The Pet Shop Boys' first twenty singles...

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**I think New Order only had about a 2/3 hit rate**.

Yes 8/10/11/20/23/24 are below par

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 15:11 (twenty years ago) link

"public enemy no. 1"
"you're gonna get yours"
"rebel without a pause"
"night of the living baseheads"
"black steel in the hour of chaos"
"bring the noise"
"don't believe the hype"
"welcome to the terrordome"
"can't do nothin for ya man"
"911 is a joke"
"fight the power"
"brothers gonna work it out"
"shut em down"
"can't truss it"
"nighttrain"

wtf is it with the "no more than 15" barrier?! i am beginning to think 20 is quite the achievement!

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 15:29 (twenty years ago) link

Shop Around / Who's Lovin' You
Ain't It Baby / The Only One I Love
What's So Good About Goodbye / I've Been Good To You
You Really Got A Hold On Me / Happy Landing
Mickey's Monkey / Whatever Makes You Happy
I Gotta Dance To Keep From Crying / Such Is Love Such Is Life
(You Can't Let The Boy Overpower) The Man In You / Heartbreak Road
I Like It Like That / You're So Free And Sweet
That's What Love Is Made Of / Would I Love You
Come On Do The Jerk / Baby Don't You Go
OOO Baby Baby / All That's Good
The Tracks Of My Tears / Fork In The Road
My Girl Has Gone / Since You Won My Heart
Going To A Go Go / Choosey Beggar
Whole Lot Of Shaking In My Heart (Since I Met You Girl) / Oh Be My Love
(Come Round Here) I'm The One You Need / Save Me
The Love I Saw In You Is Just A Mirage / Swept For You Baby
More Love / Swept For You Baby (1) / Come Spy With Me (2)
I Second That Emotion / You Must Be Love
If You Can Want / When The Words From Your Heart Get Caught Up
Yester Love / Much Better Off
Special Occasion / Give Her Up
Baby Baby Don't Cry / Your Mothers Only Daughter
The Tracks Of My Tears / Come On And Do The Jerk
The Tears Of A Clown / You Must Be Love (1) Who's Gonna Take The Blame (2)
(Come Round Here) I'm The One You Need / We Can Make It We Can
I Don't Blame You At All / That Girl

Probably missing a few, but that's 27.

― o. nate (onate), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 15:31 (twenty years ago) link

1 Player's Ball
2 Southernplayalistic...
3 Get Up, Get Out
4 Elevators
5 Jazzy Belle
6 ATLiens/Wheelz Of Steel
7 Rosa Parks
8 Da Art Of Storytellin
9 B.O.B.
10 Ms.Jackson
11 So Fresh, So Clean
12 The Whole World
13 Land Of A Million Drums
14 Ghetto Musick/Hey Ya

yes yes ok only 14 but anyway, coming up fast behind missy!

― pete b. (pete b.), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 15:34 (twenty years ago) link

If you take out the "Tracks of My Tears" reissue that I counted, it still makes 26.

― o. nate (onate), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 15:36 (twenty years ago) link

But if you're missing a few it's invalidated o.nate - thats what makes it so hard to work out for the old soul acts, it's perishingly hard to find a complete discography.

― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 15:39 (twenty years ago) link

Well, I might not be missing a few - I don't know. This is from a list purporting to be the complete Motown UK singles.

― o. nate (onate), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 15:44 (twenty years ago) link

Oh OK! Where is it? It might help for the Four Tops.

― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 15:46 (twenty years ago) link

i was gonna say Madonna but 'Gambler' is a bit rub

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 15:52 (twenty years ago) link

Wasn't "The Queen Is Dead" a single too? I know it had a video.

Also, "Girlfriend In A Coma" is unforgivable rubbish that almost single-handedly wipes away the goodness of half of their singles.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 16:05 (twenty years ago) link

complete Motown UK singles:

http://www.boo-ga-loo.demon.co.uk/boogoo56.htm

― o. nate (onate), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 16:08 (twenty years ago) link

you guys should maybe be aware how tempted i am to suggest U2 from 'Pride' to 'Please'...but i notice many of you are now stroking guns so i'll keep shtum

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 16:14 (twenty years ago) link

Haha "stroking guns" is an apt description of the turn this thread has taken! </MeanSpiritedLove>

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 16:24 (twenty years ago) link

''Also, "Girlfriend In A Coma" is unforgivable rubbish that almost single-handedly wipes away the goodness of half of their singles.''

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 16:43 (twenty years ago) link

Why the befuddlement? That song is beyond rancid.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 16:51 (twenty years ago) link

http://www.radioalice.com/morning_show/images/rancid.jpg

OI!

― Thy Lethal Zen Ned (Ned), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 16:53 (twenty years ago) link

"Girlfriend In A Coma" is leagues worse than anything Rancid could come up with.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 17:04 (twenty years ago) link

Only someone who wuvs Usher could have such a wacktastic opinion on "Girlfriend in a Coma".

― Larcole (Nicole), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 17:10 (twenty years ago) link

yowza!

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 17:14 (twenty years ago) link

You know when Alex in NYC starts screaming "RAISE YOUR STANDARDS!" and posting funny pics of Jaz Coleman all over a thread? I now completely understand where he's coming from.

RAISE YOUR STANDARDS!
http://www.laganzua.net/discos/discos4/imagenes/thecure.jpg

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 17:14 (twenty years ago) link

Hush, now, Dan, the unbelievers will yet understand the power of Smith vs. the power of Smiths.

― Thy Lethal Zen Ned (Ned), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 17:18 (twenty years ago) link

Dream on, Ned Parry.

― Larcole (Nicole), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 17:38 (twenty years ago) link

That's All Right Mama / Blue Moon Of Kentucky
Good Rockin' Tonight
Milk Cow Blues Boogie
I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone / Baby Lets Play House
Mystery Train / Forget To Remember To Forget
Heartbreak Hotel
Blue Suede Shoes
I Want You I Need You I Love You
Hound Dog / Don't Be Cruel
I'm Counting On You / I Got A Woman
I’ll Never Let You Go / I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry
Trying To Get To You
Blue Moon
Money Honey
Shake Rattle And Roll / Lawdy Miss Clawdy
Love Me Tender
Too Much
All Shock Up / That’s When Your Heartbreak Begins
Teddy Bear
Jailhouse Rock / Treat Me Nice

― nnnh oh oh nnnh nnnh oh (James Blount), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 17:41 (twenty years ago) link

Hmm, I think 'Take Away' is an unseemly blot on Missy's otherwise perfect run.

Björk has 19 so far... she's ahead of Missy, one more and she ties with PSB:

Human Behaviour
Venus As A Boy
Big Time Sensuality
Play Dead
Violently Happy
Army Of Me
Isobel
It's Oh So Quiet
Hyperballad
Possibly Maybe
I Miss You
Bachelorette
All Is Full Of Love
Hunter
Alarm Call
Hidden Place
Pagan Poetry
Cocoon
It's Not Up To You

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 17:41 (twenty years ago) link

Wait, which one is "Play Dead"?

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 17:43 (twenty years ago) link

The one she did with David Arnold, and one of her best.

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 17:44 (twenty years ago) link

I think most of Bjork's output has been shockingly poor, I like maybe three singles off of that list.

― Larcole (Nicole), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 17:46 (twenty years ago) link

Dream on, Ned Parry.

Sing with me. Sing for the years.

― Thy Lethal Zen Ned (Ned), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 18:05 (twenty years ago) link

Sing for the laughter. Sing for the tears.

― Captain Butter Underpants (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 18:36 (twenty years ago) link

"take away" is one of the most beautiful things ever committed to magnetic tape

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 19:02 (twenty years ago) link

The Lex, you forgot the amazing "Joga" so she's got 20 (except I don't like "Alarm call" that much).

Seb

― Seb, Tuesday, 19 August 2003 22:21 (twenty years ago) link

Was 'Jóga' a single?! When? Where? Gah - how did I miss that? It's, like, my favourite Bjork song ever...

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 22:40 (twenty years ago) link

The people over the road were playing "Take Away" the other week REALLY LOUD and it made me so happy, I don't think I'd 'got' it until then.

In the pub tonight we realised that even if you include songs the PSB wrote or co-wrote or produced for other people (or ESPECIALLY if) they reign supreme - "Nothing Has Been Proved"; "In Private"; "Getting Away With It"; "Losing My Mind"

― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 22:51 (twenty years ago) link

Sean is still surprised I don't have their Liza album.

― Thy Lethal Zen Ned (Ned), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 22:55 (twenty years ago) link

'Scuse me, how about this run of 27 singles, spanning less than four years? (R&B chart entries only, hence no Xmas singles etc.):

Give It Up Or Turnit A Loose
Soul Pride
I Don't Want Nobody To Give Me Nothing
The Popcorn
Mother Popcorn
Lowdown Popcorn
World
Let a Man Come In and Do the Popcorn, pt. 1
Let a Man Come In and Do the Popcorn, pt. 2 (yes they were separate singles)
Ain't It Funky Now
Funky Drummer
It's a New Day
Brother Rapp
Sex Machine
Super Bad
Get Up, Get Into It and Get Involved
Soul Power
I Cried
Escape-Ism
Hot Pants
Make It Funky
I'm a Greedy Man
Talkin' Loud and Sayin' Nothing
King Heroin
There It Is
Honky Tonk
Get On the Good Foot

Of those all, I think "World," "I Cried" and maybe "King Heroin" are the only ones I could do without.

― Douglas (Douglas), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 03:13 (twenty years ago) link

I almost posted that, but the key is "first"

― nnnh oh oh nnnh nnnh oh (James Blount), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 03:14 (twenty years ago) link

Nah the key is a run of twenty consecutive with no duds. James Brown qualifies. I like my James Brown in smaller doses though.

― Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 10:38 (twenty years ago) link

is there a bad Super Furry Animals single? if not they're on about 17 now

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 11:09 (twenty years ago) link

All of them stevem.

― Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 11:11 (twenty years ago) link

I second Steven's suggestion. The Pet Shop Boys had a run and then stopped to have a fag at quality control never to return. The SFA are still running ...

― deathnight, Wednesday, 20 August 2003 11:14 (twenty years ago) link

OK some of SFA's singles are alright but "Juxtaposed With U" is WRETCHED! Really really really horrible. And there's a reggae one they did which is a shocker too.

― Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 11:20 (twenty years ago) link

juxatopsed with u is brilliant for the original steal of the charlie's angels theme.

― deathnight, Wednesday, 20 August 2003 11:21 (twenty years ago) link

i hated 'Juxtaposed With U' at first (yeh yeh, Lighthouse Family yadda yadda) but have warmed to it since - the video strikes again possible. the SFA tracks i'm less keen on are 'Play It Cool' and 'Do Or Die'...and 'Golden Retriever' is okay, only just realised how much it sounds like Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's 'Spread Your Love'

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 11:28 (twenty years ago) link

i dunno why i'm even bothering trying to top the PSBs here anyway as they're still better than all other bands mentioned on this thread

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 11:30 (twenty years ago) link

Yeah, I was a disappointed when this thread took a turn from talking about how great PSB were to talking about "Hey, what about Dumpy's Rusty Nuts? They had a great run of singles too!".

― Larcole (Nicole), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 11:44 (twenty years ago) link

a shame Pulp may not make it to 20

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 12:05 (twenty years ago) link

In the pub tonight we realised that even if you include songs the PSB wrote or co-wrote or produced for other people (or ESPECIALLY if) they reign supreme

This is so true, they were so good they could even make Patsy Kensit sound fab.

Tom, have you heard Love is everywhere by Cicero? Imagine if Bill Drummond had decided to make gay disco records rather than stadium house, but decided to keep the bagpipes.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Wednesday, 20 August 2003 12:22 (twenty years ago) link

The Lex, "Joga" was the first single from Homogenic. I remember everyone raving about it at the time, especially Thom Yorke.

Now if I can give my opinion about PSB, I think their list extends way beyond 20. Am I the only one who thinks "I wouldn't normally do this kind of thing" is the happiest song EVER MADE? And I can't believe how much hate "Liberation" is getting. To me, it's such a sweet and heartfelt love song. Plus the melody is gorgeous! Then you have "Yesterday when I was mad", which is the best song about being in a band EVER MADE!!!

I could go on, but you get my point. I think some of the singles off Bilingual were questionable choices, but the single mix of "A red letter day" redeemed it and "Single-bilingual" had great remixes of "Discoteca" which should have been the A-side.

Also, can I get some love for "Absolutely fabulous"?
Anyone?

― Seb, Wednesday, 20 August 2003 23:28 (twenty years ago) link

1. Only Love Can Break Your Heart
2. Kiss and Make Up
3. Nothing Can Stop Us
4. Join Our Club
5. People Get Real
6. Avenue
7. You're in a Bad Way
8. Who Do You Think You Are
9. Hobart Paving
10. I Was Born on Christmas Day
11. Pale Movie
12. Like a Motorway
13. Hug My Soul
14. He's on the Phone
15. Sylvie
16. Lose That Girl
17. The Bad Photographer
18. How We Used To Live
19. Heart Failed
20. Boy Is Crying
21. Action
22. Soft Like Me

(not quite as strong towards the end there, but an astonishing run nonetheless)

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Thursday, 21 August 2003 03:03 (twenty years ago) link

nice!

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Thursday, 21 August 2003 03:32 (twenty years ago) link

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