Album of the Day

When Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe struck up a conversation about electronic music in a London hi-fi shop, neither could have guessed that as Pet Shop Boys they would become one of the most successful duos in U.K. history. The five years that elapsed between that 1981 meeting and debut album PLEASE were well spent; Tennant's stint with Smash Hits magazine and PSB's work with New York producer Bobby Orlando provided plenty of inspiration for these 11 originals, which include singles “Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money),” “Love Comes Quickly,” “Suburbia” and “West End Girls,” which reached #1 on the British chart. Released 40 years ago this month, PLEASE was a Top 10 hit on both sides of the Atlantic, and the Platinum-certified set’s sly lyrics, infectious rhythms and memorable melodies will still please listeners.