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Tainted Love
Soft Cell
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- Album
- Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret
- Released
- 1981
- Genres
- synthpop, new wave
- Length
- 2:34
- Tempo
- 144 BPM
- Label
- Island Records
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About this song
Soft Cell's 1981 synth-pop version is a remake of a 1964 Gloria Jones song that first appeared as the B-side to a Motown single that flopped. Jones's original later caught on in the UK's Northern soul scene in the 1970s, and she recorded a new version in 1974 that failed to chart. For Soft Cell's take, the band changed the key and slowed the tempo, working with producer Mike Thorne on the electronic arrangement.
Fun facts
- It's actually a cover of “T”.
- Sampled in 10 other songs, like “Beautiful Robots by David0Mario”.
- Covered 4 times, including “Tainted Love by Country Teasers”.
- Written by Ed Cobb.
- Produced by Mike Thorne.