Please/Further Listening 1984-1986 Review

07/13/2005 7:11 AM, AMG


Pet Shop Boys' 2001 expanded-edition reissue campaign is a model example of how to execute deluxe reissues, and the very first in the six-disc series, their debut album Please, is perhaps the finest example of why. In addition to the remastered album on the first disc, there's a second disc of rare material -- or further listening, as its called here -- including non-LP B-sides, extended mixes, previously unreleased mixes, and three cuts that never have appeared on CD before. None of the very rare tracks are revelatory and the very best of the B-sides ("Jack the Lad," "Paninaro," "In the Night," and "Was That What It Was?") appeared on the exemplary B-sides collection Alternative (something that is true of every disc in this series, up until Very), but it's all interesting to the devoted. The muted original 7" mix of "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)," which makes the bitterness subdued, the pulsating "New York Mix" of "Why Don't We Live Together?," or the robotic insistence of the dance mix of "West End Girls" may not improve the original mixes, but it's great to have them see the light of day. On top of the music, there are the wonderful liner notes, which not only include an overview of the record but also have track-by-track commentary by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, plus rare photos. True, to truly appreciate all the music here it's necessary to truly be devoted, but if you are, it's worth the effort. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide