PET SHOP BOYS THE BEST REMIXES PART 1 THE 80'S

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PET SHOP BOYS THE BEST REMIXES PART 1 THE 80'S


Pop music has always had a cross over with the dance floor. No more so than with the Pet Shop Boys. A group who have always remained on the fringes of cutting edge dance music since their early career in the days of Bobby Orlando, who produced HI-NRG tracks with the groups first versions of West End Girls and One More Chance.



Since then they have always employed the hottest remixers of the day to add their take on the groups unique style of pop. Below are 5 of the best remixes from the groups 80's golden era. Written in chronological order. Enjoy.

WEST END GIRLS THE SHEP PETTIBONE REMIX 1985


No hit record can ever be beaten by a remix, it just does not happen. However Shep's take on West End Girls is a glorious dance floor rendition of their biggest hit. Adding a delayed piano and some very soulful chords the track is taken to a different level whilst using the original sounds, its stripped back but to a more percussive beat which is extended out in length giving a new set of verses that dont appear in the original radio version. 


IT'S A SIN DISCO REMIX 1987



The groups first single from their second full album entitled Actually, was It's a Sin. Released in the Summer this was an instant number 1 single for the band and therefore several mixes were completed to go with this. Just as Acid House was starting to appear by the next year in the UK, remixes were still generally simple extended versions of the radio mix except a few added effects and percussion. This Disco mix has a great build up with a solid chugging bass line, and the thunderous sound effects to add to the build up which then throws itself into the second half of the track which is the mostly the original, except for an added robotic vocoder effect voice. This was the mix that the group used for their movie the following year entitled "It Couldn't Happen Here" A good all round pop dance remix for 1987, just as the dance music landscape was about to change forever.


LEFT TO MY OWN DEVICES TREVOR HORN DISCO REMIX 1988


Whenever a new musical fad comes along as Acid House did during 1988, most record labels are quick to jump on that band wagon and milk the music cow. However the Pet Shop Boys were always miles ahead of dance floor culture and were into House and club music way before the explosion arrived on British shores in the late 80's.  Their use of the likes of Arthur Baker and Shep Pettibone proved this a few years earlier. This remix though was put together by the Trevor Horn crew with Stephen Lipson and Robin Hancock, and what they created was a moody House/Pop anthem which stretches over eleven minutes and takes elements of early House music techniques  such as a gated organ chord progressions and a stomping bass line. A great pop record in its own right but added to its glory all the more here with this epic remix.


DOMINO DANCING THE BASE REMIX 1988



Miami was the place this was first recorded and the whole concept of this record has sunshine written all over it. From the singles artwork through to the music video, it is just a classic Summer tune. This remix by Lewis A Martinees and his production team is a great Miami Electro dance floor jam of the 80's. The heavy bass line and the Hip Hop flavoured  808 drum machines combined give this version just what is required for the dance floor. A different take on their Acid house infusion with the previous single, clearly showing the bands style in that they are capable of many different genres and styles. This remix is a great Electro Pop floor filler.

IT'S ALRIGHT THE TYREE COOPER REMIX 1989



One of the best Hip House producers to emerge in the late 80's, after his tracks blew up on DJ International Records during this era, his remix here of the groups cover version by the legendary Sterling Void proves to be a fine choice. A full on assault with 909 drum machines, 303 acid bass line patterns and the classic house music styled piano riffs throughout take this remix to the absolute edge of sanity for the dance floor. As the Pet Shop Boys were respected by the House music producers, such as Frankie Knuckles and David Morales, the remixes they released during the 1980's would set them up for the coming decade as club culture would continue to rise to unprecedented heights.

So for the 80's we say goodbye to the 5 best remixes selected by Muzebitez, enjoy and please comment or share this post. 








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