| Essential | |
| Type: | Compilation album |
| Artist: | Pet Shop Boys |
| Cover: | PSB_Essential.jpg |
| Released: | 31 March 1998 |
| Recorded: | 1985–1990 |
| Genre: | Electropop |
| Label: | EMI/Capitol |
| Producer: | Harold Faltermeyer Nicholas Froome Stephen Hague Trevor Horn David Jacobs J. J. Jeczalik Lewis Martineé Pet Shop Boys |
| Prev Title: | Bilingual |
| Prev Year: | 1996 |
| Next Title: | Nightlife |
| Next Year: | 1999 |
Essential is a 1998 compilation album by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released as a limited edition in the United States by EMI/Capitol and in Japan by Toshiba/EMI.[1] Produced for only six months, early promotional versions of the album had the title Early, as the tracks featured were part of Pet Shop Boys' early catalogue.[2] The album contained remixes as well as album tracks and B-sides. The CD booklet contains an essay written by music journalist and Pet Shop Boys biographer Chris Heath.
While several of the selections had not been available on compact disc prior to its original release, as of 2018, it remains the only official CD appearance of the 7" version of "That's My Impression" (all other reissues and compilations using the "Disco" mix.)