For casual fans,
Essential Pet Shop Boys is hardly essential, since it contains alternate versions, remixes, 7" single versions, and a pair of LP tracks, not the familiar hits. Of course, this collection of rarities makes it a treasure trove for the dedicated, since many of these songs haven't appeared on disc before, and a number of them are genuine finds, such as the alternate version of "Domino Dancing," the original 7" version of "Opportunities," and
Stephen Hague's dance mix of "Love Comes Quickly." These are just a couple of reasons why
Essential Pet Shop Boys -- which was available as a limited-edition release in 1998 -- is essential for collectors. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine