In their second Actually episode, Graham and Chris unearth the stories behind some of Pet Shop Boys’ most loved songs, with tales of paranoia, privatisation, puppets and Pavarotti.
There’s a comprehensive breakdown of inspirations and collaborators - from Bobby O and Ennio to Cameo and Gazebo - and analysis of everything, including the kitchen sink.
By the time the last train pulls out of King’s Cross, they’ve uncovered the album’s major themes, and things are looking bleak. Thankfully love is discovered in a pair of Heart singles. But - own up - who forgot to book the orchestra?”
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1:20:18
12RX022 Actually (pt 1)
In the latest of their album deep-dives, Graham and Chris rewind life’s cassette to summer 1987 to set the scene for the arrival of Actually.
Graham’s teenage diary shines new light on the headlines and music charts of the day, before the album’s upfront singles are comprehensively unpacked, with a little help from Jonathan King (boo!) and Ed the Duck (hurrah!).
After deconstructing the sleeve and mourning the memorabilia they’ve lost to Pet Shop Boys heaven over the decades, it’s fantasy setlist time, with Chris pitching his ideas for the Actually tour which never actually happened. Part two next week!
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59:16
12RX021 Achievements
Graham and Chris turn TV hosts to present a special edition of This Is Your Life, calling out Pet Shop Boys’ 10 greatest achievements from the famed Big Red Book.
Career highs recalled include having their first 12” available in Soho’s Record Shack, rescuing Dusty and aiding the drive to pardon Alan Turing, as well as subverting UK institutions and rubbing shoulders with Hollywood royalty.
There’s also In Depth analysis of Hallo Spaceboy’s cut-up lyrics and Neil’s only published poem, while guests lining up to pay tribute include Bobby O, Madonna, Sammy Davis Jr, Es Devlin, Emily Eavis and Jimmy Tarbuck himself.
But will Neil and Chris accept their knighthoods for services to pop?
There's only one way to find out...
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1:11:39
12RX020 Dreamworld
With the tour that nearly never began now threatening never to end, Graham and Chris don their robo-tuning-fork-rabbit-ears to consider what Pet Shop Boys fans really want from a greatest hits show.
Deep cuts are welcome - unless it’s to the singer’s thumb.
Stories are shared from Hull, Rome, Koko and Funny Girls, and there’s talk of theme parks, toilet breaks, inflatable beds and popstar dreams.
Plus, in a dream sequence inspired by Neil’s Marvel Comics days: Is Pet Shop Boys’ career simply one long journey through a multiverse of overlapping Dreamworlds?
And - for an encore - Graham and Chris get their dream call to curate the setlist for ‘Dreamworld 2: Return To Dreamworld’!”
If you would like to share your own PSB stories and by possibly be part of a future 'fans' episode - please complete our fans survey.
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To support the Pet Shop Boys In Depth podcast visit our Crowdfunder:
https://gofund.me/5a755ef8
Or visit our T-shirt store: https://in-depth.teemill.com
You can get additional In Depth content on social media:
Facebook: http://tiny.cc/3jhcvz
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1:18:37
12RX019 Nonetheless (pt2)
In the second part of their Nonetheless double-bill, Graham and Chris go track-by-track, meeting a cast of characters along the way including James Ford, Rudolf Nureyev, Oscar Wilde, Les Petites Bon-Bons, Bowie, Cardi B, Brandon, Kylie, Putin, Ted Lasso, Kraftwerk, Tracey Emin, Spitting Image, and Taylor Swift.
There’s also time to discuss first plays, formats and nudity in PSB lyrics, before getting down to the really big questions - what do Pet Shop Boys songs smell like? and how does Nonetheless rate in the Pet Shop Boys canon?
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An unofficial Pet Shop Boys fan podcast.
Join Graham & Chris - two Pet Shop Boys fans who ’wouldn’t normally do this kind of thing’ - who chat about everything PSB from singles, albums, tours, sleeves, outfits and remixes.
If you are a fan of the world’s greatest synth duo - then this is the podcast for you.
Subscribe now and never miss an episode.
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