Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret [Deluxe Edition]

by Soft Cell

Overview

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

Product Details

Release Date:	12/08/2023
Label:	Emi / Emi Records / Umr
UPC:	0602455438201
Rank:	45129

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Frustration
2. Tainted Love
3. Seedy Films
4. Youth
5. Sex Dwarf
6. Entertain Me
7. Chips on My Shoulder
8. Bedsitter
9. Secret Life
10. Say Hello, Wave Goodbye
11. Memorabilia [Single Version]
12. A Man Could Get Lost [Single Version]
13. Persuasion [Edit]
14. A Where Did Our Love Go? [Single B-side]
15. Facility Girls [Single B-side]
16. Fun City [Edit]
17. A Torch [Single Version]
18. Insecure Me [Single B-Side]
19. What? [Single Version]
20. So [Single B-Side]

Disc 2

21. Frustration [2023 Extended Version]
22. Tainted Love [2021 10'' Extended Version]
23. Seedy Films [2023 Extended Version]
24. Youth [2018 Wasted on the Young Extended Version]
25. Sex Dwarf [2023 Extended Version]
26. Entertain Me [2023 Extended Version]
27. Chips on My Shoulder [2018 Extended Version]
28. Bedsitter [1981 Original 12'' Mix]
29. Secret Life [2018 Extended Version]
30. Say Hello, Wave Goodbye [2018 Dave Ball Lateral Mix]
31. A Man Could Get Lost [2023 Extended Version]
32. Memorabilia [Daniel Miller 2023 Remix]
33. A Memorabilia [The Hacker 2023 Remix]

Disc 3

34. Frustration [Original Mutant Moments Version]
35. Tainted Love [New 2023 Version]
36. Seedy Films [Richard X Remix]
37. Youth [Dave Ball Warhol Funeral Mix]
38. Sex Dwarf [Live on BBC Old Grey Whistle Test, 4 February 1982]
39. Entertain Me [Richard Skinner Session, Radio 1-26 July 1981]
40. Chips on My Shoulder [Live From the Oxford Show, 22 January 1982]
41. Bedsitter [Richard Skinner Session, BBC Radio 1-26 July 1981]
42. Secret Life [George Demure Remix]
43. Say Hello, Wave Goodbye [Live From the Oxford Road Show, 22 January 1982]
44. A Man Could Get Lost [Live at Leeds Warehouse, 16 July 2018]
45. Torch [Live From BBC Top of the Pops 2, 2002]
46. Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go? [US Radio Edit]
47. Seedy Films [Richard Skinner Session, Radio 1-26 July 1981]
48. Youth [Live on BBC Old Grey Whistle Test, 4 February 1982]
49. Chips on My Shoulder [Richard Skinner Session, BBC Radio, 1-26 July 1981]
50. Tainted Love [Live From BBC Top of the Pops 1981 Reunion, 2001]
51. Bedsitter [Flexipop Version]
52. A Memorabilia [2023 Dub Mix]
53. Tainted Love [Aborted Studio Take]

Disc 4

54. Frustration [Instrumental]
55. Tainted Love [Instrumental]
56. Seedy Films [Instrumental]
57. Youth [Instrumental]
58. Sex Dwarf [Instrumental]
59. Entertain Me [Instrumental]
60. Chips on My Shoulder [Instrumental]
61. Bedsitter [Instrumental]
62. Secret Life [Instrumental]
63. Say Hello, Wave Goodbye [Instrumental]
64. A Man Could Get Lost [Original Daniel Miller Instrumental Version]
65. Torch [Instrumental]
66. What! [Instrumental]
67. Insecure Me [Instrumental]
68. Tainted Love [Original 1981 Daniel Miller Demo]
69. Seedy Films [Original 1981 Demo]
70. Sex Dwarf [Original 1981 Demo]
71. Chips on My Shoulder [Original 1981 Demo]
72. Secret Life [Original 1981 Demo]
73. Say Hello, Wave Goodbye [Original 1981 Demo]
74. A Man Could Get Lost [7" Instrumental]

Disc 5

75. Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go? [Original 12'' Version]
76. Memorabilia [Original 12'' Version]
77. Torch [Original 12'' Version]
78. What! [Original 12'' Version]
79. Tainted Dub [Original Version]
80. Persuasion [Original 12'' Version]
81. Facility Girls [Original 12'' Version]
82. Fun City [Original 12'' Version]
83. Insecure Me [Original 12'' Version]
84. So [Original 12'' Version]

Disc 6

85. Frustration
86. Tainted Love
87. Seedy Films
88. Youth
89. Sex Dwarf
90. Entertain Me
91. Chips on My Shoulder
92. Bedsitter
93. Secret Life
94. Say Hello, Wave Goodbye
95. Torch
96. Memorabilia
97. Insecure Me
98. What
99. Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go?

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Soft Cell   Primary Artist
Marc & the Mambas   Primary Artist
Dave Ball   Saxophone,Synthesizer,Electronic Sounds,Multi Instruments,Synthesizer,Vocals (Background),Vocals
Louise Marshall   Vocals (Background)
Cindy Ecstasy   Vocals
Pablo Cook   Percussion
Jack Birchwood   Brass
Louis Marshall   Vocals (Background)
Simon King   Vocals (Background)
Tim Taylor   Bass,Guitar
Vicious Pink Phenomena   Vocals (Background)
Marc Almond   Vocals
John Gatchell   Horn,Trumpet,Flugelhorn
David Tofani   Clarinet,Saxophone,Sax (Tenor)
Gary Barnacle   Woodwind
Billie Godfrey   Vocals (Background)
Annie Hogan   Piano
Brian Chambers   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Dave Ball   Composer,Producer,Remixing,Mixing,Producer,Programming,Musical Producer,Synthesizer Programming,Mixing
Michael Christopher   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Pete Maben   Engineer
Richard Smith   Liner Notes
Jack Skinner   Mastering
Arun Chakaraverty   Mastering
Nicky Kalliongis   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Chris Smith   Engineer
David James Ball   Composer
Nathan Cooper   Engineer
Andy Hoggman   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Bill Clarke   Engineer
Stefan Betke   Mastering
Paul Hardiman   Engineer
Soft Cell   Composer,Producer
Lamont Dozier   Composer
Eddie Holland   Composer
Ed Cobb   Composer
Don Wershba   Engineer
Richard X   Remixing
George Demure   Remixing
Mike Thorne   Producer
Brian Holland   Composer
Brian Chin   Liner Notes
Hidle Brown Barnum   Composer
Marc Almond   Composer,Producer
Will Shapland   Engineer
Philip Larsen   Engineer
The Hacker   Remixing
Roger Wake   Digital Remastering
Harvey Goldberg   Mixing,Producer
Daniel Miller   Producer,Remixing