Tainted Love

"Tainted Love" is a song composed by Ed Cobb, formerly of American group the Four Preps, which was originally recorded by Gloria Jones in 1964.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1981, the song attained worldwide fame after being covered and reworked by British synth-pop duo Soft Cell for their album Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret. The song has since been covered by numerous groups and artists.

Gloria Jones versions

American artist Gloria Jones made the first recording of "Tainted Love" in 1964. Glen Campbell played lead guitar.<ref> "Glen Campbell's Other Life as a '60s Session Star," Culture Sonar </ref> The song was written and produced by Ed Cobb and arranged by Lincoln Mayorga. It was the B-side of her 1965 single "My Bad Boy's Comin' Home",<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> which was a commercial flop, failing to chart on either the US or the UK. According to Nick Talevski, before Jones recorded the song, Cobb had offered it to the Standells, whom he managed and produced, but they rejected it.Template:Sfn The Standells say that the song was never offered to them, and that they were not signed to Cobb's company Greengrass Productions until 1966, some two years after Jones's recording.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref>

In 1973, British club DJ Richard Searling purchased a copy of the almost decade-old single while on a trip to the United States. The track's Motown-influenced sound (featuring a fast tempo, horns, electric rhythm guitar and female backing vocals) fit in perfectly with the music favoured by those involved in the UK's Northern soul club scene of the early 1970s, and Searling popularised the song at the Northern soul club Va Va's in Bolton, and later, at Wigan Casino.Template:Sfn

Owing to the new-found underground popularity of the song, Jones re-recorded "Tainted Love" in 1976 and released it as a single, but it also failed to chart. This version was released on her album Vixen and was produced by her boyfriend Marc Bolan.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2014, NME ranked it number 305 in their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Soft Cell version

English synth-pop duo Soft Cell became aware of "Tainted Love" through its status as a UK "Northern soul" hit.Template:Sfn In 2010, DJ Ian "Frank" Dewhirst claimed he was the first person to play the song for Marc Almond, the vocalist for Soft Cell. Some time after, Soft Cell began performing the song in their live setlist, choosing it instead of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons' "The Night" (a song they would go on to record in 2003).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Sfn Eventually, a Phonogram Records A&R manager Roger Ames opted the band to record the single at a London-based Advision Studios, with producer Mike Thorne. There, Soft Cell's version was recorded in a day and a half with Almond's first vocal take being used on the record.<ref name="Thorne 1999">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Sfn

Thorne commented that he was surprised by the choice as he had not been impressed by Jones's 1976 version on hearing it, but was impressed by the new arrangement and Almond's sinister vocal: "You could smell the coke on that second, Northern Soul version, it was really so over-ramped and so frantic. It was good for the dance floor, but I didn't like the record...when Soft Cell performed the song I heard a very novel sound and a very nice voice, so off we went."<ref name="Buskin 2012">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Phonogram Records chose to release "Tainted Love" in 1981 as Soft Cell's second single (their first was "Memorabilia", which did not chart).<ref name="Buskin 2012"/> The label's representatives implied that this single would be Soft Cell's final release on Some Bizzare if it did not sell.<ref name="Buskin 2012"/> The 12-inch single version (extended dance version) is a medley, transitioning to a cover of the Supremes' "Where Did Our Love Go" halfway through the song, which gives a progressive dimension to this version Template:Opinion. Marc Almond said that this decision was not the duo's, recounting, "If only we'd put our own song on it then we would be considerably richer", while David Ball described the medley as "the most costly idea of our career".<ref name=Pelley> {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} </ref>

Following a performance on the BBC's Top of the Pops chart show, "Tainted Love" reached number one on the UK Singles Chart, and was known as the best-selling single of 1981 in the UK, until the Official Charts Company recalculated the data in 2021<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> (giving the title to "Don't You Want Me" by The Human League).<ref name="UK Chart"/> "Tainted Love" had 1.05 million sales in the UK in 1981, with that total increasing to 1.35 million copies as of August 2017.<ref name="UK Chart">Template:Cite news</ref> In 2023, it was listed as the 59th best-selling single of all time in the UK.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Buoyed by the then-dominant new wave sound of the time and released on their album Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret, "Tainted Love" became a major hit in the US during the Second British Invasion, with the song spending a then-record breaking<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> 43 weeks on the US Billboard Hot 100.<ref name="RS"/> On the US chart dated January 16, 1982, the song entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 90. It appeared to peak at number 64 and fell to number 100 on February 27. After spending a second week at number 100, it started climbing again. It took 19 weeks to crack the American Top 40 and reached number 8 during the summer of 1982.<ref name="RS"/> Template:Quote box A video was recorded specially for Soft Cell's video album Non-Stop Exotic Video Show, directed by Tim Pope and featuring David Ball as a cricketer meeting Marc Almond in a toga on what seems to be Mount Olympus.<ref name="Mojo2007">Template:Cite book</ref>

In 1996, director Spike Jonze used Soft Cell's version of the song in a television commercial for Levi's jeans, titled "Doctors", syncing the song to the sound of a heart rate monitor in a hospital.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The television commercial was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Commercial at the 49th Primetime Emmy Awards the following year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2013, Soft Cell's version of "Tainted Love" ranked number five on VH1's 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the 1980s.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It was also heavily sampled on Rihanna's 2006 single "SOS" from her album A Girl Like Me and the Veronicas' 2007 single "Hook Me Up" from their album Hook Me Up.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2015, the song was voted by the British public as the nation's fourth favourite 1980s number one in a poll for ITV.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2022, Rolling Stone ranked "Tainted Love" number 170 with "Where Did Our Love Go" in their list of the "200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Soft Cell/Marc Almond version

A re-recorded version of "Tainted Love" was issued in 1991, seven years after Soft Cell's dissolution in 1984, as a tie-in to the compilation album Memorabilia – The Singles (which reached number eight in the UK Albums Chart in June 1991).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> "Tainted Love '91" was a follow-up to "Say Hello, Wave Goodbye '91", which was another re-recorded/remixed version of an earlier single from the Soft Cell/Marc Almond compilation. "Tainted Love '91" became another top-40 hit from the collection and peaked at number five in the UK charts, making it Soft Cell's sixth top-10 hit (as records with re-recorded vocals were seen as a new hit by the chart compilers of the time)<ref>The Virgin Book of British Hit Singles, Volume 2 by Dave McAleer, Andy Gregory and Matthew White (Virgin Books/Ebury Publishing/Random House/Official Charts Company Template:ISBN)</ref>

The video for the version, directed by Peter Christopherson, features a man pacing at night and dancing with starry apparitions, while Almond sings amongst the stars.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Christopherson's band Coil had covered "Tainted Love" in 1985, with a music video that included a cameo appearance by Almond.<ref name="UnicornBooty_TaintedLove">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Charts

Weekly charts

Template:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chart

Chart (1981–1982)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref>Template:Cite book N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between 1983 and June 19, 1988.</ref>	1
Canada Top Singles (RPM)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1
France (SNEP)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }} You have to use the index at the top of the page and search "Soft Cell"</ref>	4
Ireland (IRMA)<ref name="IRL">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }} Only results when searching "Tainted love"</ref>	4
South Africa (Springbok Radio)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1
Spain (AFYVE)<ref name="Salaverri">Template:Cite book</ref>	4
UK Singles (OCC)<ref name="SC_TL_UK">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1
US Billboard Hot 100<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	8
US Disco Top 80 (Billboard)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Template:Small	4
US Rock Top Tracks (Billboard)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	12

Chart (1985)	Peak position
UK Singles (OCC)<ref name="SC_TL_UK"/>	43

Chart (1991)	Peak position
Ireland (IRMA)<ref name="IRL"/>	4
UK Singles (OCC)<ref name="SC_TL_UK"/>	5
UK Dance (Music Week)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	30

Chart (1999)	Peak position
US Dance Club Play (Billboard)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	24
US Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	6

Year-end charts

Chart (1981)	Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	28
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	58
Netherlands (Single Top 100)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	49
UK Singles (OCC)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	2

Chart (1982)	Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref name="aus82">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Australian Chart Book 1970–1992">Template:Cite book</ref>	3
Canada Top Singles (RPM)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	7
New Zealand (RIANZ)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	14
South Africa (Springbok Radio)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	5
US Billboard Hot 100<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	11
West Germany (Media Control)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	35

Marilyn Manson version

American rock band Marilyn Manson covered "Tainted Love" with an arrangement based on Soft Cell's version. It was released in November 2001 as a single from the Not Another Teen Movie soundtrack.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The accompanying music video featured cast members Chyler Leigh, Mia Kirshner, Chris Evans and Jaime Pressly.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It was later included as a bonus track on international editions of the band's following album, The Golden Age of Grotesque in 2003.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Manson said that he was not "really thinking about '80s nostalgia" during the recording, while recognizing it as a main concept behind the soundtrack.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

"Tainted Love" topped the charts in Portugal and peaked within the top ten of the charts in the United Kingdom.<ref name="MM_TL_UK"/> It also peaked within the top ten of the charts throughout the rest of Europe, including Austria, Denmark, Germany, Italy and Norway.<ref name="PT"/> It was nominated for the Kerrang! Award for Best Single in 2002,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and won the Kerrang! Award for Best Video.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was also nominated for Best Video at the 2002 Q Awards.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Charts

Weekly charts

Template:SinglechartTemplate:SinglechartTemplate:SinglechartTemplate:SinglechartTemplate:SinglechartTemplate:SinglechartTemplate:SinglechartTemplate:SinglechartTemplate:SinglechartTemplate:SinglechartTemplate:SinglechartTemplate:SinglechartTemplate:SinglechartTemplate:SinglechartTemplate:Singlechart

Chart (2001–2002)	Peak position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref name="PT"/>	3
Ireland (IRMA)<ref name="IRL"/>	11
Portugal (Billboard)<ref name="PT">Template:Cite magazine cf. last week position for Portugal peak position</ref>	1
UK Singles (OCC)<ref name="MM_TL_UK">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	5
US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	30
US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	33

Year-end charts

Chart (2002)	Position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	18
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	55
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	17
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	25
Germany (Media Control)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	24
Ireland (IRMA)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	77
Italy (FIMI)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	16
Sweden (Hitlistan)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	37
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	19
UK Singles (OCC)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	65

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Template:Abbr
United States	November 13, 2001	Template:Hlist	Template:Hlist	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
United Kingdom	March 18, 2002	CD		<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Japan	May 9, 2002		Maverick	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In popular culture

The song was sung by Beldar Conehead (Dan Aykroyd) as he prepares to fight the Garthok while back on his home planet of Remulak in the 1993 film Coneheads.

Bibliography

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External links

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