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Actually

by Pet Shop Boys

Released: September 07, 1987

Synth-pop, dance-pop, electropop

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Why This Album Matters

The central hook is supported by a first-hand 2026 Wallpaper interview with sleeve designer Mark Farrow, who said the image was an outtake from the Dusty Springfield video shoot, that it was taken at about 2 a.m., and that Tennant was genuinely yawning; he also described the difficulty of persuading the record company. ([wallpaper.com](https://www.wallpaper.com/art/music/pet-shop-boys-mark-farrow-interview?utm_source=openai)) Independent corroboration from Classic Pop and Hi-Fi News identifies photographer Cindy Palmano, confirms the video-shoot origin, and reports that the photograph was withdrawn from a planned Smash Hits cover the day before press for use on Actually. ([classicpopmag.com](https://www.classicpopmag.com/features/classic-album/classic-album-pet-shop-boys-actually/?utm_source=openai)) The official Pet Shop Boys archive confirms that Alison Watt’s portrait was originally commissioned for the album, while Classic Pop confirms it was rejected and retained by Tennant. ([petshopboys.co.uk](https://www.petshopboys.co.uk/pet-texts/2014-01-11/1987?utm_source=openai))

The Album

"Actually" (stylized as Pet Shop Boys, actually.) is the second studio album by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released on September 7, 1987, by Parlophone in the UK and by EMI Manhattan in North America. The album is noted for its loose critique of Thatcherism and the political climate of the 1980s, reflecting the political context leading up to Margaret Thatcher's re-election. To maintain a fresh perspective, the production approach involved working on each track for only a few hours at a time before moving on to another.

Inside the Recording

Julian Mendelsohn produced and engineered half of the album's tracks, including the lead single "It's a Sin," which topped the UK charts. "Actually" was recorded at Sarm Studios with multiple producers involved. Stephen Hague, who produced the duo's previous album Please, produced a few tracks on this album, including "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" and mixed "It's a Sin." The track "Heart," which also reached number one in the UK, was produced by Andy Richards and mixed by Mendelsohn.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

Pet Shop Boys traveled to Glasgow with photographer…

Pet Shop Boys traveled to Glasgow with photographer Eric Watson and designer Mark Farrow to meet Watt.

Although Watt's painting was eventually submitted, Chris Lowe…

Although Watt's painting was eventually submitted, Chris Lowe was dissatisfied with his depiction, leading to its shelving.

The painting was purchased by Neil Tennant

The painting was purchased by Neil Tennant.

While filming the video for "What Have I…

While filming the video for "What Have I Done to Deserve This?", photographer Cindy Palmano took a photo of the duo for a Smash Hits cover, which featured a memorable image of Neil Tennant yawning.

Though Eric Watson also took photos for the…

Though Eric Watson also took photos for the album, they were deemed less suitable for the cover and used for the inner sleeve instead.

Watch and listen

Explore the Album

Pet Shop Boys - Actually

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Then

Reception

Julian Mendelsohn produced and engineered half of the album's tracks, including the lead single "It's a Sin," which topped the UK charts. Stephen Hague, who produced the duo's previous album Please, produced a few tracks on this album, including "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" and mixed "It's a Sin." The track "Heart," which also reached number one in the UK, was produced by Andy Richards and mixed by Mendelsohn. The original plan for the Actually album cover was to feature a painting by Scottish artist Alison Watt, who had recently won the National Portrait Gallery's John Player Portrait Award.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"Actually" was recorded at Sarm Studios with multiple producers involved. Julian Mendelsohn produced and engineered half of the album's tracks, including the lead single "It's a Sin," which topped the UK charts. Stephen Hague, who produced the duo's previous album Please, produced a few tracks on this album, including "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" and mixed "It's a Sin." The track "Heart," which also reached number one in the UK, was produced by Andy Richards and mixed by Mendelsohn. To maintain a fresh perspective, the production approach involved working on each track for only a few hours at a time before moving on to another.

The original plan for the Actually album cover was to feature a painting by Scottish artist Alison Watt, who had recently won the National Portrait Gallery's John Player Portrait Award. Pet Shop Boys traveled to Glasgow with photographer Eric Watson and designer Mark Farrow to meet Watt. Although Watt's painting was eventually submitted, Chris Lowe was dissatisfied with his depiction, leading to its shelving. The painting was purchased by Neil Tennant.

While filming the video for "What Have I Done to Deserve This?", photographer Cindy Palmano took a photo of the duo for a Smash Hits cover, which featured a memorable image of Neil Tennant yawning. Though Eric Watson also took photos for the album, they were deemed less suitable for the cover and used for the inner sleeve instead. Ultimately, the photo from Palmano’s Smash Hits session was selected for the album cover.

Mark Farrow, inspired by Jean-Paul Goude’s design for Grace Jones's Slave to the Rhythm, cropped Palmano’s photo to a plain white background. Despite Chris Lowe's ongoing dissatisfaction with the cover, it has become a defining image for the duo.