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
