on bended knees". [1]
  • 28 October 1985: a new version of West End Girls is released.
  • 05 December 1985: TOTP debut with West End Girls at no.23 in the UK charts.

1986[]

Scrapbook[]

scans: Record Mirror worldradiohistory.com


External links[]

Advertisement