With huge records in the early 80s, Soft Cell was the first project for singer/songwriter Marc Almond. He and David Ball met when both were art students in Leeds, UK. They quickly recorded an EP together with funding coming from their families. Eventually the EP was released and drew attention to the new group who landed a deal to record a full record.
A reworked version of Tainted Love became a huge hit for Soft Cell. The song, released originally in 1964 had found its way into the UK Northern Soul club scene in the mid 70s where it came to the attention of Marc Almond. Soft Cell added the song to their live shows and in 1980 they recorded their version.
Their producer advised against the song, disliking the club version – but when he heard Almond’s reworking he was impressed. The song would go on to reach number one in four countries, and helped propel sales of the album Non Stop Erotic Cabaret.
Almond and Ball continued as Soft Cell through 1983 when near constant drug use finally led to its demise. Almond had also gone on to form a new group. The group’s last record for the 80s was only a modest success in the UK.
The duo reunited in 2000 playing a short tour then releasing a new album in 2002. Back in the late 70s, Soft Cell had replaced their version of Fraki Valli and the Four Seasons’ The Night in their live set with Tainted Love, but returned to the replaced song on the 2002 record Cruelty Without Beauty.
Another reunion came in 2018 and Soft Cell announced it was the end of the band. In 2021 they returned again to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Non Stop Erotic Cabaret.
