Burning The Ground Exclusive 1987
Celebrating Pride 2021
NEW 2021 Transfer!
NEW Meticulous Restoration!
Originally posted March 20, 2013
“It’s a Sin” is a song by English synthpop duo Pet Shop Boys from their second studio album, Actually (1987). Written by Chris Lowe and Neil Tennant, the song was released on 15 June 1987 as the album’s lead single. It became the duo’s second number-one single on the UK Singles Chart, spending three weeks atop the chart. Additionally, the single topped the charts in Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland, while reaching number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100.
A demo of the track was first cut in 1984 with Bobby Orlando, and the song’s form in the demo remained intact to the final version, although the released production is far more dramatic.
The dramatic, overblown production style of the song, loaded with synthesizers, orchestra hits, and bookended by a non sequitur sample of a NASA countdown, has come to exemplify the most theatrical extremes of the Pet Shop Boys’ musical style.[3] It remains a concert staple, being one of only two songs (alongside “West End Girls”) that has been played during every Pet Shop Boys tour.
The band stated at the time that they had been keen for Stock Aitken Waterman to produce the song, as they were huge fans. Neil has stated that Pete Waterman hated the demo so they turned instead to SAW’s remix engineer Phil Harding to remix the song for the US release (which went uncredited on the sleeve). They would work with him again on “I’m Not Scared”, the single they wrote for the Patsy Kensit band Eighth Wonder and remixes of “Always on My Mind”.
Bursting with melodramatic orchestral stabs, a NASA countdown, and huge-sounding, sweeping synths “It’s A Sin” secured itself in Gay culture permanently becoming a Pride Anthem.
SIDE A:
It’s A Sin (Phil Harding Latin Vocal Mix) 9:16
Keyboards [Fairlight] – Andy Richards
Remix – Pet Shop Boys , Phil Harding
It’s A Sin (Phil Harding Latin Dub Mix) 4:22
Keyboards [Fairlight] – Andy Richards
Remix – Pet Shop Boys , Phil Harding
SIDE B:
It’s A Sin (Remix) 8:16
Remix – Ian Levine
It’s A Sin (Disco Mix) 7:42
Mixed By [Additional] – Stephen Hague
You Know Where You Went Wrong 5:51
Producer – Pet Shop Boys, Shep Pettibone
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Cover: Near Mint
CHARTS:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | It’s A Sin | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #9 |
| 1987 | It’s A Sin | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | #3 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: EMI America – V-19256
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: June 15, 1987
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop, Hi NRG, Freestyle
CREDITS:
Mastered By – Herbie Jr. :^)*
Producer [Additional] – Stephen Hague (tracks: A1, A2, B2)
Producer, Engineer – Julian Mendelsohn (tracks: A1 to B2)
Written-By – Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe*
NOTES:
Packaged in 3-track sleeve for 1st 12″, stickered “4 special mixes of ‘It’s a Sin’”.
A1 and B1 “remixed in the U.K. for the USA”
A1 AKA “Phil Harding Latin Vocal Mix”
A2 as “Phil Harding Latin Dub Mix”
Sleeve mistakenly lists:
(Album version can be heard on the forthcoming album, “Jealousy”-ELT-46972)
Helena Springs courtesy of Arista Records.
(Album version can be heard on the LP, “Actually”-ELJ-46972)
“You Know Where You Went Wrong” (Not Available on the album “Actually”-ELJ-46972)
Find the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net
THE GEAR:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon 2M Black
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
DAC: Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner
SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
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)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
Password: burningtheground
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My all-time favourite song by the Pet Shop Boys.Thanx for having the opportunity to listen to the US 12 Inch Record which was very hard to find in Germany. Flawlessly ripped and restored by DJ PaulT. I love you for this.
I only have this song in my collection, as it appears on the 1988 Aussie comp “Hit Pix ’88 Volume II”, but honestly as much as I LOVE the pet shop boys, this was them at their lowest point, an absolute desecration of the Elvis “classic”. When having over a thousand reconstructed Ktel comps in Flac in ones collection, there’s bound to be a few obliterating bombs here and there. 🙁
What on Earth are you going on about. This post is about “It’s A Sin,” not “Always On My Mind.”
Interesting that it says on the back of the sleeve ‘From the forthcoming album Jealousy’. The catalog number matches Actually so I wonder if there was a last minute name change for the album? Great rip as ever Paul!
Thanks Paul… I will listen to this release later. I think I have the one from 2011 or 2013.
You’re welcome 🙂
Thanks for the re-rip Paul. Actually 2013 was itself a re-rip. You originally posted in 2011.
I think this one is the ultimate and final rip 🙂
Hi Paul, thanks for this upload. I’ll never forget the first time I heard this song on the radio. I pulled my car to the side of the road to listen to it.
The stereo channels on the Disco Mix here are reversed from how they appear on the Actually: Further Listening 1987-1988 disc (2001 and 2018 remasters).
Pretty sure the CD is mastered incorrectly I double-checked my setup just to make sure.
Thanks, Paul! Great song! I still have a crush on Patsy Kensit!! Man, she is a FOX!
Needless to say I have all three 12-inches (Disco Mix; Remix; Latin Vocal) as part of my 116 Pet Shop Boys 12-Inches, quite a few of those mint in their original plastic wrapping (most of those the later releases like ´Leaving´). What can we say that hasn´t been said a million times? I L O V E T H E P E T S H O P B O Y S. Always have, always will. My favourite It´s A Sin version is my very own simple edit that starts with the pompous, magical, unheard of opening of the single version… Read more »
Hi Paul, Glad to see this put up here. I really enjoyed this song when it came out. I bought both the UK 12 inch with the extra sleeve, and the limited edition 12 inch. I thought that was pretty much it. Then one day, I saw a cassette maxi-single with the new mixes on it, so I had that for a long time. Luckily, they did come to vinyl later one. So, we got lucky here in the US with the new mixes. I do like the originals, but these were pretty good too. Back then, you never knew… Read more »
My favorite mix is the Stephen Hague “Disco Mix” I like that it keeps the integrity of the original. Hope everyone enjoys this massive 12″. 🙂
A highlight for me Paul!! I adore when the ‘Boys get really theatrical on their records! Love the synth-driven, adrenalin-drama on this slice of NRG madness. Great post Paul along with the rest of the week so far.
Jeff
You’re so welcome, Jeff I love this period of PSB. 🙂