ACTUALLY
Welcome to week #2 of our new weekly feature, this week we focus our attention on the 2nd studio album, released by the Pet Shop Boys, "Actually". Plenty of information about the album is included and of course, we rate every track on the album as we continue to build our Pet Shop Boys album chart!
Production on the album involved analogue tape and a wide array of synths and samplers to achieve their signature sound. The Pet Shop Boys utilized the Emulator II, Fairlight CMI, and various drum machines. Mendelsohn’s work on "It’s A Sin" included not only lush synth programming but also field recordings, such as live ambience from Brompton Oratory church, which added a filmic quality to the music. Vocals were recorded simply: Neil Tennant would lay down several takes, which Mendelsohn would then compile for the best performance. Extra keyboard lines, often quickly improvised by Lowe, were fundamental to the record’s polished arrangements.
Other notable facts include the collaboration with Dusty Springfield for "What Have I Done to Deserve This?", a decision influenced by Tennant and their manager’s staff. Springfield, then experiencing career difficulties, delivered a standout vocal performance that was a critical and commercial triumph. The album’s production was sometimes ad hoc, pop shields and guide cassettes were employed in the home studio; creative experimentation was encouraged, sometimes resulting in last-minute changes or new layers being added in late-night sessions. The Pet Shop Boys aimed for a cinematic, dramatic, and distinctly British pop sound, tackling subject matter like urban life, consumerism, love, guilt, and social change.
Upon release in September 1987, "Actually" was praised for its sophisticated dance-pop and intelligent lyrics, becoming triple platinum in the UK and solidifying the Pet Shop Boys’ reputation as one of the era’s most innovative pop duos.
One More Chance
The album opens with a song about trying to salvage a broken relationship, with upbeat, house-influenced synth programming. Electronic percussion and layered vocals add a sense of urgency and tension to the plea for reconciliation.
What Have I Done To Deserve This?
A duet with Dusty Springfield, this track explores regret and longing over a failed relationship. The production elegantly fuses orchestral flourishes with dance-pop, blending Springfield’s soul stylings with Tennant’s dry delivery for a dramatic, memorable single.
This biting satire of consumerism and privatization draws directly from contemporary British politics, with dry wit and rhythmic whipcracks punctuating the synth-driven groove. It’s a prime example of the duo’s ability to blend catchy pop with pointed social commentary.
"Rent" delves into transactional relationships and emotional dependency, veiled in ambiguous lyrics. The production is lush, with warm synth pads and soft beats underpinning a melancholic melody.
An energetic and playful song, "Hit Music" parodies trends in pop and celebrity culture, using percussive electronic sounds and dynamic synth leads to create a danceable, ironic anthem about the nature of hit-making.
A cinematic ballad co-written with Ennio Morricone, this track addresses grief and the unexpected tragedies in life. The arrangement features sweeping strings, atmospheric synths, and subtle, unresolved piano motifs, providing a haunting musical backdrop to its reflective lyrics.
The album’s biggest hit, “It’s a Sin” is confessional and dramatic, criticizing religious guilt and morality. Thunderous synths, powerful drum beats, and choral effects highlight the song’s grand, theatrical tone.
This song contemplates emotional denial and escapism, with bright, syncopated synth melodies that mask more serious underlying feelings. The production blends airy synth textures and crisp drum programming.
An exuberant and straightforward love song, "Heart" is built on bouncing basslines, infectious drum machines, and a memorable vocal hook. Its playful pop arrangement showcases the lighter side of the album.
The closer paints a bleak, cinematic portrait of urban decline and despair, inspired by the real King’s Cross station. The production is understated and somber, with moody synths and a slow, steady beat echoing the song’s sense of resignation.
Throughout "Actually," the Pet Shop Boys craft a sophisticated mix of sharp, socially aware lyricism and impeccably produced synth-pop soundscapes, making it one of the defining pop albums of the 1980s.
Final thoughts….
An outstanding 2nd album by the duo, so many tracks could have been singles, “King’s Cross” (a beautiful track) and “One More Chance” are the standout choices. I do think the tracks “Shopping” and “Hit Music” are fillers on this album, the rest are absolutely fabulous!
TRACK RATINGS
Each track on the album is scored on the following basis, an excellent tracks scores 3 points, a good track scores 2 points, an ok track scores 1 point and an awful track, scores no points, the total is added up and divided by the maximum number of points that would be available and then times that by 100 to get your overall score. For example if an album scores 20 points and there are 10 tracks on the album, that means it can achieve a maximum score of 30, so divide 20 by 30 and times it by 100, it gives you a figure of 66.66, which is the final score rating for the album, in this case you would round it up to 67, if it was 66.33, you would round it down to 66. In the event there is a tie, the album with the most tracks rated at 3 ranks as higher.
One More Chance 2
What Have I Done To Deserve This? 3
Shopping 2
Rent 3
Hit Music 1
It Couldn’t Happen Here 3
It’s A Sin 3
I Want To Wake Up 1
Heart 3
King’s Cross 3
Score 24
FINAL ALBUM RATING 80
Current Album Chart
1. Actually – 80 (6 Tracks Rated As 3)
2. Please – 80 (5 Tracks Rated As 3)
