Pet Shop Boys - Essential download free

Essential is an unusual release for a number of reasons: 1. It was a limited edition release for the USA & Japan only, whereas most Pet Shop Boys releases are primarily for the UK, and what does get released in the US is widely available. 2. It was released in 1998 but didn't cull material from then-recent releases Very, Disco 2, or Bilingual; rather, it features a critic's favorite tracks taken exclusively from the band's golden period, 1985-1990 (perhaps a move intended to win over fans who hadn't invested in the first few albums). 3. It contains album cuts and remixes that aren't necessarily radio-friendly. 4. The tracks engage in scene-painting and have a degree of moodiness, standing in stark contrast to the band's mid-'90s filler. 5. It's the only place to get, on CD, the shorter of the original 7" versions of Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money). 6. The recording of West End Girls (Dance Mix) on it is slightly faster and has more reverb & high end than the remastered version on Please/Further Listening 1984-1986. The recording of Love Comes Quickly is also faster, but acoustically the same as the remastered version. The other tracks are either the same or slightly muted compared to their counterparts on other releases. 7. It includes the seminal album cut 'Two Divided By Zero', which would be on any 'essential' compilation I would put together myself!