The Megatrax Mega-Mix / This Charming Man (The New York Mix)

The Megatrax Mega-Mix (TRA026) is a notable artifact from the mid-1980s era of unofficial dance music compilations, specifically serving as a 12-inch promotional pressing. It pairs the Pet Shop Boys with The Smiths, two acts that defined disparate corners of the British music scene at the time. The release emerged from the grey market of DJ-only mixes, where producers would take existing tracks and rearrange them into club-friendly edits intended for play in dance venues rather than commercial retail.

The design and production were typical of the era's bootleg culture, prioritizing functional club utility over formal label branding. These records often featured minimal sleeve art, focusing instead on the extended instrumental passages and remixes that were highly sought after by DJs for their exclusivity. While the official catalogs of both bands maintained strict control over their masters, records like TRA026 provided an alternative, unauthorized outlet for fans wanting to hear these songs blended into the high-energy, synthetic soundscapes prevalent in underground nightlife.