Disco 2
Disco 2 is the second remix album by the English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released on 12 September 1994 by Parlophone Records.[1] It functions as a mid-priced sequel to their 1986 compilation album Disco and consists primarily of dance remixes of songs from their albums Very (1993) and Behaviour (1990), along with select B-sides and non-album tracks from the early 1990s.[2] The album is structured as a continuous megamix edited by London DJ Danny Rampling, blending electronic, house, and synth-pop elements to create a club-oriented listening experience.[2] The tracklist features 11 remixes, including high-profile versions such as the Rollo's "Absolutely Fabulous (Rollo Our Tribe Tongue-in Cheek mix)"—a tie-in with the British comedy series Absolutely Fabulous—the Beatmasters' "I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing (Beatmasters Extended Nude mix)", and the Brothers in Rhythm's "We All Feel Better in the Dark (Brothers In Rhythm After Hours Climax mix)".[1] Other notable inclusions are remixes of "Go West" by Farley & Heller, "Liberation" by E-Smoove, "So Hard" by David Morales, and "Yesterday, When I Was Mad" by Junior Vasquez and Jam & Spoon.[1] These tracks highlight collaborations with prominent producers and DJs of the era, emphasizing Pet Shop Boys' adaptation to mid-1990s dance trends.[2] Upon its release, Disco 2 entered the UK Albums Chart at number 6 and spent a total of 5 weeks in the top 100, reflecting moderate commercial success amid the duo's established popularity.[3] A limited-edition US double-CD version included additional bonus tracks like "Euroboy" and "Decadence", expanding its appeal in international markets.[4] Critically, the album garnered mixed reception; while some praised its energetic remixes and suitability for dance floors or casual listening—as noted by Chris Lowe for scenarios like driving or getting ready to go out—others found the megamix format abrupt and the selection uneven.[1][5] AllMusic awarded it 2.5 out of 5 stars, describing it as a "club-ready sequel" but critiquing its disjointed flow.[5] Disco 2 underscores Pet Shop Boys' versatility in reworking their material for dance audiences, bridging their pop sensibilities with house and Eurodance influences during a prolific phase in their career.[2]Background and development
Conception
Following the introspective and melancholic tone of their 1990 album Behaviour, Pet Shop Boys—comprising Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe—pivoted toward a high-energy, dance-oriented sound with their 1993 album Very. Relentless was developed as an experimental companion piece with six new extended dance tracks, mostly instrumental, to accompany Very. Development began immediately after Very's release on September 27, 1993, with Tennant and Lowe collaborating closely to infuse the project with trance, house, and techno elements, building on their synth-pop foundation while experimenting with EDM influences for club play. Originally intended as a limited-edition bonus disc bundled with Very, Relentless was released standalone on October 25, 1993, to highlight their production prowess without the constraints of traditional song structures. The duo drew inspiration from their 1986 remix album Disco, seeking to extend its format for contemporary club material that showcased their maturing electronic sound.[6] Disco 2 was conceived in 1994 as a sequel to Disco, compiling remixes of tracks from Very and select B-sides into a continuous megamix edited by DJ Danny Rampling. An initial version of the mix included tracks from Relentless, but this was revised to exclude them, focusing instead on high-profile remixes of Very-era singles to create a club-oriented compilation. This decision enhanced the project's commercial and artistic impact while tying it to their ongoing synth-pop evolution. The timeline from late 1993 (for remixes) to the album's September 1994 release allowed for refinements that emphasized electronic dance elements.Track selection
The track selection for Disco 2 centered on 12 remixes drawn primarily from the duo's 1993 album Very, with an emphasis on songs that lent themselves to dance-oriented remixing and club play. This approach prioritized uptempo, rhythmic compositions suitable for extended mixes, such as those featuring strong beats and electronic elements that could be reinterpreted by guest producers.[1] The inclusion of hits like "Go West" and "Absolutely Fabulous" ensured commercial appeal by highlighting recent chart successes, while deeper cuts from Very—such as "Liberation" and "I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing"—allowed for experimental remixes that explored the album's more adventurous side. Ballads and slower tracks from Very were deliberately excluded to preserve a unified club focus, avoiding any dilution of the high-energy dance theme.[2] The ongoing Discovery tour in 1994 further shaped the choices, with priority given to live-remixable material that aligned with the setlist's emphasis on Very-era songs like "Go West," "Can You Forgive Her?," and "I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing," facilitating seamless integration between studio remixes and stage performances. As Neil Tennant noted, the resulting album was designed for practical use: "It’s really good for driving to, and getting ready to go out to."[1]Music and remixing
Style and themes
The remixes on Disco 2 predominantly draw from house, techno, and hi-NRG influences, building on the Pet Shop Boys' synth-pop foundations to align with 1990s club culture. These elements manifest in layered electronic percussion, driving basslines, and high-energy builds that transform original tracks into extended dancefloor-oriented versions.[2][7] Thematic continuity with the Very album is preserved through its ironic and escapist lyrics, which are enhanced by prolonged dance breaks and synthetic embellishments that emphasize emotional release amid personal introspection. For instance, the collection amplifies motifs of fleeting joy and urban alienation, using rhythmic pulses to underscore the duo's signature blend of wit and wistfulness.[8] Spanning approximately 77 minutes in the US limited edition format, the album functions as a non-narrative remix anthology tailored for DJ mixing, with tracks sequenced for fluid transitions in club environments.[9] The track selection process informed these stylistic decisions by prioritizing adaptable songs from Very and prior releases.[1]Remixers and production
The remix album Disco 2 featured contributions from several prominent figures in the early 1990s dance music scene, including DJ and producer David Morales, London-based DJ Danny Rampling, and the Pet Shop Boys themselves under the alias Brothers in Rhythm. Morales provided the Red Zone Mix for "So Hard," a high-energy house reworking originally produced in 1990 that emphasized layered percussion and driving rhythms characteristic of New York garage styles. Rampling handled the overall compilation and DJ mixing, creating a continuous 45-minute megamix that seamlessly transitioned between tracks to evoke a club experience. The Pet Shop Boys, as Brothers in Rhythm, contributed the Ambient Mix for "We All Feel Better in the Dark," a B-side from the Very era, blending atmospheric synths with subtle electronic elements for a more introspective close to the album.[10] Production for select remixes, such as the Brothers in Rhythm track, took place at Sarm West Studios in Notting Hill, London, a facility frequently used by the duo for its advanced recording capabilities during the mid-1990s. Engineers like Goetz, Bob Kraushaar, and Brian Reeves handled remix engineering across various tracks, utilizing digital audio workstations and multitrack recording prevalent in 1994 to facilitate precise editing and layering. Other notable remixers included Farley & Heller for "Go West," E-Smoove for "Liberation," and Junior Vasquez for "Yesterday, When I Was Mad," each bringing distinct house and dub influences drawn from the source material's upbeat synth-pop foundations.[10][1] Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe maintained close oversight of the remixing process, selecting collaborators based on their exposure to emerging club sounds and providing feedback to ensure the final mixes aligned with the duo's pop-dance vision. This hands-on approach extended to edits for tracks originally intended for their Japan-exclusive remix album Relentless, such as the Brothers in Rhythm contribution, which was refined to fit Disco 2's cohesive flow. The track selection from Behaviour and Very influenced these choices, prioritizing remixers who could amplify the albums' melodic hooks into extended dance formats.[11][12]Release and promotion
Formats and artwork
Disco 2 was initially released on September 12, 1994, by Parlophone Records in standard formats including CD (catalog number 7243 8 28105 2 0), cassette (TCPCSD 159), and vinyl LP (PCSD 159).[2] These physical editions featured a continuous 71-minute megamix compiled by DJ Danny Rampling, drawing from remixes of tracks from the duo's Behaviour (1990) and Very (1993) albums, along with select B-sides and non-album singles.[1] The album's artwork was designed by longtime Pet Shop Boys collaborator Mark Farrow, presenting a minimalist aesthetic with a central image of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe wearing mirrored sunglasses against a solid blue background.[13] This design echoed the sparse, iconic style of the original Disco remix album from 1986, emphasizing simplicity and the duo's enigmatic personas without additional text or imagery on the front cover.[2] Packaging for the standard editions included a jewel case for CD with a black inner sleeve for vinyl, featuring full credits and remix details on the reverse and inner spreads.[10] In the United States, a limited edition two-disc set was issued by EMI Records USA (E2-30852), appending a bonus CD with five additional unmixed tracks: "Decadence," "Some Speculation," "Euroboy," "Yesterday, When I Was Mad" (RAF Zone Dub Mix), and "I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing" (Danny Rampling Mix).[2] The album became available digitally in subsequent years, streaming on platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music with the original 1994 mixes intact.[14] As of 2025, while Pet Shop Boys' broader catalog has seen remastered reissues for albums like Actually and Please, Disco 2 has not received a full remaster or reissue, maintaining its primary accessibility through existing physical copies and digital services.[15]Marketing strategies
The marketing for Disco 2 centered on leveraging the duo's recent hits through club-friendly remixes, with the lead single "Absolutely Fabulous" serving as a key promotional vehicle. Released on May 30, 1994, by Parlophone and Spaghetti Records, the track was created for Comic Relief and directly tied to the BBC comedy series Absolutely Fabulous, incorporating spoken excerpts from stars Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley to capitalize on the show's popularity.[16] The single's promotion included a music video directed by Howard Greenhalgh and Bob Spiers, filmed at BBC Television Centre in London, which highlighted the thematic connection and aired on British television to generate buzz ahead of the album's September release.[17] To build hype post-release, Pet Shop Boys integrated remixed tracks from Disco 2 into their ongoing Discovery tour, which commenced on October 26, 1994, in Singapore and emphasized an uplifting, dance-oriented setlist drawing from the album's content. The tour, spanning Asia, Australia, and Latin America until December 12, 1994, featured live renditions of songs like "I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing" and "Go West" in extended, club-style arrangements, aligning with the album's intent to revive disco influences in contemporary settings.[18][19] International variations in marketing were evident, particularly in the United States, where EMI Records USA issued a limited-edition double-CD version on September 20, 1994, exclusive to the market and including a bonus disc with five additional unmixed remixes such as "Euroboy" and "Decadence" to appeal to American club audiences and differentiate from the standard international edition.[20] This enhanced package supported a targeted push in the US, contrasting with the single-disc format prevalent in Europe.[4] Promotion emphasized print and radio media over television specials, with key appearances including a May 1994 NME magazine cover feature alongside the Absolutely Fabulous cast to underscore the single's cultural tie-in. Radio efforts focused on BBC Radio 1, where the duo hosted a three-hour dance music and comedy program on May 27, 1994, previewing tracks and discussing the album's club revival ethos.[21]Reception and legacy
Critical reviews
Upon its 1994 release, Disco 2 garnered mixed critical reception, with reviewers praising the energy of certain remixes while lamenting the album's megamix format as overly repetitive and disruptive to individual tracks. Ira Robbins of Trouser Press highlighted the contributions of prominent remixers such as David Morales, Jam & Spoon, and Junior Vasquez, who reworked material from Very and Relentless, but criticized the continuous blend as clubbing strong songs like "Go West" and "Liberation" into "shapeless corpses of endless repetition."[22] AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine awarded the album 2.5 out of 5 stars, calling it a "club-ready sequel" to the original Disco but noting its "disjointed flow" due to the megamix structure.[5]Commercial performance
Disco 2 achieved moderate commercial success following its September 1994 release, particularly in Europe. In the United Kingdom, it debuted and peaked at number 6 on the Official Albums Chart, spending a total of 5 weeks in the top 100.[3] In the United States, the album entered the Billboard 200 at number 75, marking its highest position during a 3-week chart run. It also reached number 47 on the German albums chart.[23][24] Sales figures reflect stronger performance in Europe, driven by the continent's active club and dance scenes, compared to North America. Estimates indicate over 100,000 units sold in the UK, approximately 130,000 in the US, and around 42,000 in Japan, contributing to worldwide sales surpassing 500,000 copies by 1995.[23] [25] [26] No formal certifications were issued, though UK shipments met the threshold for British Phonographic Industry Gold status. In the 2020s, Disco 2 has seen sustained availability and steady consumption on streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, underscoring its enduring appeal among electronic music listeners.[27] The album solidified Pet Shop Boys' remix tradition, blending their pop hits with club-oriented productions, and remains a key entry in their Disco series—referenced in the September 2025 announcement of Disco 5, the fifth installment featuring contemporary remixes by artists including Noel Gallagher and Primal Scream.[28] Its influence persists in the duo's catalog, with select remixes appearing in later retrospective compilations that highlight their dance evolution.Track listing
Standard edition
The standard edition of Disco 2, released on September 12, 1994, by Parlophone, presents a continuous 48-minute DJ mix curated by Danny Rampling, compiling club remixes of Pet Shop Boys' singles from their 1993 album Very and the accompanying remix collection Relentless, along with the 1994 single "Absolutely Fabulous."[10][1] This edition features 12 segments that transition seamlessly, drawing from seven core tracks originating from Very and five additional remixes tied to Relentless-era productions to emphasize extended dance elements.[2] The track listing below details the segments, remix titles, durations, and original song sources.| No. | Title | Remix | Duration | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Absolutely Fabulous | Rollo Our Tribe Tongue-In-Cheek Mix | 0:29 | "Absolutely Fabulous" single (1994)[10] |
| 2 | I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing | Beatmasters Extended Nude Mix | 4:15 | Very (1993)[10] |
| 3 | I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing | DJ Pierre Wild Pitch Mix | 2:59 | Very (1993)[10] |
| 4 | Go West | Farley & Heller Mix | 3:40 | Very (1993)[10] |
| 5 | Liberation | E-Smoove 12" Mix | 6:09 | Very (1993)[10] |
| 6 | So Hard | D. Morales Red Zone Mix | 2:48 | Very (1993)[10] |
| 7 | Can You Forgive Her? | Rollo Dub | 4:03 | Very (1993)[10] |
| 8 | Yesterday, When I Was Mad | Junior Vasquez Factory Dub | 4:54 | Very (1993)[10] |
| 9 | Absolutely Fabulous | Rollo Our Tribe Tongue-In-Cheek Mix | 6:01 | "Absolutely Fabulous" single (1994)[10] |
| 10 | Yesterday, When I Was Mad | Coconut 1 12" Mix | 2:12 | Very (1993)[10] |
| 11 | Yesterday, When I Was Mad | Jam & Spoon Mix | 5:01 | Very (1993)[10] |
| 12 | We All Feel Better in the Dark | Brothers in Rhythm Ambient Mix | 5:21 | B-side to "Being Boring" (Relentless era, 1993)[10] |
US limited edition bonus CD
The US limited edition of Disco 2, released in 1994 by EMI Records USA under catalog number E2-30852, featured a bonus CD containing five exclusive tracks comprising B-sides and remixes from Pet Shop Boys' Very (1993) era.[2] This additional disc was bundled with the standard album in a limited initial pressing, offering collectors and fans supplementary material that aligned with the remix album's focus on reworking earlier hits and non-album cuts for dancefloor cohesion.[4] The bonus CD's tracklist emphasized rare and extended variants unavailable on the international standard edition, including instrumental pieces and dub mixes tailored for club play:- "Decadence" (original mix, B-side to "Absolutely Fabulous" single)
- "Some Speculation" (instrumental, B-side to "Go West")
- "Euroboy" (original mix, B-side to "Yesterday, When I Was Mad" single (1994))
- "Yesterday, When I Was Mad (RAF Zone Dub Mix)" (remix by RAF Zone, from Very)
- "I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing (7" Mix)" (original single version, from Very (1993))