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Format
Format - cover artwork
b-sides and bonus tracks album
release date: 6th February 2012
chart: UK #26, US #-
length: 156:27
label: Parlophone

Pet Shop Boys released a second b-sides compilation on February 6th, 2012, on Parlophone. Entitled "Format", it celebrates the duo's prolific song-writing and recording by collecting 38 b-sides and bonus tracks originally released on singles from 1996 to 2009. The album is available digitally and on double-CD. All tracks have been remastered. "Format" follows on from the 1995 release, "Alternative", which collected the duo's b-sides from 1985 to 1994.

Mark Farrow has designed "Format". The colourful graphics on the lift-off lid card box represents the music contained within, as Farrow explains: "The composition on the box is a graphic representation of all the spines of all 38 of the b-sides and bonus tracks included on the compilation.".
"Every stripe represents the spine of the original release format on which each of the songs was included," he continues, "whether it was a J card, pochette, cassette, DVD jewel box or 7 inch single. The colours are also informed by the original releases."
The graphics on the two inner CD sleeves represent the tracks on each disc. There is a also a booklet included in the box. "The booklet contains a Jon Savage interview with Neil and Chris about the songs," says Farrow. "The booklet cover has the same type treatment as the box but features no graphics," he continues. "We deliberately kept it really simple, it is black and white throughout."
related pictures
format format format
tracklist
    1996–2002
  1. The Truck-Driver And His Mate3:34
  2. Hit And Miss4:07
  3. In The Night (1995)4:16
  4. Betrayed5:19
  5. How I Learned To Hate Rock-And-Roll4:37
  6. Discoteca3:43
    (New Version)
  7. The Calm Before The Storm2:46
  8. Confidential (Demo For Tina Turner)4:46
  9. The Boy Who Couldn't Keep His Clothes On6:05
  10. Delusions Of Grandeur5:03
  11. The View From Your Balcony3:44
  12. Disco Potential4:06
  13. Silver Age3:32
  14. Screaming4:55
  15. The Ghost Of Myself4:02
  16. Casting A Shadow4:36
  17. Lies4:39
  18. Sexy Northerner3:42
    2002–2009
  1. Always5:03
  2. Nightlife3:53
  3. Searching For The Face Of Jesus3:26
  4. Between Two Islands5:06
  5. Friendly Fire3:22
  6. We're The Pet Shop Boys4:55
  7. Transparent3:51
  8. I Didn't Get Where I Am Today3:37
  9. The Resurrectionist3:10
  10. Girls Don't Cry2:34
  11. In Private (feat. Elton John)4:10
    (7-Inch Mix)
  12. Blue On Blue3:11
  13. No Time For Tears3:35
    (7-Inch Mix)
  14. Bright Young Things4:55
  15. Party Song3:39
  16. We're All Criminals Now3:54
  17. Gin And Jag4:28
  18. After The Event5:15
  19. The Former Enfant Terrible2:51
  20. Up And Down3:42
releases
2xCD-R: 2012 UK
(Parlophone; n/a) [promo]
2xCD: 2012 UK
(Parlophone;PSBPROMO1) [p;cardsleeve]
2xCD: 2012 DE
(Parlophone;C9557162/95571621) [box]
2xCD: 2012 CA
(Parlophone;C9557162/95571621) [box]
2xCD: 2012 AU
(Parlophone;C9557162/95571621) [box]
2xCD: 2012 AR
(Parlophone;C9557162/95571621) [box]
2xCD: 2012 TW
(Parlophone;C9557162/95571621) [box; w/OBI]
2xCD: 2012 JP
(EMI/Toshiba;TOCP-????) [w/OBI]
2xCD: 2012 TH
(Warner Music;C9557162/5099995571621)
DLOAD: 2012
(iTunes;8390008394)