Disco (album)
Encyclopedia
Disco is the second album
by the UK
electronic music
group Pet Shop Boys
. It was released by Parlophone on .
Disco was not an original studio album, but rather a collection of remix
es of tracks from their first album, Please, and its respective B-side
s. Many fans of 1980s synthpop
view the mixes on this album as some of the best examples of the extended dance mix, and this album includes remixes by Arthur Baker
, Shep Pettibone
and Pet Shop Boys
themselves.
It is difficult to say where Pet Shop Boys saw this album fitting in among their other albums when they released it. In 2001, when they re-released what they deemed their first six albums, Disco was not included.
In addition, Pet Shop Boys would later release the remix albums Disco 2
, Disco 3
and Disco 4
, although the concepts of these compilations differ greatly from the original Disco album: Disco 2
is a continuous mega-mix of dance remixes, Disco 3
is a mixture of remixes and new songs and Disco 4
consists exclusively of tracks remixed by the Pet Shop Boys, mainly by other artists.
The sleeve cover was a still of Chris Lowe
from the promo video of "Paninaro" directed by the Pet Shop Boys themselves.
The Disco mixes of "Suburbia
" and "Paninaro
" can also be found on the "Suburbia" 12" and the 2001 two-disc re-release of Please. 7" versions of both mixes of these songs were used for the "Suburbia" single release.
The original version of "In the Night" was the B-side to the original release of "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)
". Arthur Baker's Extended Mix of "In the Night" was used as the theme for the BBC
's The Clothes Show
. In the mid-1990s, the Pet Shop Boys remixed "In the Night" again in a then-contemporary style so that the programme would continue to use the theme. This version, known as "In the Night 1995", was released as a B-side to the 1996 single "Before
" and was then collected on the 2001 two-disc re-release of Bilingual
.
American music reviewer Robert Christgau referred to Shep Pettibone
(who mixed Pet Shop Boys's biggest hit, "West End Girls") as 'Pet Sheppibone' in his review.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
group Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys are an English electronic dance music duo, consisting of Neil Tennant, who provides main vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar, and Chris Lowe on keyboards....
. It was released by Parlophone on .
Disco was not an original studio album, but rather a collection of remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
es of tracks from their first album, Please, and its respective B-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
s. Many fans of 1980s synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
view the mixes on this album as some of the best examples of the extended dance mix, and this album includes remixes by Arthur Baker
Arthur Baker (musician)
Arthur Baker is an American record producer and DJ best known for his work with hip hop artists like Afrika Bambaataa, Planet Patrol, and the British group New Order.-Early career:...
, Shep Pettibone
Shep Pettibone
Robert E. Pettibone, Jr. is a record producer, remixer, songwriter and club DJ, one of the most prolific of the 1980s. His earliest work known to the public was for one of New York City's top disco/dance radio stations, WRKS 98.7 "Kiss" FM, and later as remixer/producer for the disco label Salsoul...
and Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys are an English electronic dance music duo, consisting of Neil Tennant, who provides main vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar, and Chris Lowe on keyboards....
themselves.
It is difficult to say where Pet Shop Boys saw this album fitting in among their other albums when they released it. In 2001, when they re-released what they deemed their first six albums, Disco was not included.
In addition, Pet Shop Boys would later release the remix albums Disco 2
Disco 2
Disco 2 is the eighth album by UK electronic music duo Pet Shop Boys. Released in September 1994 by Parlophone Records, it consists of remixes of songs from their 1993 Very and recent B-sides....
, Disco 3
Disco 3
Not to be confused with The Fat Boys, whose original name was The Disco 3.Disco 3 is the thirteenth album by the UK electronic music duo Pet Shop Boys. It was released in 2003...
and Disco 4
Disco 4
Disco 4 also known as Disco Four is the eighteenth album by the UK electronic music duo Pet Shop Boys and the fourth in the band's "Disco" series. It was released on October 8, 2007, on compact disc and vinyl...
, although the concepts of these compilations differ greatly from the original Disco album: Disco 2
Disco 2
Disco 2 is the eighth album by UK electronic music duo Pet Shop Boys. Released in September 1994 by Parlophone Records, it consists of remixes of songs from their 1993 Very and recent B-sides....
is a continuous mega-mix of dance remixes, Disco 3
Disco 3
Not to be confused with The Fat Boys, whose original name was The Disco 3.Disco 3 is the thirteenth album by the UK electronic music duo Pet Shop Boys. It was released in 2003...
is a mixture of remixes and new songs and Disco 4
Disco 4
Disco 4 also known as Disco Four is the eighteenth album by the UK electronic music duo Pet Shop Boys and the fourth in the band's "Disco" series. It was released on October 8, 2007, on compact disc and vinyl...
consists exclusively of tracks remixed by the Pet Shop Boys, mainly by other artists.
The sleeve cover was a still of Chris Lowe
Chris Lowe
Chris Lowe is an English musician, who, with colleague Neil Tennant, makes up the pop duo Pet Shop Boys.-Childhood:...
from the promo video of "Paninaro" directed by the Pet Shop Boys themselves.
The Disco mixes of "Suburbia
Suburbia (song)
"Suburbia" is a song by UK synthpop duo Pet Shop Boys. It was remixed and released as the fourth single from the album Please in 1986 and became the band's second UK Top 10 hit, peaking at #8.-Overview:...
" and "Paninaro
Paninaro
Paninaro was a youth scene that took its name from a group of youngsters who used to meet at the Al Panino bar in Milan's Via Agnello during the early 1980s...
" can also be found on the "Suburbia" 12" and the 2001 two-disc re-release of Please. 7" versions of both mixes of these songs were used for the "Suburbia" single release.
The original version of "In the Night" was the B-side to the original release of "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)
Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)
"Opportunities " is a song by UK synthpop duo Pet Shop Boys, released as a single in 1985 and then in 1986, gaining greater popularity in both the UK and U.S...
". Arthur Baker's Extended Mix of "In the Night" was used as the theme for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's The Clothes Show
The Clothes Show
The Clothes Show is a British television show about fashion that can currently be seen weeknights on Really. It was formerly broadcast on BBC One from 1986 to 2000.-BBC series :...
. In the mid-1990s, the Pet Shop Boys remixed "In the Night" again in a then-contemporary style so that the programme would continue to use the theme. This version, known as "In the Night 1995", was released as a B-side to the 1996 single "Before
Before (song)
"Before" is a single by UK electronic music group Pet Shop Boys released as the first single from the group's 1996 album Bilingual. The single, upon its release, peaked at #7 on the UK Singles Chart. In the US, it reached #1 on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play and reached #7 on the US Bubbling Under...
" and was then collected on the 2001 two-disc re-release of Bilingual
Bilingual (album)
Bilingual is the tenth album by the English dance music group Pet Shop Boys. It has sold about 1,000,000 albums world-wide.-Overview:...
.
American music reviewer Robert Christgau referred to Shep Pettibone
Shep Pettibone
Robert E. Pettibone, Jr. is a record producer, remixer, songwriter and club DJ, one of the most prolific of the 1980s. His earliest work known to the public was for one of New York City's top disco/dance radio stations, WRKS 98.7 "Kiss" FM, and later as remixer/producer for the disco label Salsoul...
(who mixed Pet Shop Boys's biggest hit, "West End Girls") as 'Pet Sheppibone' in his review.
Track listing
- "In the Night" (Arthur Baker's Extended mix) – 6:28
- "SuburbiaSuburbia (song)"Suburbia" is a song by UK synthpop duo Pet Shop Boys. It was remixed and released as the fourth single from the album Please in 1986 and became the band's second UK Top 10 hit, peaking at #8.-Overview:...
" (Julian Mendelssohn's Full Horror mix) – 8:56 - "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)"Opportunities " is a song by UK synthpop duo Pet Shop Boys, released as a single in 1985 and then in 1986, gaining greater popularity in both the UK and U.S...
" (Ron Dean Miller and Latin Rascals' Version Latina) – 5:34 - "PaninaroPaninaro (song)"Paninaro" is a song by English synthpop duo Pet Shop Boys. Originally a B-side to the 1986 single "Suburbia", it was released as a limited-edition single in Italy during the same year; later, in 1995, a re-recording entitled "Paninaro '95" was released to a wider market, to promote the B-side...
" (Pet Shop Boys and David Jacob's Italian mix) – 8:35 - "Love Comes QuicklyLove comes quickly"Love Comes Quickly" is a song by UK synthpop duo Pet Shop Boys, released as the third single from their 1986 album Please, and the last of its singles to be released before the album itself. Although a Top 20 hit in the UK, and cited as one the band's own favourite songs, its chart performance was...
" (Shep Pettibone's Mastermix) – 7:38 - "West End GirlsWest End Girls"West End Girls" is a song by British pop duo Pet Shop Boys. Written by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, the song was released twice as a single. It is a synthpop song, influenced by hip hop music. The lyrics focus on class, and inner-city pressure, and were inspired by T.S. Eliot's poem The Waste Land...
" (Shep Pettibone's Disco mix) – 9:03
Guest musicians
- Andy Richards – Fairlight on track 2
- Gary BarnacleGary BarnacleGary Barnacle is a saxophonist/flautist, brass instrument arranger, composer and producer, primarily noted for session work, live work Gary Barnacle (born 1959, Dover, England) is a saxophonist/flautist, brass instrument arranger, composer and producer, primarily noted for session work, live work...
– Saxophone on track 2 - Blue WeaverBlue WeaverBlue Weaver is a British keyboard player, session musician, songwriter and record producer.-Biography:...
and Khris Kallis – Additional keyboards on track 3 - Adrien Cook – Fairlight on track 4
- Andy MackayAndy MackayAndrew "Andy" Mackay is an English multi-instrumentalist, best known as a founder member of the art-rock group Roxy Music....
– Saxophone on track 5