Rocktrospectiva: The Stylish And Essential "Alternative" Turns 30

Released on 7 August 1995 "Alternative" was a compilation album by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys. Alternative was a two-disc set, that consisted of 30 B-sides in chronological order. 

The title Alternative was a last-minute change from the title that had been long saved for such an album, Besides, but that title was taken by US rock band Sugar, who released their own B-sides compilation two months prior.

The album contained a wealth of prime material, including several tracks that surpassed those the duo put on their albums. Consequently, the set was worthwhile not only for hardcore fans, but for listeners with a passing interest in the group.

One of the highlights was a remake of the original 7-inch "Paninaro", titled "Paninaro '95", was released as a single which was included on the later PopArt: The Hits set, to promote the two-disc compilation which reached number two in the UK Albums Chart. 

The cover of Alternative features photographs of Tennant and Lowe in fencing masks. The first copies of the CD have a lenticular image on the cover which shifts between the two photographs

As an interesting fact, back in 2010, Neil Tennant revealed during an interview the a second B-side would be released that year, but that didn't happen until February 2012 when another B-sides album called "Format" was released in the same line.  

 

Alternative Track List:  

 

Disc 1:

 

1. In the Night 

2. A Man Could Get Arrested 

3. That's My Impression 

4. Was That What It Was? 

5. Paninaro 

6. Jack the Lad

7. You Know Where You Went Wrong 

8. A New Life 

9. I Want a Dog 

10. Do I Have To?

11. I Get Excited (You Get Excited Too)

12. Don Juan 

13. The Sound of the Atom Splitting 

14. One of the Crowd

15. Your Funny Uncle

 

Disc 2 

 

1. It Must Be Obvious 

2. We All Feel Better in the Dark 

3. Bet She's Not Your Girlfriend 

4. Losing My Mind 

5. Music for Boys

6. Miserabilism 

7. Hey, Headmaster

8. What Keeps Mankind Alive?

9. Shameless 

10. Too Many People

11. Violence (Haçienda Version) 

12. Decadence 

13. If Love Were All 

14. Euroboy 

15. Some Speculation

16. Boys & Girls (Live In Rio) Japanese Edition