In 1987,
Pet Shop Boys performed their version of "Always on My Mind"
on Love Me Tender, an ITV special commemorating the tenth
anniversary of Presley's death. After their performance was so
well-received, Neil and Chris decided to record the song and release it
as a single. It became the Christmas number one in the UK - it stayed on the top spot for four weeks - and remains Pet Shop Boys biggest-selling single to date.
The song was also
#1 in Canada, Germany, Sweden and Swizerland, and it beat Fairytale of New York
by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl to the top spot in the UK. The full-length version of featured on the album Introspective.
The song
was originally recorded by Brenda Lee in 1972, but stalled in the
country charts (U.S.) at #45. The most recognised 70's version is Elvis
Presley's which was released as a double-A side in 1972 (it was a b-side
in the U.S.) and became a big hit in the UK.
