Wikipedia isn't always right

Wikipedia isn’t always right. I know this as members of the public occasionally refer to it in order to tell me how to do my job. Why anyone would trust a website with life and death decisions is beyond me. Especially one that tells you “West End Girls” by Pet Shop Boys wasn’t released in the UK.

Yes, that’s right. According to Wikipedia, West End Girls in its original form, as produced by Bobby Orlando, wasn’t released in the UK. Both the listing for the song and the main entry for the group state: “In April 1984, "West End Girls" was released, becoming a club hit in Los Angeles and San Francisco, and a minor dance hit in Belgium, and France, but was only available in the United Kingdom as a 12" import."

It really doesn’t matter that this statement is referenced with a link to the BBC website as it’s demonstrably wrong. 

To start with, the same Wikipedia page that says the single was only available as an import lists the original UK release along with all of the others. Secondly it is a matter of record that West End Girls reached number 121 in April 1984 on the UK Gallup singles chart. Thirdly and most tellingly of all is the fact that I, and many others, own a copy of the ‘Epic’ UK release.  

The original version of West End Girls was recorded in New York in September 1984 and produced by Bobby Olrando. It was released on Orlando’s “Bobcat Records” in the USA and subsequently licensed to various record labels in the rest of the world. In the UK, Epic Records offered a one off deal to release and distribute the track. Thus Epic Records catalogue number A4292 (7”) and TA4292 (12”) released on 9^th April 1984 is Pet Shop Boys “West End Girls”. 

That’s a fact, no matter what the BBC or Wikipedia may tell you.