80s Timeworn Twelves: 'West End Girls'

"West End Girls" by Pet Shop Boys (1984)

The British synthpop band Pet Shop Boys struck music gold with their first single "West End Girls." It was originally released in April 1984 with limited success in the dance clubs in the US and Europe. After the group signed with EMI in 1985 and had an unsuccessful release of "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)", they decided to re-release a newly remixed version of "West End Girls." It achieved success unlike any other single in history at that point in time, peaking at #1 in the US, UK, and Canada.

The re-released 12" single featured a dance mix on side A, which extended the radio version by over 2 1/2 minutes. Side B featured the unreleased track "A Man Could Get Arrested" and a "dub" version of "West End Girls" that lasts over 9 1/2 minutes.

 

Thanks to Discogs.Com and Wikipedia for art and record info