BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1988
“Always on My Mind” is a song by Johnny Christopher, Mark James, and Wayne Carson, recorded first by Gwen McCrae (as “You Were Always on My Mind”) and Brenda Lee and Elvis Presley in 1972. The song has been a crossover hit, charting in both the country and western and pop categories. Willie Nelson peaked at #1 on the Billboard Country charts in 1982.
In 1987, the Pet Shop Boys performed a synthpop version of “Always on My Mind” on Love Me Tender, a television special on the ITV network in the UK. Commemorating the tenth anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death, the programme featured various popular acts of the time performing cover versions of his hits. The Pet Shop Boys’ performance was so well-received that the duo decided to record the song and release it as a single.
This version became the UK’s Christmas number one single that year. It went on to top the charts for four weeks in total, and reached number four on the US Billboard Hot 100.
In November 2004, The Daily Telegraph newspaper placed the version at number two in a list of the fifty greatest cover versions of all time. In October 2014, a public poll compiled by the BBC saw the song voted the all-time best cover version.
“Always On My Mind” was released as a non-album single in late 1987. It featured an extended version by Julian Mendelsohn and a more drastic remix by Phil Harding, as well as various edits and a beatless “dub”. Harding’s remix at one point changes key and transforms into a house version, introduced by Neil Tennant’s specially recorded vocal line “You were always in my house.” This version was later used as the basis for a reworked production of the song for the album “Pet Shop Boys – Introspective”. The success of the initial single in late ’87/early ’88 prompted the filming of extra scenes for the song’s last-minute inclusion in the Pet Shop Boys musical art/spoof film “It Couldn’t Happen Here”, dialogue from which is heard at the end of Julian Mendelsohn’s remix. It also prompted a repackaging of the album “Actually” with the “Always On My Mind” promo single as a bundle.
The 7: Instrumental ios exclusive to the U.S. 12″ promo and has not appeared on CD.
The picture sleeve is from the U.S. bungle of “Actually” which included a 12″ promo with an exclusive sleeve.
SIDE A:
Always On My Mind (Dance Version) 8:10
Composed By – Christopher*, James*, Thompson*
Keyboards [Fairlight] – Andy Richards
Producer – Julian Mendelsohn, Pet Shop Boys
Producer [With Thanks To] – David Jacob
Remix – Julian Mendelsohn
Always On My Mind (7″ Instrumental) 4:05
Composed By – Christopher*, James*, Thompson*
Keyboards [Fairlight] – Andy Richards
Producer – Julian Mendelsohn, Pet Shop Boys
Producer [With Thanks To] – David Jacob
Remix – Julian Mendelsohn
Always On My Mind (7″ Version) 3:56
Composed By – Christopher*, James*, Thompson*
Keyboards [Fairlight] – Andy Richards
Producer – Julian Mendelsohn, Pet Shop Boys
Producer [With Thanks To] – David Jacob
Remix – Julian Mendelsohn
SIDE B:
Always On My Mind (12″ Version) 5:57
Composed By – Christopher*, James*, Thompson*
Keyboards [Fairlight] – Andy Richards
Producer – Julian Mendelsohn, Pet Shop Boys
Producer [With Thanks To] – David Jacob
Remix – Phil Harding
Always On My Mind (7″ Dub) 2:04
Composed By – Christopher*, James*, Thompson*
Keyboards [Fairlight] – Andy Richards
Producer – Julian Mendelsohn, Pet Shop Boys
Producer [With Thanks To] – David Jacob
Remix – Phil Harding
Do I Have To? 5:16
Composed By – Tennant/Lowe*
Producer – Pet Shop Boys
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Always On My Mind | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #4 |
| 1988 | Always On My Mind | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | #8 |
| 1988 | Always On My Mind | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | #12 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: EMI-Manhattan Records – SPRO-04036, EMI-Manhattan Records – SPRO-04051
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
NOTES:
Side A has catalog number ‘SPRO-04036’, while Side B has catalog number ‘SPRO-04051’.
Mfd. for EMI-Manhattan Records, A Division of Capitol Records Inc., A Subsidiary of Capitol Industries-EMI Inc., U.S.A.
Track A1 originally titled the “Extended Dance Version” on the UK release (12R6171).
Track A2 is unique to this 12″ (Officially).
Track B1 originally titled the “Remix” and B2 originally titled Dub or Dub Version on the UK release (12RX6171). This UK 12″ also credits the Pet Shop Boys as co-remixing these 2 tracks.
Credit for Andy Richards seems to suggest he is on all tracks but UK issues do not list him as being on “Do I Have To?”
Find the 12″ at DISCOGS
Find the LP Bundle at DISCOGS
VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Isolation: Auralex Acoustics ISO-Tone Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube: Tung-Sol 12AX7 TubeGold Pins
Soundcard: Novation Audiohub 2×4 Audio Interface
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner
SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2, ocenaudio
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
Why is MP3 and MP3 conversion mentioned if the files are in flac?
Were they for some reason downsampled into the horrid MP3 format at some stage in the ripping process?
Always a pleasure to have a PSB post, they never had a dull b side and the remixes were always cool.
Fingers crossed that any future posts include the original 12″ of Rent with the Extended Mix and Domino Dancing with the Disco mix.
Fantastic post Paul, I bet you’re looking forward to Duran Duran 40, I wonder what rare jems will be released for 2020.
Pet shop boys exclusives are always very welcome. 😊
Thanks a lot, again.
Great versions which i’ve never heard before. I thought the duo did a cool cover of this classic track.
Cheers Paul for all the hard work 🙂
You are an absolute master of the art of crate digging. Bravo! Can’t wait to listen to ALL of the versions I haven’t heard before!
Thank u very much . Paul . I do have this 12 “.
PSB style perfect… thanks again . God bless you.
Thank you Paul. There is a version on here I’ve never heard. Awesome!
I absolutely love this PSB cover !
I found this CD single sometime ago, but I think your rip will be vastly superior.
Thank you very very much.
This is a real treasure.
well you’re wrong. this particular release is exclusive to the vinyl promo.
Very cool Paul, thank you. Did you know that Boy George and Kim Wilde were also on the same Elvis tribute TV special that the PSBs recorded this for? Nobody’s cover came close to PSBs though. Here’s the full tracklisting, if anyone’s interested: ——————————————————————– Love MeTender Tribute to Elvis – Broadcast 10:30 pm 14/08/87 – ITV Mystery Train – Roger Daltrey Jailhouse Rock – Meatloaf One Night – Kim Wilde Suspicious Minds – Ben E King Don’t Be Cruel – Duane Eddy In The Ghetto – Nona Hendricks Can’t Help Falling In Love – Ruby Turner Blue Moon of Kentucky… Read more »
Wow! very cool Jermajesty. Thanks so much for sharing the info 🙂
Awesome hot track Thanks DJ!
You’re welcome Marcio E Luana Dantas 🙂
paul, thanks again for another classic. this is one of my favorite cover songs from them, along with ‘where the streets have no name’. i remember seeing the single in the shops, and wondering from which album it came from, because it wasn’t on actually. i also the separate cd single release, and a longbox for it. then came the 2 uk 12 inch releases, and many other things to collect. there were cassette singles also. in fact, the exclusive instrumental was also released on promo cassette also. so it did appear in another place. the remixes for this song… Read more »
I have a sealed copy of the 3×12″ Introspective promo which I can’t bring myself to open. I had an unopened copy that I sold a long time ago that was pretty worn out. Who knows maybe someday I will open the copy I have and give it a rip 🙂
paul,
you may have sold it to me.
i have a really beat up copy of the 3×12 inch also.
which i’ve restored, but in a very primitive way.
i’m only interested in disc3, with the other 2 promo
only, ‘left to my own devices’ mixes.
i can send you my files, if you want to try to clean those up.
or alternatively get the records sent to you.
i will email you to discuss options if possible.
(neil if you are interested in helping out, i am pm’ing
you from the new wave outpost).
later
-1
Fantastic rip, Paul!! Such a great song and so reflective of the late 80s.
Gotta love Mendelsohn and Harding!!
Thanks again. -Fred
You’re welcome Fred 🙂
It’s strange when often you end up liking the b/side more. I loved the track Do I Have To. If remixed and edited, it could’ve been a single on its own.
It is a great song one of my favorites 🙂
Knowing you Paul, this rip took you all day!! I just love your perfection. I also appreciate the sacrifice in time it takes to get it done the way you like it. I’m so humbly grateful over what you do. Ripping records is an intricate art form and you are its Da Vinci!!! I can’t wait to hear this twelve because I’m not sure of all the version it contains. There’s always surprises with you dear Paul!!!
Excited!!!
Jeff
I started on this around 6:00 am and finished around 1:00 pm I think. That is why it was such a late post. It was fun though 🙂
I always loved that Elvis classic. PSB’s cover version is one of my favourites by them. Thanks a lot Paul for this mega rip with 6 mixes and the exclusive instrumental mix.
My favorite besides this PSB one is the Willie Nelson version 🙂
I agree, this was always a Willie Nelson song to me. I Love this record. And the promo no less. You are awesome Paul. Thank You.
Hola Daniel soy de Ecuador y fanático de PSB he encontrado este blog no hace mucho y el archivo lamentablemente ya no está disponible. Podría pedirte muy comedidamente que me ayudes por favor reenviando este archivo. Gracias y un abrazo grande.
Thought I was never going to finish this beast lol. Enjoy! 🙂