After an aggravating week of not being able to find the Pet Shop Boys' two-track CD single for "Love etc." (featuring B-side "Gin & Jag") in stock at British online retailers, wouldn't you know it—I happened upon it here in L.A. yesterday, on import for $5.98 at Amoeba Records. That's D'luv grabbing the only copy the store had, above.
And so "Love etc." has today become the Pets' 40th Top 20 single in their home country, debuting at #14. I'm including the 1994 "Absolutely Fabulous" comic relief single and Robbie Williams' "She's Madonna" (technically billed as Robbie Williams & Pet Shop Boys) in there.Of course, it would have been nicer to be writing about the Pet Shop Boys 22nd Top 10 single. Alas, said distribution problems probably didn't help matters, and so the duo's May 2006 release "I'm With Stupid" remains their last Top 10 to date.
Other singles from Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe that have charted at #14 in England over the past 15 years include "Liberation" (1994), "Single-Bilingual" (1996), "New York City Boy" (1999) and "Home And Dry" (2002).
On a side note, there's Xenomania honcho Brian Higgins, who co-wrote and produced "Love etc.", to the right. Quite easy on the eyes, no?Elsewhere, Lady GaGa achieves her second British #1 this week with "Poker Face," and Boyzone wonk Ronan Keating tops the album chart with his snoozy Mother's Day tie-in, Songs For My Mother.
The U.K. Top 10:
1. "Poker Face" - Lady GaGa *1 week*
2. "Right Round" - Flo Rida feat. Kesha
3. "Islands In The Stream" - Rob Brydon & Ruth Jones
4. "Just Can't Get Enough" - The Saturdays
5. "Love Story'" - Taylor Swift
6. "Dead And Gone" - T.I. feat. Justin Timberlake
7. "My Life Would Suck Without You" - Kelly Clarkson
8. "Beautiful" - Akon feat. Kardinal Offishall & Colby O'Donis
9. "Halo" - Beyonce
10. "Use Somebody" - Kings Of Leon