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In the U.S., Soft Cell, the British duo of singer Marc Almond and instrumentalist David Ball, was a classic one-hit wonder, that hit being the remake of Gloria Jones' "Tainted Love," which dominated dance clubs and eventually peaked in the pop Top Ten with its synth-pop sound and Almond's plaintive vocal in 1981-1982. In the U.K., the group not only had a longer career, but also influenced a raft of similar performers. Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret, originally released in Britain in the fall of 1981, contained both the band's first hit and its follow-up, "Bedsitter," its title referring to what in America would be called a studio apartment. (A third U.K. Top Five hit, "Say Hello Wave Goodbye," emerged from the LP.) At full album length, lyricist Almond's primary preoccupation, only suggested in "Tainted Love," was spelled out; this was a theme album about aberrant sexuality, a tour of a red-light district. The point was well made on "Sex Dwarf," with its oft-repeated chorus "Isn't it nice/Sugar and spice/Luring disco dollies to a life of vice?" Songs like "Seedy Films," "Entertain Me," and "Secret Life" expanded upon the subject. The insistent beats taken at steady dance tempos and the chilling electronic sounds conjured by Ball emphasized Almond's fascination with deviance; it almost seemed as though the album had been designed to be played in topless bars. British listeners saw through Almond's pretense or were amused by him, or both; more puritanical Americans tended to disapprove, which probably limited the group's long-term success stateside. But the music was undeniably influential. The 2002 CD reissue added two lengthy 12" single mixes of "Tainted Love," one of them a medley with the old Supremes hit "Where Did Our Love Go," the other a dub version.
© William Ruhlmann /TiVo
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Dave Ball, Music Production, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Christopher, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Thorne, Producer - Nicky Kalliongis, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Tofani, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Soft Cell, MainArtist - Marc Almond, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David James Ball, ComposerLyricist - Vicious Pink Phenomena, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Harvey Goldberg, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Don Wershba, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy Hoggman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Mercury Records Limited
Dave Ball, Music Production, AssociatedPerformer - ED COBB, ComposerLyricist - Michael Christopher, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Thorne, Producer - Nicky Kalliongis, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Tofani, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Soft Cell, MainArtist - Marc Almond, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Vicious Pink Phenomena, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Hardiman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Harvey Goldberg, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Andy Hoggman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Mercury Records Limited
Dave Ball, Music Production, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Christopher, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Thorne, Producer - Nicky Kalliongis, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Tofani, Clarinet, AssociatedPerformer - Soft Cell, MainArtist - Marc Almond, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David James Ball, ComposerLyricist - Vicious Pink Phenomena, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Harvey Goldberg, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Don Wershba, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy Hoggman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Mercury Records Limited
Dave Ball, Music Production, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Christopher, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Thorne, Producer - Nicky Kalliongis, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Soft Cell, MainArtist - Marc Almond, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David James Ball, ComposerLyricist - Vicious Pink Phenomena, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Harvey Goldberg, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Don Wershba, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy Hoggman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Mercury Records Limited
Dave Ball, Music Production, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Christopher, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Thorne, Producer - Nicky Kalliongis, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Soft Cell, MainArtist - Marc Almond, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David James Ball, ComposerLyricist - Vicious Pink Phenomena, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Harvey Goldberg, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Don Wershba, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy Hoggman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Mercury Records Limited
Dave Ball, Music Production, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Christopher, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Thorne, Producer - Nicky Kalliongis, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Soft Cell, MainArtist - Marc Almond, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David James Ball, ComposerLyricist - Vicious Pink Phenomena, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Harvey Goldberg, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Don Wershba, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy Hoggman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Mercury Records Limited
Dave Ball, Music Production, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Christopher, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Thorne, Producer - Nicky Kalliongis, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Soft Cell, MainArtist - Marc Almond, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David James Ball, ComposerLyricist - Vicious Pink Phenomena, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Harvey Goldberg, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Don Wershba, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy Hoggman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Mercury Records Limited
Dave Ball, Music Production, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Christopher, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Thorne, Producer - Nicky Kalliongis, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Soft Cell, MainArtist - Marc Almond, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David James Ball, ComposerLyricist - Vicious Pink Phenomena, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Harvey Goldberg, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Don Wershba, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy Hoggman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Mercury Records Limited
Dave Ball, Music Production, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Christopher, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Thorne, Producer - Nicky Kalliongis, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Soft Cell, MainArtist - Marc Almond, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David James Ball, ComposerLyricist - Vicious Pink Phenomena, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Harvey Goldberg, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Don Wershba, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy Hoggman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Mercury Records Limited
Dave Ball, Music Production, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Christopher, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Thorne, Producer - Nicky Kalliongis, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Soft Cell, MainArtist - Marc Almond, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David James Ball, ComposerLyricist - Vicious Pink Phenomena, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Harvey Goldberg, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Don Wershba, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy Hoggman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Mercury Records Limited
Dave Ball, Music Production, Synthesizer Programming, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Edward Holland Jr., ComposerLyricist - ED COBB, ComposerLyricist - Lamont Dozier, ComposerLyricist - Mike Thorne, Producer - Brian Holland, ComposerLyricist - Soft Cell, MainArtist - Marc Almond, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Hardiman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1981 Mercury Records Limited
Dave Ball, Music Production, Synthesizer Programming, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Soft Cell, MainArtist - Daniel Miller, Producer - Marc Almond, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David James Ball, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2023 Mercury Records Limited
Soft Cell, MainArtist - Marc Almond, ComposerLyricist - David James Ball, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2023 Mercury Records Limited
Soft Cell, MainArtist - Marc Almond, ComposerLyricist - David James Ball, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2023 Mercury Records Limited
Edward Holland Jr., ComposerLyricist - Lamont Dozier, ComposerLyricist - Brian Holland, ComposerLyricist - Soft Cell, MainArtist
℗ 2023 Mercury Records Limited
Soft Cell, MainArtist - Marc Almond, ComposerLyricist - David James Ball, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2023 Mercury Records Limited
Dave Ball, Music Production, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Christopher, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Thorne, Producer - Nicky Kalliongis, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Soft Cell, MainArtist - Marc Almond, ComposerLyricist - David James Ball, ComposerLyricist - Vicious Pink Phenomena, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Harvey Goldberg, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Don Wershba, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy Hoggman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Mercury Records Limited
Tim Taylor, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Thorne, Producer - Marc Almond, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David James Ball, ComposerLyricist - Marc And The Mambas, MainArtist - Bill Clarke, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Anne Hogan, Piano, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2023 Mercury Records Limited
Dave Ball, Music Production, AssociatedPerformer - ED COBB, ComposerLyricist - Michael Christopher, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Thorne, Producer - Nicky Kalliongis, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Tofani, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Soft Cell, MainArtist - Marc Almond, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Vicious Pink Phenomena, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Hardiman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Harvey Goldberg, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Andy Hoggman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Mercury Records Limited
DISC 2
Dave Ball, Music Production, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Christopher, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Thorne, Producer - Nicky Kalliongis, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Tofani, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Soft Cell, MainArtist - Marc Almond, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David James Ball, ComposerLyricist - Vicious Pink Phenomena, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Harvey Goldberg, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Don Wershba, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy Hoggman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Mercury Records Limited
Dave Ball, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - ED COBB, ComposerLyricist - Mike Thorne, Producer - Soft Cell, MainArtist - Marc Almond, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2021 Mercury Records Limited
Dave Ball, Music Production, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Christopher, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Thorne, Producer - Nicky Kalliongis, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Tofani, Clarinet, AssociatedPerformer - Soft Cell, MainArtist - Marc Almond, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David James Ball, ComposerLyricist - Vicious Pink Phenomena, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Harvey Goldberg, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Don Wershba, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy Hoggman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Mercury Records Limited
Dave Ball, Producer, Mixer, Music Production, Synthesizer Programming, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Philip Larsen, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Smith, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Soft Cell, MainArtist - Marc Almond, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David James Ball, ComposerLyricist - Nathan Cooper, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2018 Mercury Records Limited
Dave Ball, Music Production, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Christopher, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Thorne, Producer - Nicky Kalliongis, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Soft Cell, MainArtist - Marc Almond, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David James Ball, ComposerLyricist - Vicious Pink Phenomena, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Harvey Goldberg, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Don Wershba, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy Hoggman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Mercury Records Limited
Dave Ball, Music Production, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Christopher, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Thorne, Producer - Nicky Kalliongis, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Soft Cell, MainArtist - Marc Almond, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David James Ball, ComposerLyricist - Vicious Pink Phenomena, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Harvey Goldberg, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Don Wershba, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy Hoggman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2023 Mercury Records Limited
Dave Ball, Producer, Mixer, Music Production, Synthesizer Programming, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Philip Larsen, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Smith, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Soft Cell, MainArtist - Marc Almond, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David James Ball, ComposerLyricist - Nathan Cooper, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2018 Mercury Records Limited
Dave Ball, Producer, Synthesizer, Music Production, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Thorne, Producer - Soft Cell, MainArtist - Marc Almond, Producer, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David James Ball, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1981 Mercury Records Limited
Dave Ball, Producer, Mixer, Music Production, Synthesizer Programming, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Philip Larsen, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Smith, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Soft Cell, MainArtist - Marc Almond, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David James Ball, ComposerLyricist - Nathan Cooper, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2018 Mercury Records Limited
Dave Ball, Producer, Mixer, Music Production, Synthesizer Programming, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Philip Larsen, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Smith, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Soft Cell, MainArtist - Marc Almond, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David James Ball, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2018 Mercury Records Limited
Soft Cell, MainArtist - Daniel Miller, Producer - Marc Almond, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David James Ball, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1981 Mercury Records Limited
Soft Cell, MainArtist - Marc Almond, ComposerLyricist - David James Ball, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2023 Mercury Records Limited
Album review
In the U.S., Soft Cell, the British duo of singer Marc Almond and instrumentalist David Ball, was a classic one-hit wonder, that hit being the remake of Gloria Jones' "Tainted Love," which dominated dance clubs and eventually peaked in the pop Top Ten with its synth-pop sound and Almond's plaintive vocal in 1981-1982. In the U.K., the group not only had a longer career, but also influenced a raft of similar performers. Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret, originally released in Britain in the fall of 1981, contained both the band's first hit and its follow-up, "Bedsitter," its title referring to what in America would be called a studio apartment. (A third U.K. Top Five hit, "Say Hello Wave Goodbye," emerged from the LP.) At full album length, lyricist Almond's primary preoccupation, only suggested in "Tainted Love," was spelled out; this was a theme album about aberrant sexuality, a tour of a red-light district. The point was well made on "Sex Dwarf," with its oft-repeated chorus "Isn't it nice/Sugar and spice/Luring disco dollies to a life of vice?" Songs like "Seedy Films," "Entertain Me," and "Secret Life" expanded upon the subject. The insistent beats taken at steady dance tempos and the chilling electronic sounds conjured by Ball emphasized Almond's fascination with deviance; it almost seemed as though the album had been designed to be played in topless bars. British listeners saw through Almond's pretense or were amused by him, or both; more puritanical Americans tended to disapprove, which probably limited the group's long-term success stateside. But the music was undeniably influential. The 2002 CD reissue added two lengthy 12" single mixes of "Tainted Love," one of them a medley with the old Supremes hit "Where Did Our Love Go," the other a dub version.
© William Ruhlmann /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 31 track(s)
- Total length: 02:34:42
- Main artists: Soft Cell
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: UMC (Universal Music Catalogue)
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2023 Mercury Records Limited ℗ 2023 Mercury Records Limited
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