Tainted love (demo) - Soft Cell

While the Dutch magazine scene is still boring as hell, more exciting things happen in the UK and Germany, where music magazines regularly come with free 7" singles. 

In this case, it's the UK magazine Electronic Sounds that came up with the goods. This single features two tracks by Soft Cell (you wouldn't have guessed it, looking at the sleeve) from 1981. The A-side is a demo of the duo's biggest hit, 'Tainted love', while the B-side is a version of 'Bedsitter' that was previously released on a flexidisc with the magazine Flexipop - yes, even four decades ago UK magazines were more interesting than Dutch ones. It's high time this country catches up.

My collection: 7" single no. 7088
Found: Electronic Sounds website, received 15 December 2023
Tracks: 'Tainted love (demo)' / 'Bedsitter (Flexipop version)'

What! - Soft Cell

The extended version of Soft Cell's 'What!' is far superior to the edit of the track on the 7" single. I found that out pretty early on in my life thanks to my sister, who bought this disc at a time when my budget didn't stretch far enough for 12" singles.

The shop Plato, which closed almost two years ago, opened in 1985 and this was my first purchase there. I was very surprised to find this disc there, which after all was three years old back then. Still, I was also happy as I didn't expect to find it at that point in time.

My collection: 12" single no. 18
Found: Plato, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 15 guilders
Tracks: 'What!' / '...So'

Tainted love 91 - Soft Cell

In 1991, the compilation album 'Memorabilia' was released, featuring the biggest hits by Soft Cell and Marc Almond. There was one problem: some of the tracks were remixes and re-recordings. Soft Cell's 'Tainted love', for instance, was slightly remixed - a version that would later reappear on less well documented Eighties compilation albums.

This 91 version of 'Tainted love' still became a hit in the UK, peaking at number 5, whereas the original version had been a charttopper.

My collection: 7" single no. 3312
Found: Record fair, February 24, 2001
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Tainted love 91' / 'Where the heart is'

What! - Soft Cell

While Soft Cell only had one hit in the USA with 'Tainted love', several other singles were also released across the Atlantic. This single is living proof: it's the American pressing of 'What!', featuring a different B-side than its UK counterpart.

'What!' peaked at number 3 in the UK singles chart and number 6 in Ireland, but did not chart in other territories.

My collection: 7" single no. 1752
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 19, 1992
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'What!' / 'Memorabilia'

Torch - Soft Cell

One of the more beautiful synthpop hits from the Eighties was Soft Cell's 1982 hit 'Torch'. It was, fortunately, recognised by the international audiences, as it peaked at number 2 in the UK and at number 10 in the Netherlands.

The lead vocals were performed, as always, by Marc Almond, but at the end a female voice joins him. According to the sleeve this is Cindy Ecstacy, which is almost certainly a pseudonym.

My collection: 7" single no. 2544
Found: Record Exchange, London, November 1, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Torch' / 'Insecure me'

Say hello wave goodbye - Soft Cell

Not only do I have the 12" single of 'Say hello wave goodbye', I've also got the 7" single. The single basically cuts the extended version of the 12" single into two parts, in which the first part becomes the instrumental version on the B-side, the second part is the single version on the A-side.

Soft Cell reached third place in the UK singles chart with this, one of their most acclaimed tracks in their career. It was covered by English singer David Gray in 1999.

My collection: 7" single no. 1929
Found: June 27, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Say hello wave goodbye' / 'Say hello wave goodbye (instrumental)'

Bedsitter - Soft Cell

After the phenomenal international success of Soft Cell's 'Tainted love', the band struggled to find equal success. While they continued to be a hot act in the UK and Ireland, they would never revisit the charts in most other countries.

That's not to say that their singles were bad. The follow-up 'Bedsitter', for instance, is a beautiful melancholic synthpop song. The single peaked at number 4 in the UK and number 10 in Ireland.

My collection: 7" single no. 3249

Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 20, 2000

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Bedsitter' / 'Facility girls'

Tainted love - Soft Cell

'Tainted love' was composed by Ed Cobb and originally recorded by Gloria Jones. It attained worldwide fame after this cover version by Soft Cell in 1981, reaching number one in the UK Singles Chart.

Soft Cell's record label chose to release 'Tainted love' as the band's second single (their first was 'Memorabilia', which did not chart). The label implied that this single would be Soft Cell's final release if the single did not sell. Produced by Mike Thorne, the track was recorded in a day and a half with the first vocal take being ultimately used on the record.

My collection: 7" single no. 2935

Found: January 31, 1998

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Tainted love' / 'Where did our love go'

Say hello wave goodbye - Soft Cell

Soft Cell released 'Say hello wave goodbye' as their fifth single in early 1982. It was the last track on their 1981 album 'Non-stop erotic cabaret'. The 12" single included a nine minute version with an extended clarinet solo and instrumental parts.

The song is famous for Marc Almond's vocals, which are at times off-key. Still, in my opinion this is their best track. Emotional stuff...

My collection: 12" single
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 1992
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Say hello wave goodbye (extended version)' / 'Fun city'
Download: here