Pet Shop Boys Discography: The Complete Singles Collection CD

Live Recording

Personnel: Greg Bone (guitar); Andy Duncan (percussion); Scott Davidson (programming); Tessa Niles (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: David Jacob; Paul Wright ; Julian Mendelsohn; Stephen Hague.
Photographers: Eric Watson; Lawrence Watson; Douglas Brothers; Michael Roberts.
Most of the Pet Shop Boys' albums are well-crafted and thoroughly intriguing in their own right, but dance-pop is a medium that is driven by hit singles. Discography collects all the duo's numerous hit singles, including a handful of non-album tracks, in their original 7" single mix, which occasionally varies from the album version, particularly in the case of the Introspective material. Presented chronologically, the singles not only demonstrate the band's increasing musical sophistication, they illustrate what fine songwriters Tennant and Lowe are. These 18 songs form one of the most consistent and innovative bodies of work of its era. Some of the production techniques have dated slightly, but the music has remained impressive. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Although the Pet Shop Boys are a rarity, a dance-pop band that makes well-structured and satisfying albums, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe are at heart pop classicists who appreciate good hooks above all else. Their brilliant collaboration with Dusty Springfield, "What Have I Done to Deserve This?," and their even-better mash-up of U2 and Frankie Valli hits, respectively, "Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can't Take My Eyes Off You)," reveal the duo's underlying respect for and mastery of classic pop forms.
The other 16 songs here range from the breezy "Love Comes Quickly" and the Latin-tinged "Domino Dancing" to the more mature and emotionally weighty "Jealousy" and "Being Boring," with all of the tracks placed chronologically to chart the duo's increasing abilities. Best of all, DISCOGRAPHY: THE COMPLETE SINGLES COLLECTION gathers the original seven-inch single mixes of all 18 songs, as opposed to the longer dance mixes (and often very different album versions) found on previous CDs, performing a valuable service for fans who first discovered them via the radio instead of the dance floor.

Spin (12/91) - Highly Recommended - "...this odd couple has been responsible for some of the most awesome and emotional music of recent years..."
Entertainment Weekly (11/22/91) - "...[the two] new tunes suggest the Pet Shop Boys are still in their prime...the planet's canniest, most compulsively shameless pop group of the last 10 years..." - Rating: A+
Q (12/91) - 5 Stars - Classic - "...The surprising thing about the collection is its consistency...both quality and style...gorgeous pop melodies, smartass lyrics..."