Editing Actually

{{about|the Pet Shop Boys album|the film|Actually (film){{!}}''Actually'' (film)|the Nogizaka46 song|Actually...}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Actually
| type       = studio
| artist     = [[Pet Shop Boys]]
| cover      = Pet Shop Boys - Actually.png
| alt        = The duo wearing tuxedos, with one person on the right side yawning and the other staring at the viewer. The words "Pet Shop Boys, actually." appear on top.
| border     = yes
| released   = {{Start date|df=y|1987|9|7}}<ref>{{cite magazine |date=5 September 1987 |title=Index |magazine=[[Record Mirror]] |page=2 |issn=0144-5804}}</ref>
| recorded   = 1986–1987
| studio     = [[Sarm West Studios|Sarm West]] and [[Advision Studios|Advision]] (London)
| genre      = {{hlist|[[Synth-pop]]|[[dance-pop]]|[[electropop]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.classicpopmag.com/2021/08/top-15-electropop-albums/ |title=Top 15 Electropop Albums |website=[[Classic Pop (magazine)|Classic Pop]] |date=25 August 2021}}</ref>}}
| length     = {{duration|m=47|s=52}}
| label      = [[Parlophone]]
| producer   = {{hlist|[[Stephen Hague]]|David Jacob|[[Julian Mendelsohn]]|Pet Shop Boys|[[Shep Pettibone]]|[[Andy Richards]]}}
| prev_title = [[Disco (Pet Shop Boys album)|Disco]]
| prev_year  = 1986
| next_title = [[Introspective]]
| next_year  = 1988
| misc       = {{Singles
  | name        = Actually
  | type        = studio
  | single1     = [[It's a Sin]]
  | single1date = 15 June 1987
  | single2     = [[What Have I Done to Deserve This? (song)|What Have I Done to Deserve This?]]
  | single2date = 10 August 1987
  | single3     = [[Rent (song)|Rent]]
  | single3date = 12 October 1987
  | single4     = [[Heart (Pet Shop Boys song)|Heart]]
  | single4date = 21 March 1988
  }}
}}

'''''Actually''''' (stylised as '''''Pet Shop Boys, actually.''''') is the second studio album by English [[synth-pop]] duo [[Pet Shop Boys]], released on 7 September 1987 by [[Parlophone]] in the United Kingdom and by [[Manhattan Records|EMI Manhattan]] in North America. The album features two number one singles, "[[It's a Sin]]" and "[[Heart (Pet Shop Boys song)|Heart]]", and a duet with [[Dusty Springfield]], "[[What Have I Done to Deserve This? (song)|What Have I Done to Deserve This?]]" ''Actually'' is the Pet Shop Boys' top-selling album in the UK, certified triple platinum with over one million sales;<ref name="UKmillion"/> worldwide it has sold over four million copies.<ref name="4million"/> 

==Background and composition==
For their second album, Pet Shop Boys still had material from their early songwriting days, including "[[It's a Sin]]" (1982), "[[Rent (song)|Rent]]" (1984), and "[[One More Chance (Pet Shop Boys song)|One More Chance]]" which they had recorded with [[Bobby Orlando]] and released as an unsuccessful single outside the UK in 1984.<ref name="actuallyfurther">{{Cite AV media notes |title=Actually: Further Listening 1987–1988|title-link=Actually|last=Heath|first=Chris|author-link=Chris Heath|others=[[Pet Shop Boys]]|year=2018|pages=4|type=booklet|publisher=Parlophone Records|id=0190295826222}}</ref> "[[What Have I Done to Deserve This? (song)|What Have I Done to Deserve This?]]" was a collaboration with songwriter [[Allee Willis]], suggested by their manager [[Tom Watkins (music manager)|Tom Watkins]]; they had hoped to include it on ''[[Please (Pet Shop Boys album)|Please]]'' (1986) but had to wait for a response from Dusty Springfield.{{sfn|Heath|2018|p=5–7}}

The duo also wrote new material. "Hit Music" was inspired by the [[Henry Mancini]] theme song "[[Peter Gunn (song)|Peter Gunn]]" covered by [[Art of Noise]].{{sfn|Heath|2018|p=11}} The music for "I Want to Wake Up" was written by [[Chris Lowe]];{{sfn|Heath|2018|p=16}} the lyrics added by [[Neil Tennant]] compare unrequited love to a bad dream, mentioning the songs "[[Tainted Love]]" and "[[Love Is Strange]]". The chart-topper "Heart" was a song they considered giving to [[Hazell Dean]] but decided to keep for themselves.<ref name="rather good LP">{{cite magazine|last=Hibbert|first=Tom|date=9–22 September 1987|title=And a Rather Good LP It Is, Too!|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Smash-Hits/1987/Smash-Hits-1987-09-09.pdf|magazine=Smash Hits|volume=9|issue=17|page=46–47|access-date=5 January 2025}}</ref> 

"Shopping" began as a joke about spelling out the word as they were shopping, but the lyrics took a serious turn about the [[privatisation]] of national industries under [[Margaret Thatcher]]. The "Tell Sid" advertisements for [[British Gas#1986–1997|British Gas]], encouraging people to buy shares in the company, were a particular source of inspiration.<ref name="rather good LP"/>

Composer [[Ennio Morricone]] shares a songwriting credit on "It Couldn't Happen Here". Pet Shop Boys had contacted Morricone about writing a string arrangement for their song "[[Jealousy (Pet Shop Boys song)|Jealousy]]", but instead he sent them an Italian song to work with. Pet Shop Boys used the music from the chorus of Morricone's song and wrote a new verse,{{sfn|Heath|2018|p=11–12}} with Lowe adding chord changes.<ref name="rather good LP"/> [[Angelo Badalamenti]] contributed an arrangement which was programmed into a [[Fairlight CMI|Fairlight]] by [[Blue Weaver]] in lieu of an orchestra.{{sfn|Heath|2018|p=12}} The title "It Couldn't Happen Here" refers to an early belief, discussed by Tennant and his friend Christopher Dowell, that [[AIDS]] would not greatly impact the UK. By the time Tennant wrote the lyrics, Dowell had been diagnosed with the disease; he died two years later.<ref name="100lyrics">{{cite book |last=Tennant|first=Neil|date=2018|title=One Hundred Lyrics and a Poem: 1979–2016|location=London|publisher=Faber & Faber|page=94–95|isbn=9780571348916}}</ref><ref>{{cite podcast |url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/2y1Pi2Nzjd1aVseeo87pV4|title=How Pet Shop Boys wrote 'It's A Sin' - Neil Tennant|work=Queer the Music|publisher=Mercury|last=Shears|first=Jake|date=3 December 2024|time=26:00–28:30|access-date=5 January 2025}}</ref>

The last track on the album, "[[King's Cross (song)|King's Cross]]", depicts the area around [[London King's Cross railway station|King's Cross station]] in London, which at the time was a destination for drug addicts, prostitutes, and the homeless, as well as people coming by train from northern England and Scotland seeking opportunities.{{sfn|Tennant|2018|p=106}} According to Tennant, "It's an angry song about Thatcherism. Mrs Thatcher came in on the promise of firm government and I'm interpreting 'the smack of firm government' literally as hitting someone. That's what firm government tends to mean—you hit the weakest person, the man at the back of the queue".{{sfn|Heath|2018|p=21}} With this and songs like "Shopping" and "It Couldn't Happen Here", Tennant noted that ''Actually'' can be taken loosely as a critique of [[Thatcherism]].{{sfn|Heath|2018|p=8}}

==Recording==
''Actually'' was recorded at [[Sarm Studios]] and [[Advision Studios]].<ref name="liner notes"/> On the album Pet Shop Boys worked with several producers, including [[Julian Mendelsohn]] and [[Stephen Hague]]. Mendelsohn produced and engineered half of the album's ten tracks, including the lead single and UK number one "It's a Sin", while Hague, who had produced the duo's previous album ''Please'', this time only produced a few tracks, including "What Have I Done to Deserve This?", and mixed "It's a Sin". "Heart", which went on to became a UK number one single, was produced by [[Andy Richards]] and mixed by Mendelsohn. Wanting to keep everything fresh and not lose perspective, the production method was usually to work only a few hours at the time on each track and then switch to another.<ref name="sound">{{cite web |last=Buskin |first=Richard |url=https://www.soundonsound.com/people/pet-shop-boys-its-sin |title=Pet Shop Boys 'It's A Sin' |work=[[Sound on Sound]] |date=December 2010 |access-date=4 June 2020 |archive-date=4 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604192502/https://www.soundonsound.com/people/pet-shop-boys-its-sin |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Album cover==
The album cover was originally going to feature a painting by Scottish artist [[Alison Watt (Scottish painter)|Alison Watt]], who had just won the [[National Portrait Gallery, London|National Portrait Gallery]]-supported [[John Player Portrait Award]].<ref name=“Annually”>{{cite book |date=1988|title=Annually|publisher=World Distributors|pages=14-15|isbn=978-0723568421}}</ref> The group traveled to Glasgow, along with photographer Eric Watson and designer Mark Farrow, to meet her. Sittings for the painting would have taken three weeks, so instead photos were taken of the duo in different poses. After a few weeks, Watt submitted the painting, but Lowe was unhappy with how he looked in it. The painting was reworked and  although Tennant was pleased with it, Lowe still had reservations.<ref name=“Annually”/> It was decided that the painting wasn't right for the album and it was shelved. The painting was bought by Tennant.<ref name=“Annually”/>

While shooting the video for "What Have I Done to Deserve This?", photographer Cindy Palmano was commissioned to take photographs of them for a ''[[Smash Hits]]'' cover. She placed them in front of a waist-high piece of reflective metal, with a similar sheet behind them.<ref name=“Annually”/> The photo where Tennant is yawning and Lowe is scowling was the favourite and ''Smash Hits'' were keen to use it as a front cover. Eric Watson then took some photos, but it was thought these weren't strong enough for the album cover, so they were used for the inner sleeve.<ref name=“Annually”/> The group then decided that Palmano's photo was the best choice. The issue of ''Smash Hits'' was due to go to press the following day. They persuaded the magazine to release Palmano's photograph and agreed to do a hastily arranged photo session for them.<ref name=“Catalogue”/>

Inspired by [[Jean-Paul Goude]]'s design for [[Grace Jones]] album ''[[Slave to the Rhythm (album)|Slave to the Rhythm]]'', Mark Farrow tightly cropped the photo to remove the reflective background and just have the duo on a plain white background.<ref name=“Catalogue”>{{cite book|date=2006|title=Catalogue|publisher=Thames & Hudson|pages=74-75|isbn=978-0500513071}} </ref> Chris Lowe was, and remains, unhappy with the cover. However it has come to be seen as the defining image of them.<ref name=“Catalogue”/>

==Release and promotion==
''Actually'' was released on 7 September 1987, debuting at number two on the [[UK Albums Chart]] behind [[Michael Jackson]]'s ''[[Bad (album)|Bad]]''. It was in the top 40 for 42 consecutive weeks, with 15 weeks in the top 10.<ref name="UKcharts">{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/pet-shop-boys-actually/|title=Actually by Pet Shop Boys|website=Official Charts|access-date=4 January 2025}}</ref> It is the only Pet Shop Boys album to be certified triple platinum by [[British Phonographic Industry|BPI]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/305-2148-2 |title=Brit Certified: Pet Shop Boys - Actually|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=29 April 1988|website=BPI|access-date=4 January 2025}}</ref> 
''Actually'' was also certified platinum in seven other countries, including Germany where sales exceeded 500,000 (see [[#Certifications and sales|Certifications and sales]]). In the United States, ''Actually'' peaked at number 25 and spent 45 weeks on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/pet-shop-boys/chart-history/tlp/|title=Pet Shop Boys: Chart History: Billboard 200|website=Billboard|access-date=4 January 2025}}</ref> selling over 750,000 copies with a gold certification.<ref name="USsales"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=pet+shop+boys#search_section|title=Gold & Platinum: Pet Shop Boys|website=RIAA|access-date=4 January 2025}}</ref>

''Actually'' produced four UK top 10 singles: the number-one single "[[It's a Sin]]", "[[Rent (song)|Rent]]", "[[What Have I Done to Deserve This? (song)|What Have I Done to Deserve This?]]"—which peaked at number two in both the UK and US and led to a resurgence of interest in Dusty Springfield's earlier work—and another UK number one in April 1988 with a remixed version of the song "[[Heart (Pet Shop Boys song)|Heart]]".<ref name=Levine>{{cite news |last1=Levine |first1=Nick |title=25 Reasons To Love Pet Shop Boys' Actually' |url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/25-reasons-to-love-pet-shop-boys-actually-763693 |access-date=12 August 2018 |work=nme.com |date=2 February 2012}}</ref>

In television commercials for the release, Lowe and Tennant were shown in black tie, blank-faced against a white background. The former seems unimpressed by a radio DJ-style [[Alan Freeman|Alan 'Fluff' Freeman]] voiceover listing their previous hits and new singles from ''Actually'', while the latter eventually "gets bored" and yawns, with the image then freezing to create, roughly, the album's cover shot.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

During this period Pet Shop Boys also completed a full-length motion picture called ''[[It Couldn't Happen Here]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/features/saucy-seaside-postcard-gone-mad-pet-shop-boys-it-couldnt-happen-here|title=A saucy seaside postcard gone mad: the Pet Shop Boys and It Couldn't Happen Here |last=Dalton|first=Stephen|date=24 June 2020|website=BFI|access-date=1 January 2025}}</ref> Featuring songs by the duo, it was most famous for containing the video for "[[Always on My Mind]]" (starring [[Joss Ackland]] as a blind priest), which—while not on ''Actually''—was released as a single during this period.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://superdeluxeedition.com/reviews/pet-shop-boys-it-couldnt-happen-here/ |title=Pet Shop Boys / It Couldn't Happen Here|last=Wade|first=Ian|date=15 June 2020|website=Super Deluxe Edition|access-date=4 January 2025}}</ref>

''Actually'' was re-released in 2001 as ''Actually: Further Listening 1987–1988''. The new version was digitally [[remaster]]ed and came with a second disc of [[A-side and B-side|B-side]]s and previously unreleased material from around the time of the album's original release.<ref name="rhino">{{cite web |url=https://media.rhino.com/press-release/pet-shop-boys-catalogue-1985-2012-series-continues-third-batch-releases-available|title=Pet Shop Boys Catalogue 1985-2012 Series Continues With Third Batch Of Releases Available March 2|date=2 March 2018|website=Rhino|access-date=1 January 2025|quote=}}</ref> A remastered single-disc edition of ''Actually'', containing only the 10 original tracks, was released in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/1655528-Pet-Shop-Boys-Actually|title=Pet Shop Boys - Actually (5099926829029) |website=Discogs |access-date=1 January 2025}}</ref> In 2018, a newly remastered edition of ''Actually: Further Listening 1987–1988'' was released, with the same contents as the 2001 edition.<ref name="rhino"/>

==Critical reception==
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="Erlewine">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/actually-mw0000197381 |title=''Actually'' – Pet Shop Boys |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=6 January 2015 |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''
| rev2score = {{Rating|2.5|4}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-09-20-ca-9321-story.html |title=Pet Shop Pop |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |issn=0458-3035 |date=20 September 1987 |access-date=9 November 2015 |last=Johnson |first=Connie}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]''
| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Pop Art Revolutions |magazine=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]] |issn=1351-0193 |issue=237 |date=August 2013 |last=Harrison |first=Ian |page=43}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.qonline.co.uk/reviews/server.asp?id=2415&ss=pet+shop+boys&cs=artist&st=cn&stars=NaN&cp=1 |title=Pet Shop Boys: ''Pet Shop Boys, Actually'' |magazine=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] |issn=0955-4955 |issue=13 |date=October 1987 |access-date=14 January 2023 |last=Snow |first=Mat |author-link=Mat Snow |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001206011500/http://www.qonline.co.uk/reviews/server.asp?id=2415&ss=pet+shop+boys&cs=artist&st=cn&stars=NaN&cp=1 |archive-date=6 December 2000 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[Record Mirror]]''
| rev5score = 3/5<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Pet Shop Boys: ''Actually'' |magazine=[[Record Mirror]] |issn=0144-5804 |date=12 September 1987 |last=Morton |first=Roger |page=12}}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev6score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Pet Shop Boys |last=Hull |first=Tom |author-link=Tom Hull (critic) |title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |title-link=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |editor1-last=Brackett |editor1-first=Nathan |editor1-link=Nathan Brackett |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |editor2-link=Christian Hoard |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |edition=4th |year=2004 |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/630 630–631]}}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Sounds (magazine)|Sounds]]''
| rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Face the Muzak |magazine=[[Sounds (magazine)|Sounds]] |issn=0144-5774 |date=12 September 1987 |last=Snow |first=Mat |author-link=Mat Snow |page=35}}</ref>
| rev8 = ''[[Spin Alternative Record Guide]]''
| rev8score = 9/10<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Pet Shop Boys |last=Sheffield |first=Rob |author-link=Rob Sheffield |title=Spin Alternative Record Guide |title-link=Spin Alternative Record Guide |editor1-last=Weisbard |editor1-first=Eric |editor1-link=Eric Weisbard |editor2-last=Marks |editor2-first=Craig |publisher=[[Vintage Books]] |year=1995 |isbn=0-679-75574-8 |pages=294–295}}</ref>
| rev9 = ''[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]''
| rev9score = 8/10<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Pet Shop Boys: ''Please'' / ''Actually'' / ''Introspective'' |magazine=[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]] |issn=1368-0722 |issue=250 |date=March 2018 |last=Dalton |first=Stephen |page=43}}</ref>
| rev10 = ''[[The Village Voice]]''
| rev10score = A−<ref name="Christgau">{{cite news |url=https://robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv12b-87.php |title=Christgau's Consumer Guide |newspaper=[[The Village Voice]] |issn=0042-6180 |date=29 December 1987 |access-date=6 January 2015 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau}}</ref>
}}

''Actually'' was generally well received by critics. At the time of its release, Chris White of ''[[Music Week]]'' said ''Actually'' was "well worth the wait with the duo coming up with another highly original and distinctive-sounding album" and called it a "great pop album which will deservedly be one of the year's biggest sellers".<ref>{{cite magazine|last=White|first=Chris|date=12 September 1987|title=LP Reviews|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1987/Music-Week-1987-09-12.pdf |magazine=Music Week|page=19|access-date=1 January 2025|via=World Radio History}}</ref> In December 1987, [[Robert Christgau]] of ''[[The Village Voice]]'' praised it as "actual pop music with something actual to say—pure commodity, and proud of it."<ref name="Christgau"/> In his retrospective review, [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] of [[AllMusic]] said that ''Actually'' is the album where "the Pet Shop Boys perfected their melodic, detached [[dance-pop]]."<ref name="Erlewine"/>

''Actually'' is featured in the 2005 musical reference book ''[[1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die]]'',<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Pet Shop Boys: ''Actually'' |last=Harris |first=Sophie |title=1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die |title-link=1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die |editor-last=Dimery |editor-first=Robert |publisher=[[Universe Publishing]] |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-7893-1371-3 |page=581}}</ref> and has been recognised in various other "must-listen" lists. In 2006, ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' magazine included ''Actually'' in its list of the "40 Best Albums of the '80s" at number 22.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/qlistspage3.htm#Best%20Of%20The%2080s |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060224054627/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/qlistspage3.htm#Best%20Of%20The%2080s |url-status=usurped |archive-date=24 February 2006 |title=40 Best Albums of the '80s |magazine=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] |issn=0955-4955 |issue=241 |date=August 2006 |access-date=29 September 2011 |pages=84–89}}</ref> In 2012, ''[[Slant Magazine]]'' ranked the record at number 88 on its list of the "100 Best Albums of the 1980s".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/features/best-albums-of-the-1980s/ |title=The 100 Best Albums of the 1980s |website=[[Slant Magazine]] |date=5 March 2012 |access-date=2 January 2021}}</ref> In 2020, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' placed ''Actually'' at number 435 on its list of the "[[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|500 Greatest Albums of All Time]]".<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/pet-shop-boys-actually-1062798/ |title=The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=22 September 2020 |access-date=22 September 2020}}</ref>

==Usage in other media==
Although not released as a single, the track "Shopping" is frequently featured as background music in British television news and current affairs programmes dealing with retail business issues and as [[bumper music]] on home shopping shows.{{sfn|Heath|2018|p=8}} This is despite the fact that the song is actually a critique of [[privatisation]] in 1980s Britain, and has little to do with actual [[shopping]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Marszalek |first=Julian |url=https://thequietus.com/articles/01331-pet-shop-boys-interviewed-neil-and-chris-2 |title=Pet Shop Boys: Our Back Catalogue is 25 Years of Social Commentary |website=[[The Quietus]] |date=19 March 2009}}</ref> "Shopping" was also used in a series 1 episode of the [[Disney Channel]] television series ''[[Lizzie McGuire]]''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Hurst|first=Heidi|year=2004|title=Lizzie McGuire: Official Episode Guide|location=New York|publisher=Disney Press|page=53|isbn=0786846631}}</ref> A more appropriate use of "Shopping" is in the fourth episode of ''[[Andrew Marr's History of Modern Britain]]'', dealing with privatisation and deregulation.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007nn9k |title=Andrew Marr's History of Modern Britain: Revolution, Episode 4 of 5|author=<!--Not stated-->|website=BBC Two|publisher=BB |access-date=4 January 2025}}</ref> 

"King's Cross" served in the Japanese media as a commercial song for the Aurex's (owned by [[Toshiba]]) cassette tape recorder model XDR.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} The album is featured in the preview of [[Naughty Dog]]'s game ''[[Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://gamerant.com/intergalactic-heretic-prophet-real-world-references-logos-ads/ |title=Every Real World Reference in Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet|last=Karoglou|first=Matt|date=13 December 2024|website=GameRant|access-date=3 January 2025}}</ref>

==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| headline = Side one
| all_writing = [[Neil Tennant]] and [[Chris Lowe]], except where noted
| title1 = [[One More Chance (Pet Shop Boys song)|One More Chance]]
| writer1 = {{hlist|Tennant|Lowe|[[Bobby Orlando]]}}
| length1 = 5:30
| title2 = [[What Have I Done to Deserve This? (song)|What Have I Done to Deserve This?]]
| note2 = with [[Dusty Springfield]]
| writer2 = {{hlist|Tennant|Lowe|[[Allee Willis]]}}
| length2 = 4:18
| title3 = Shopping
| length3 = 3:37
| title4 = [[Rent (song)|Rent]]
| length4 = 5:08
| title5 = Hit Music
| length5 = 4:44
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Side two
| title6 = It Couldn't Happen Here
| writer6 = {{hlist|Tennant|Lowe|[[Ennio Morricone]]}}
| length6 = 5:20
| title7 = [[It's a Sin]]
| length7 = 4:59
| title8 = I Want to Wake Up
| length8 = 5:08
| title9 = [[Heart (Pet Shop Boys song)|Heart]]
| length9 = 3:58
| title10 = [[King's Cross (song)|King's Cross]]
| length10 = 5:10
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = ''Further Listening 1987–1988'' (bonus disc)
| title1 = I Want to Wake Up
| note1 = breakdown mix) (previously unreleased
| length1 = 6:00
| title2 = Heart
| note2 = [[Shep Pettibone]] version) (previously unreleased
| length2 = 4:12
| title3 = You Know Where You Went Wrong
| length3 = 5:50
| title4 = One More Chance
| note4 = seven-inch mix) (previously unreleased
| length4 = 3:50
| title5 = It's a Sin
| note5 = disco mix
| length5 = 7:41
| title6 = What Have I Done to Deserve This?
| note6 = extended mix
| writer6 = {{hlist|Tennant|Lowe|Willis}}
| length6 = 6:47
| title7 = Heart
| note7 = disco mix
| length7 = 8:40
| title8 = A New Life
| writer8 = {{hlist|Lowe|Tennant|[[Helena Springs]]}}
| length8 = 4:55
| title9 = [[Always on My Mind]]
| note9 = demo version) (previously unreleased on CD
| writer9 = {{hlist|[[Wayne Carson|Wayne Carson Thompson]]|[[Mark James (songwriter)|Mark James]]|[[Johnny Christopher]]}}
| length9 = 4:03
| title10 = Rent
| note10 = seven-inch mix
| length10 = 3:33
| title11 = I Want a Dog
| length11 = 4:58
| title12 = Always on My Mind
| note12 = extended dance mix
| length12 = 8:15
| writer12 = {{hlist|Thompson|James|Christopher}}
| title13 = Do I Have To?
| length13 = 5:15
| title14 = Always on My Mind
| note14 = dub mix) (previously unreleased on CD
| writer14 = {{hlist|Thompson|James|Christopher}}
| length14 = 2:15
}}

==Personnel==
Credits adapted from the liner notes of ''Actually: Further Listening 1987–1988''.<ref name="liner notes">{{Cite AV media notes |title=Actually: Further Listening 1987–1988|author=Pet Shop Boys|date=2018|type=liner notes|publisher=[[Parlophone]]|id=0190295826222}}</ref>

===Pet Shop Boys===
* [[Neil Tennant]]
* [[Chris Lowe]]

===Additional musicians===
* [[Dusty Springfield]] – guest vocals {{small|(track 2)}}
* [[Andy Richards]] – [[Fairlight CMI|Fairlight]] and keyboard programming {{small|(tracks 1, 4, 5, 7, 9)}}
* [[J. J. Jeczalik]] – Fairlight programming {{small|(track 3)}}
* Gary Maughan – additional programming {{small|(track 3)}}
* [[Angelo Badalamenti]] – orchestra arrangement {{small|(track 6)}}
* [[Blue Weaver]] – Fairlight programming {{small|(track 6)}}
* Adrien Cook – programming {{small|(track 8)}}

===Technical===
* [[Julian Mendelsohn]] – production, engineering {{small|(tracks 1, 3–5, 7)}}; mixing {{small|(tracks 2, 9)}}
* [[Stephen Hague]] – production {{small|(tracks 2, 10)}}; mixing, additional production {{small|(track 7)}}
* David Jacob – engineering {{small|(tracks 2, 6, 10)}}; production {{small|(track 6)}}; mix engineering {{small|(track 7)}}
* [[Pet Shop Boys]] – production {{small|(tracks 6, 8, 9)}}
* [[Shep Pettibone]] – production {{small|(track 8)}}
* [[Dave Meegan]] – engineering {{small|(track 8)}}
* [[Andy Richards]] – production {{small|(track 9)}}
* Tony Phillips – engineering {{small|(track 9)}}

===Artwork===
* [[Mark Farrow]] – design
* Pet Shop Boys – design
* Cindy Palmano – cover photograph
* [[Eric Watson (photographer)|Eric Watson]] – inner sleeve photograph

==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ 1987 weekly chart performance for ''Actually''
! scope="col"| Chart (1987)
! scope="col"| Peak<br>position
|-
! scope="row"| Australian Albums ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref>{{cite book |last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|publisher=Australian Chart Book|year=1993|page=232|isbn=0-646-11917-6}}</ref>
| 16
|-
{{album chart|Austria|5|artist=Pet Shop Boys|album=Actually|rowheader=true|access-date=29 September 2011}}
|-
{{album chart|Canada|16|chartid=0901|rowheader=true|access-date=3 August 2018}}
|-
{{album chart|Netherlands|5|artist=Pet Shop Boys|album=Actually|rowheader=true|access-date=29 September 2011}}
|-
! scope="row"| [[European Top 100 Albums|European Albums]] (''[[Music & Media]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/80s/87/M&M-1987-10-24-OCR-Page-0012.pdf |title=European Hot 100 Albums |magazine=[[Music & Media]] |volume=4 |issue=42 |date=24 October 1987 |page=22 |oclc=29800226 |via=World Radio History}}</ref>
| 4
|-
! scope="row"| Finnish Albums ([[The Official Finnish Charts|Suomen virallinen lista]])<ref>{{cite book |last=Pennanen |first=Timo |title=Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 |language=fi |edition=1st |location=Helsinki |publisher=[[Otava (publisher)|Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava]] |year=2006 |page=233 |isbn=978-951-1-21053-5}}</ref>
| 1
|-
! scope="row"| French Albums ([[Institut français d'opinion publique|IFOP]])<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.infodisc.fr/Album_Liste_Selection2.php?Lettre=P |title=Le Détail des Albums de chaque Artiste |website=InfoDisc |language=fr |access-date=3 August 2018}} ''Select "PET SHOP BOYS" from the drop-down menu and click "OK".''</ref>
| 19
|-
{{album chart|Germany4|2|id=600|artist=Pet Shop Boys|album=Actually|rowheader=true|access-date=3 August 2018}}
|-
! scope="row"| Icelandic Albums ([[Tónlist]])<ref>{{cite news |url=https://timarit.is/page/2534745#page/n29/mode/2up |title=Ísland (LP-plötur) |newspaper=[[DV (newspaper)|DV]] |language=is |date=2 October 1987 |page=43 |issn=1021-8254 |via=[[Timarit.is]]}}</ref>
| 1
|-
! scope="row"| Italian Albums (''[[Musica e dischi]]'')<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php |title=Classifiche |work=[[Musica e dischi]] |language=it |access-date=3 June 2022}} ''Select "Album" in the "Tipo" field, type "Pet Shop Boys" in the "Artista" field and press "cerca".''</ref>
| 12
|-
{{album chart|New Zealand|7|artist=Pet Shop Boys|album=Actually|rowheader=true|access-date=29 September 2011}}
|-
{{album chart|Norway|3|artist=Pet Shop Boys|album=Actually|rowheader=true|access-date=29 September 2011}}
|-
! scope="row"| Spanish Albums ([[Productores de Música de España|AFYVE]])<ref>{{cite book |last=Salaverrie |first=Fernando |date=September 2005 |title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 |language=es |edition=1st |location=Madrid |publisher=[[Sociedad General de Autores y Editores|Fundación Autor/SGAE]] |isbn=84-8048-639-2}}</ref>
| 2
|-
{{album chart|Sweden|2|artist=Pet Shop Boys|album=Actually|rowheader=true|access-date=29 September 2011}}
|-
{{album chart|Switzerland|3|artist=Pet Shop Boys|album=Actually|rowheader=true|access-date=3 August 2018}}
|-
{{album chart|UK2|2|date=19870913|rowheader=true|access-date=3 August 2018}}
|-
{{album chart|Billboard200|25|artist=Pet Shop Boys|rowheader=true|access-date=3 August 2018}}
|}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ 2018 weekly chart performance for ''Actually''
! scope="col"| Chart (2018)
! scope="col"| Peak<br>position
|-
{{album chart|Hungary|37|year=2018|week=10|rowheader=true|access-date=3 August 2018}}
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ 1987 year-end chart performance for ''Actually''
! scope="col"| Chart (1987)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report){{sfn|Kent|1993|p=439}}
| 78
|-
! scope="row"| Canada Top Albums/CDs (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.0918&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.0918.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.0918 |title=Top 100 Albums of '87 |magazine=RPM |volume=47 |issue=12 |date=26 December 1987 |page=9 |issn=0033-7064 |via=Library and Archives Canada}}</ref>
| 70
|-
! scope="row"| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1987&cat=a |title=Jaaroverzichten – LP 1987 |language=nl |publisher=[[Dutch Charts]] |access-date=3 August 2018}}</ref>
| 61
|-
! scope="row"| European Albums (''Music & Media'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1987/M&M-1987-12-26.pdf |title=European Charts of the Year 1987 – Albums |magazine=Music & Media |volume=4 |issue=51/52 |date=26 December 1987 |page=35<!-- 37 in PDF file --> |oclc=29800226 |via=World Radio History}}</ref>
| 33
|-
! scope="row"| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/album-jahr/for-date-1987 |title=Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts – 1987 |language=de |publisher=GfK Entertainment |access-date=3 August 2018}}</ref>
| 42
|-
! scope="row"| UK Albums ([[Gallup (company)|Gallup]])<ref>{{cite news |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/80s/88/Record-Mirror-1988-01-23-OCR.pdf |title=Gallup Year End Charts 1987 – Albums |newspaper=[[Record Mirror]] |date=23 January 1988 |page=37<!-- 36 in PDF file --> |issn=0144-5804 |via=World Radio History}}</ref>
| 15
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ 1988 year-end chart performance for ''Actually''
! scope="col"| Chart (1988)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://austriancharts.at/year.asp?cat=a&id=1988 |title=Jahreshitparade Alben 1988 |website=austriancharts.at |language=de |access-date=3 August 2018}}</ref>
| 16
|-
! scope="row"| Canada Top Albums/CDs (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-RPM-IDX/IDX/80s/RPM-1988-12-24-OCR-Page-0013.pdf |title=Top 100 Albums of '88 |magazine=RPM |volume=49 |issue=10 |date=24 December 1988 |page=13 |issn=0033-7064 |via=World Radio History}}</ref>
| 72
|-
! scope="row"| European Albums (''Music & Media'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/80s/89/M&M-1989-01-01-OCR-Page-0017.pdf |title=1988 Year End Eurocharts – Top 100 Albums |magazine=Music & Media |volume=6 |issue=52/1 |date=1 January 1989 |page=31 |oclc=29800226 |via=World Radio History}}</ref>
| 22
|-
! scope="row"| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/album-jahr/for-date-1988 |title=Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts – 1988 |language=de |publisher=GfK Entertainment |access-date=3 August 2018}}</ref>
| 10
|-
! scope="row"| UK Albums (Gallup)<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Week-IDX/IDX/1989/MW-1989-03-04-awards-IDX-48.pdf |title=Top 100 Albums – Year-End Chart 1988 |department=Music Week Awards |magazine=[[Music Week]] |date=4 March 1989 |page=8 |issn=0265-1548 |via=World Radio History}}</ref>
| 35
|}
{{col-end}}

==Certifications and sales==
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for ''Actually''}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|artist=Pet Shop Boys|title=Actually|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1987|certyear=1994|date=10 January 1994}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|nocert=yes|salesamount=160,000|salesref=<ref>{{cite news |last=Fucuta |first=Brenda |url=http://memoria.bn.br/docreader/DocReader.aspx?bib=030015_11&pagfis=155930 |title=Discografia marcada pela 'dance music' |newspaper=[[Jornal do Brasil]] |language=pt |issue=245 |date=9 December 1994 |page=38 |via=[[National Library of Brazil]]}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Pet Shop Boys|title=Actually|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=1987|certyear=1988|date=12 January 1988}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Finland|artist=Pet Shop Boys|title=Actually|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=1987|certyear=1987|salesamount=68,416}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|artist=Pet Shop Boys|title=Actually|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=1987|certyear=1988}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Hong Kong|artist=Pet Shop Boys|title=Actually|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=1987|certyear=1988}}
{{Certification Table Entry |region=Malaysia|nocert=yes|salesamount=15,000|salesref=<ref>{{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A65UAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA20&dq=Malaysia&article_id=2817,3292089&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi14NKV7Z-MAxV_SDABHbJaPGM4HhDoAXoECAwQAw#v=onepage&q=Malaysia&f=false|title=Sale of international music releases up|newspaper=New Straits Times|access-date=23 March 2025|date=29 November 1988|page=20|first=R.S.|last=Murthi}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Pet Shop Boys|title=Actually|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=1987|certyear=1988|id=1988-09-16|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|date=18 September 1988}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|artist=Pet Shop Boys|title=Actually|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=1987|certyear=1987|certref=<ref>{{cite book |last=Salaverrie |first=Fernando |url=http://www.mediafire.com/file/x263f6daopkswo8/Spanish+certifications+for+1979-1990.pdf |title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 |language=es |edition=1st |location=Madrid |publisher=Fundación Autor/SGAE |date=September 2005 |page=922 |isbn=84-8048-639-2 |access-date=3 August 2018}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|artist=Pet Shop Boys|title=Actually|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1987|certyear=1987|date=10 November 1987}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|artist=Pet Shop Boys|title=Actually|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=1987|certyear=1989}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Pet Shop Boys|title=Actually|award=Platinum|number=3|type=album|relyear=1987|certyear=1988|date=29 April 1988|id=305-2148-2|salesamount=1,000,000|salesref=<ref name="UKmillion">{{cite magazine |last=Bakker |first=Machgiel |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/80s/88/M&M-1988-09-17-OCR-Page-0018.pdf |title=EMI Music – The Freedom To Fail |magazine=Music & Media |volume=5 |issue=38 |date=17 September 1988 |page=34 |oclc=29800226 |via=World Radio History}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Pet Shop Boys|title=Actually|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1987|certyear=1987|date=23 November 1987|salesamount=750,000|salesref=<ref name="USsales">{{cite news |last=Hunt|first=Dennis|date=29 May 1988|title=Pet Shop Boys Try to Keep a Low Profile|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-05-29-ca-5681-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=7 January 2025}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Summary}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Worldwide|nocert=true|salesamount=4,000,000|salesref=<ref name="4million">{{cite web |last=Levine |first=Nick |url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/25-reasons-to-love-pet-shop-boys-actually-763693 |title=25 Reasons To Love Pet Shop Boys' 'Actually' |work=[[NME]] |date=2 February 2012 |access-date=6 April 2018}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Bottom}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}


{{Pet Shop Boys}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1987 albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Julian Mendelsohn]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Shep Pettibone]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Stephen Hague]]
[[Category:Electropop albums]]
[[Category:Parlophone albums]]
[[Category:Pet Shop Boys albums]]