Chart Performance
"West End Girls" was first released in April 1984 through writer and producer Bobby Orlando's label. The song was a club hit in the United States, and in some European countries like Belgium, where it debuted at number 24 on the VRT Top 30 chart on 28 July 1984, peaking at 17 four weeks later. Having signed with EMI the group released their first major label single "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)", but it failed to attract attention. The Pet Shop Boys then decided to release "West End Girls" for the second time. Producer Stephen Hague then reworked the song and the single was re-released in late 1985.
"West End Girls" was released in the United Kingdom in October 1985, debuting on the UK Singles Chart at number 80, and within eight weeks of its release, it had reached the top of the chart. It maintained the number one position for two weeks and received a gold certification by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in January 1986. Across Europe, "West End Girls" also topped the singles chart in Norway, as well as peaking in the top three in Belgium, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland.
In Canada, "West End Girls" first entered the RPM singles chart in April 1985, reaching a peak position of 81 in June 1985. In March 1986, the song re-entered the chart, peaking at number one for one week on 17 May 1986. In the United States, "West End Girls" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 71, reaching the number one position on 10 May 1986, and remained on the chart for 20 weeks. The song also peaked at number one on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart for two weeks.
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