Actually |
|
Studio album by Pet Shop Boys |
Released |
7 September 1987 (1987-09-07) |
Recorded |
1986–1987 at Sarm West Studios, Advision Studios, London |
Genre |
Synthpop, dance-pop, disco |
Length |
48:14 |
Label |
Parlophone (UK), EMI Manhattan (US and Canada) |
Producer |
Pet Shop Boys, Stephen Hague, Julian Mendelesohn, Andy Richards, Shep Pettibone, David Jacob |
Pet Shop Boys chronology |
Disco
(1986) |
Actually
(1987) |
Introspective
(1988) |
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|
Singles from Actually |
- "It's a Sin"
Released: 15 June 1987
- "What Have I Done to Deserve This?"
Released: 10 August 1987
- "Rent"
Released: 12 October 1987
- "Heart"
Released: 21 March 1988
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Actually (stylised as Pet Shop Boys, actually.) is the second studio album by English pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released in 1987 by record labels Parlophone (UK) and EMI Manhattan (US and Canada).
Contents
- 1 Release
- 2 Reception
- 3 Legacy
- 4 Track listing
- 5 Personnel
- 6 Chart performance
- 7 References
- 8 External links
Release
Actually was released on 7 September 1987 by record label Parlophone in the UK and EMI Manhattan in the United States and Canada.
Actually spawned four UK Top 10 singles: the No. 1 lead-off single "It's a Sin", "Rent", "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" – a duet with fellow Parlophone artist Dusty Springfield which peaked at No. 2 in both the UK and US and led to a major resurgence of interest in Springfield's earlier work – and another UK No. 1 in April 1988 with a remixed version of the song "Heart".
During this period the Pet Shop Boys also completed a full-length motion picture called It Couldn't Happen Here. Featuring songs by the duo, it was most famous for containing the video for "Always on My Mind" (starring Joss Ackland as a blind priest), which—while not on Actually—was released as a single during this period.
Actually was re-released in 2001 (as were most of the group's albums up to that point) as Actually/Further Listening 1987–1988. The re-released version was not only digitally remastered but came with a second disc of B-sides, remixes done by the Pet Shop Boys and previously unreleased material from around the time of the album's original release. Yet another re-release followed on 9 February 2009 under the title of Actually: Remastered. This version contains only the ten tracks of the original release.
Actually has sold over 4 million copies to date.[citation needed]
Reception
Professional ratings |
Review scores |
Source |
Rating |
AllMusic |
[1] |
Robert Christgau |
A−[2] |
Rolling Stone |
[3] |
Spin |
9/10[4] |
Actually has been well-received by critics.
Robert Christgau gave the album an A– grade, writing "this is actual pop music with something actual to say—pure commodity, and proud of it."[2]
In his retrospective review, Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic wrote that Actually is the album "[where] the Pet Shop Boys perfected their melodic, detached dance-pop".[1]
Legacy
Actually is featured in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
In 2006 Q magazine placed the album at No. 22 in its list of "40 Best Albums of the '80s".[5] In 2012 Slant listed the album at No. 88 on its list of "Best Albums of the 1980s".[6]
Track listing
All songs written and composed by Pet Shop Boys (Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe), except as noted.
|
|
1. |
"One More Chance" |
Tennant, Lowe, Bobby Orlando |
5:30 |
2. |
"What Have I Done to Deserve This?" (with Dusty Springfield) |
Lowe, Tennant, Allee Willis |
4:18 |
3. |
"Shopping" |
|
3:37 |
4. |
"Rent" |
|
5:08 |
5. |
"Hit Music" |
|
4:44 |
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|
1. |
"It Couldn't Happen Here" |
Tennant, Ennio Morricone, Lowe |
5:20 |
2. |
"It's a Sin" |
|
4:59 |
3. |
"I Want to Wake Up" |
|
5:08 |
4. |
"Heart" |
|
3:58 |
5. |
"King's Cross" |
|
5:10 |
|
|
1. |
"I Want to Wake Up (Breakdown Mix)" |
6:00 |
2. |
"Heart (Shep Pettibone Version)" (remix by Shep Pettibone) |
4:12 |
3. |
"You Know Where You Went Wrong" |
5:50 |
4. |
"One More Chance (Seven-Inch Mix)" |
3:50 |
5. |
"It's a Sin (Disco Mix)" |
7:41 |
6. |
"What Have I Done to Deserve This? (Extended Mix)" |
6:47 |
7. |
"Heart (Disco Mix)" |
8:40 |
8. |
"A New Life" |
4:55 |
9. |
"Always on My Mind (Demo Version)" |
4:03 |
10. |
"Rent (Seven-Inch Mix)" |
3:33 |
11. |
"I Want a Dog" |
4:58 |
12. |
"Always on My Mind (Extended Dance Mix)" |
8:15 |
13. |
"Do I Have To?" |
5:15 |
14. |
"Always on My Mind (Dub Mix)" |
2:15 |
Personnel
- Pet Shop Boys
- Neil Tennant – production on tracks B1, B3 and B4
- Chris Lowe – production on tracks B1, B3 and B4
- Guest musicians
- Andy Richards – Fairlight CMI and keyboard programming on tracks 1, 4, 5, 7 and 9
- Dusty Springfield – guest vocals on track 2
- J.J. Jeczalik – Fairlight CMI programming on track 3
- Gary Maughan – additional programming on track 3
- Angelo Badalamenti – orchestra arrangement on track 6
- Blue Weaver – Fairlight CMI programming on track 6
- Adrian Cook – programming on track 8
- Technical
- Julian Mendelsohn – production on tracks A1, A3 to A5 and B2
Chart performance
Chart (1987) |
Peak
position |
Australian Albums Chart[7] |
41 |
Austrian Albums Chart[8] |
5 |
Canadian Albums Chart[9] |
16 |
Dutch Albums Chart[10] |
5 |
German Albums Chart[11] |
1 |
New Zealand Albums Chart[12] |
7 |
Norwegian Albums Chart[13] |
3 |
Swedish Albums Chart[14] |
2 |
Swiss Albums Chart[15] |
3 |
UK Albums Chart[16] |
2 |
US Billboard Hot 100[17] |
25 |
References
- ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Actually – Pet Shop Boys | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
- ^ a b Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: Pet Shop Boys". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
- ^ Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th, revised ed.). New York: Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-0-7432-0169-8. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
- ^ Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig (1995). Spin Alternative Record Guide. New York: Vintage Books. ISBN 978-0-679-75574-6. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
- ^ "40 Best Albums of the 1980s". Q (Bauer Media Group) (241). August 2006. ISSN 0955-4955. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
- ^ "The 100 Best Albums of the 1980s | Feature | Slant Magazine". Slant. 5 March 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
- ^ "Pet Shop Boys – Actually". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
- ^ "Pet Shop Boys – Actually" (in German). austriancharts.at. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
- ^ "RPM 100 Albums". RPM (archived at Library and Archives Canada) (Volume 47, No. 7). 21 November 1987. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
- ^ "Pet Shop Boys – Actually" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
- ^ "Charts-Surfer". charts-surfer.de.
- ^ "Pet Shop Boys – Actually". charts.org.nz. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
- ^ "Pet Shop Boys – Actually". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
- ^ "Pet Shop Boys – Actually". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
- ^ "Pet Shop Boys – Actually" (in German). hitparade.ch. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
- ^ "Actually". ChartStats.com. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
- ^ "Actually > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums" at AllMusic. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
External links
- Actually at Discogs (list of releases)
Pet Shop Boys
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Studio albums |
- Please
- Actually
- Introspective
- Behaviour
- Very
- Bilingual
- Nightlife
- Release
- Fundamental
- Yes
- Elysium
- Electric
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Compilation albums |
- Discography: The Complete Singles Collection
- Alternative
- Essential
- PopArt: The Hits
- Story: 25 Years of Hits
- Party
- Ultimate
- Format
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Remix albums |
- Disco
- Disco 2
- Disco 3
- Disco 4
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Live albums |
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Extended plays |
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Soundtracks and scores |
- It Couldn't Happen Here
- Closer to Heaven
- Battleship Potemkin
- The Most Incredible Thing
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Other songs |
- "King's Cross"
- "The Loving Kind"
- "The Night I Fell in Love"
- "I'm Not Scared"
- "In Private"
- "Nothing Has Been Proved"
- "So Sorry, I Said"
- "Don't Drop Bombs"
- "Euroboy"
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Film, stage and television |
- It Couldn't Happen Here
- Closer to Heaven
- Pet Shop Boys: A Life In Pop
- The Most Incredible Thing
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Notable tours and concerts |
- MCMLXXXIX Tour
- Performance Tour
- Discovery Tour
- Somewhere Shows
- Nightlife Tour
- Summer Tour
- Uni/Release Tour
- Summer Tour/Fall '04 Tour
- Fundamental Tour
- Pandemonium Tour
- Progress Live (as special guests)
- Electric tour
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Related articles |
- Discography
- Spaghetti Records
- Reputation
- Results
- Electronic
- Back to Mine: Pet Shop Boys
- West End Girls
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Book
|
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Pet Shop Boys singles
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Please (1984–1986) |
- "West End Girls"
- "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)"
- "Love Comes Quickly"
- "Suburbia"
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Disco (1986) |
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Actually (1987–1988) |
- "It's a Sin"
- "What Have I Done to Deserve This?"
- "Rent"
- "Heart"
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Introspective (1988–1989) |
- "Always on My Mind"
- "Domino Dancing"
- "Left to My Own Devices"
- "It's Alright"
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Behaviour (1990–1991) |
- "So Hard"
- "Being Boring"
- "How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously?"/"Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can't Take My Eyes off You)"
- "Jealousy"
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Discography (1991) |
- "DJ Culture"
- "Was It Worth It?"
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Very (1993–1994) |
- "Can You Forgive Her?"
- "Go West"
- "I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing"
- "Liberation"
- "Yesterday, When I Was Mad"
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Alternative (1995) |
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Bilingual (1996–1997) |
- "Before"
- "Se a vida é (That's the Way Life Is)"/"To Step Aside"
- "Single-Bilingual"
- "A Red Letter Day"
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Nightlife (1999–2000) |
- "I Don't Know What You Want But I Can't Give It Any More"
- "New York City Boy"
- "You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk"
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Release (2002–2003) |
- "Home and Dry"
- "I Get Along"
- "London"
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PopArt (2003–2004) |
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Fundamental (2006) |
- "I'm with Stupid"
- "Minimal"
- "Numb"
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Disco 4 (2007) |
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Yes (2009) |
- "Love etc."
- "Did You See Me Coming?"
- "Beautiful People"
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Ultimate (2010) |
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Elysium (2012) |
- "Winner"
- "Leaving"
- "Memory of the Future"
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Electric (2013) |
- "Axis"
- "Vocal"
- "Love Is a Bourgeois Construct"
- "Thursday"
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Non-album singles |
- "One More Chance"
- "Absolutely Fabulous"
- "Somewhere"
- "Break 4 Love"
- "She's Madonna"
- "Love Life"
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