BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986
“Suburbia” is a song by UK synthpop duo Pet Shop Boys. It was remixed and released as the fourth single from the album Please in 1986 and became the band’s second UK Top 10 hit, peaking at number 8.
The song’s primary inspiration is the 1984 Penelope Spheeris film Suburbia, and its depiction of violence and squalor in the suburbs of Los Angeles; in addition, the tension of the Brixton riots of 1981 and of 1985 hanging in recent memory led Neil Tennant of the duo to thinking about the boredom of suburbia and the underlying tension among disaffected youth that sparked off the riots at the least provocation.
“Suburbia” was partly inspired by the film, ‘Suburbia’, a New World Production, produced by Roger Corman, directed by Penelope Spheeris.
SIDE A:
Suburbia (The Full Horror) 8:57
Keyboards [Fairlight] – Andy Richards
Producer – Julian Mendelsohn
Saxophone – Gary Barnacle
SIDE B:
Suburbia (Edited Version) 4:03
Keyboards [Fairlight] – Andy Richards
Producer – Julian Mendelsohn
Saxophone – Gary Barnacle
Jack The Lad 4:31
Engineer – David Jacob
Keyboards [Fairlight] – Adrien Cook
Producer – Pet Shop Boys
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Inner Sleeve: Near Mint
Outer Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Suburbia | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #70 |
| 1986 | Suburbia | U.S. Billboard Ho Dance Music/Club Play | #36 |
| 1986 | Suburbia | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | #17 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: EMI America – V-19226, EMI America – V19226
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 22 Sep 1986
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
CREDITS:
Design – Mark Farrow, PSB*
Photography By – Eric Watson (3)
Written-By – Tennant-Lowe*
NOTES:
Track B2 titled ‘Suburbia (7″ Edit)’ on the sleeve.
Track A: Album version can be heard on the LP, “Please” – PW-17193
Track B2: Not available on the LP, “Please” – PW-17193
Printed in U.S.A.
Find the 12″ on 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: Sovtek 12AX7LPS Vacuum Tube
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
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
TY
One of PSB’s all time classic remixes. It’s a stunning track. First exposure to it was the Disco cassette, after which I bought the 12″. The beginning of it is from the track “Suburbia, Part 2″ which as far as I know has only ever been released on the double 7” version of Suburbia and has never seen the light of day since – not even on a bootleg. I have it but no longer have a turntable to play it on. One of the very few PSB tracks missing from my digitized collection. And yes, Jack The Lad is… Read more »
The very first vinyl record i ever bought was Pet Shop Boys “Disco” and still play it regularly
It contains this mix and it means so much to me, it was such a great album / 12″ compilation
Great to have a rip of the original 45rpm, should be more punchy ! Thanks !
thanks paul for this great treat,
next to opportunities, i think it’s the second best song on please,
and the remix is one of their all time best.
great share.
later
-1
I agree -1 🙂
Many many thanks Paul!
There’s something about this cover that is extremely stylish. Great song to boot.
Thanks again!
You’re welcome Nubben 🙂
Thank you for this mix. The Arthur Baker remix of this song ended up being the most i ever paid for a bootleg. I tried looking for Chris’s glasses as this artwork along with Heart, actually all of the artwork from Actually stood out to be the best in my opinion
why did you get the bootleg?
there are 7 copies here, starting from US$22:
https://www.discogs.com/Pet-Shop-Boys-Suburbia-Special-Arthur-Baker-Remix/release/223056
i have this single, and the athur baker mixes are pretty good too:
A Suburbia (Club Vocal Mix) 7:10
B Suburbia (Dub Version) 7:58
later
-1
I have it posted already on the blog 🙂
Bought it in the year it was released so this dates me. i got the real vinyl but called it a bootleg as it was not an official release. Back in the days of buying vinyl via mail order through the mag Record Collector. no ebay or discogs then. Love your site and a big thank you!
Thank you for this, Paul. One of my favorites of theirs. Makes me smile every time.
You’re welcome Maxwell 🙂
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS LOWE!!
I had to actually watch the movie because of this song. I was surprised to see a young Flea from The Red Hot Chili Peppers as one of the characters in this low budget indie flick. It was a bit of a dirty trick that the US 12″ left off the original version of Paninaro, which also went against the ep concept as one song representative of Tennant/Lowe. Still, Jack the Lad is one of my favorites from this era, and easily outshines a couple of the songs on Please. I think the artwork for this release is much better… Read more »
I will have to locate that movie it sounds interesting. I love the art too Joey 🙂
My mouth dropped open when I saw this post, wow Paul you really are spoiling us this week!
This is one of my top favorite Pet Shop Boys songs, the “Full Horror” mix is phenomenal. I have the 7″ Edit. (Unless this is a different version, I will have to have a listen) There is also a “Video Mix” version. This is so exciting. The whole “Please” album is a classic from beginning to end. And this is one of their best.
Thanks Paul for this. Love it!
If my memory is correct the “Video Mix” appears on the Pop/Art compilation. 🙂
Yes!
You are correct, sir. But compressed and brickwalled with a dynamic range of f… all. As I recall it sounded way better on my Videography laserdisc, but I have no way to play it anymore. I didn’t get around to do a Toslink-rip of it before my Pioneer died, unfortunately. 🙁
Thanks a lot Paul. Pet Shop Boys is always welcome. 😊
You’re welcome Marko 🙂
I have these versions on cd releases and indeed the long J Mendelssohn (wonderful name by the way) version is fantastic, especially the explosions at the end make it very powerful.
Epic track 🙂
thank you so much. i wish they would release a deluxe complete singles box set – every remix and b-side. and call it “Completely”.
Great idea! Super box set like the way Depeche Mode did some time ago (but letting some very nice remixes off).
That would be nice 🙂
An all time fave of mine Paul!! It so reminds me of a show tune in a way. Strong melody, production and lyrics; once heard, you can’t get the record out of your head. And I’m so thankful that you posted Arthur Baker’s mix on your site as well. The song does make one think too and it can be applied to real life situations. You are so mindful of the world and you just have an incredibly HUGE HEART!!! You also are an inspiration too, because you get all of our juices flowing when it comes to music and… Read more »
Thank you Jeff. This is one of my favorite PSB items love everything about it. The art is so great. Also Happy Birthday to Chris Lowe 🙂
Thanks Paul. It’s strange i ended up liking Jack The Lad more. Do you also have the 12″ mix of Left To My Own Devices?
You’re welcome Omar. Yes I have it 🙂
Wow awesome. Many thanks for this 80’s gem!!
You’re welcome Neil 🙂