Search Results for:

SOFT CELL

Patrick Clarke

Bedsit Land : The Strange Worlds Of Soft Cell

    A rich and revealing examination of the legendary pop duo Soft Cell. Soft Cell are not your average pop band. Marc Almond and Dave Ball may be best known for the string of hits they released in 1981, but the powerful first phase of their collaboration embraced a staggering array of sounds, influences and innovations that would change the face of music to come.

    In Bedsit land, Patrick Clarke plunges into the archives and interviews more than sixty contributors, including the band members themselves, to follow Soft Cell through the many strange and sprawling worlds that shaped their extraordinary career. They lead him from the faded camp glamour of the British seaside to the dizzying thrills of the New York club scene. From transgressive student performance art to the sleaze and squalor of pre-gentrified Soho.

    From the glitz of British showbiz to the drug-addled chaos of post-Franco Spain.

    Soft Cell

    Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret - 2CD Hardcover Book Edition

      The debut album from Marc Almond and Dave Ball, AKA Soft Cell, is truly an icon of electronic music. Not only did ‘Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret’ introduce the world to the classic singles ‘Tainted Love’ (one of the biggest global hits of all time) ‘Bedsitter’ and ‘Say Hello Wave Goodbye’, it also shocked and delighted in equal measure with a 10-track song cycle straight outta the seedier, sleazier, darker side of life. ‘Sex Dwarf’, ‘Frustration’, ‘My Secret Life’, ‘Seedy Films’… four decades on, it still has the power to thrill, shock and swoon.

      Following 2023’s sell-out 6CD Super Deluxe box, plus expanded vinyl editions and Atmos mix, Mercury-EMI / UMR present a 2CD Deluxe Edition cut-down containing highlights from the box set.

      CD1 contains the original album remastered at Air Studios by Barry Grint, the classic full-length 12” of ‘Tainted Love’ / ‘Where Did Our Love Go’, plus the original B-sides for ‘Tainted Love’, ‘Bedsitter’, ‘Say Hello, Wave Goodbye’ and the stunning standalone single ‘Memorabilia’.

      CD2 features ‘Non-Stop Extended Cabaret’, the original album in its entirety formed from extended versions by Soft Cell’s Dave Ball. The full-length ‘Memorabilia’ also makes an appearance here, along with a brand new extended version of its original 7” flipside ‘A Man Could Get Lost’.

      The book-style hardcover packaging also contains a 24-page book packed with pictures and an essay by legendary music journalist, Adrian Thrills.

      TRACK LISTING

      CD1: The Original 2004 Album
      Frustration
      Tainted Love
      Seedy Films
      Youth
      Sex Dwarf
      Entertain Me
      Chips On My Shoulder
      Bedsitter
      Secret Life
      Say Hello, Wave Goodbye
      Tainted Love / Where Did Our Love Go? (12” Version)
      Memorabilia (Single Version)
      A Man Could Get Lost (Single Version)
      Persuasion (2023 Edit)
      Where Did Our Love Go? (Single B-Side)
      Facility Girls (Single B-Side)
      Say Hello, Wave Goodbye (Instrumental B-Side)
      Fun City (Edit)
      Tainted Love (Aborted 1981 Studio Take)

      CD2: Non-Stop Extended Cabaret
      Frustration (Extended Version)
      Tainted Love (2021 10" Extended Version)
      Seedy Films (2023 Extended Version)
      Youth (2018 ‘Wasted On The Young’ Extended Version)
      Sex Dwarf (2023 Extended Version)
      Entertain Me (2023 Extended Version)
      Chips On My Shoulder (2018 Extended Version)
      Bedsitter (1981 Original 12” Mix)
      Secret Life (2018 Extended Version)
      Say Hello, Wave Goodbye (2018 Dave Ball ‘Lateral Mix’)
      A Man Could Get Lost (2023 Extended Version)
      Memorabilia (Extended Version)
      A Man Could Get Lost (2023 Extended Version)

      Soft Cell

      Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret - 2023 Reissue

        The debut album from Marc Almond and Dave Ball AKA Soft is truly an icon of electronic music. Not only did ‘Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret’ introduce the world to classic singles ‘Tainted Love’ (one of the biggest global hits of all time) ‘Bedsitter’ and ‘Say Hello Wave Goodbye’, it also shocked and delighted in equal measure with a 10-track song cycle straight outta the seedier, sleazier, darker side of life. ‘Sex Dwarf’, ‘Frustration’, ‘My Secret Life’, ‘Seedy Films’… four decades on, it still has the power to thrill, shock and swoon.

        In 2023, Mercury-EMI / UMR present the ultimate celebration of ‘Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret’ in a series of exciting new formats, all with a host of supplementary extras and rarities from the ‘Cabaret’ era.

        TRACK LISTING

        6CD (* Denotes Previously Unreleased)
        CD1 - Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret: 2023 Remaster + Singles, B-Sides & Edits
        Frustration 04:12
        Tainted Love 02:35
        Seedy Films 05:05
        Youth 03:21
        Sex Dwarf 05:47
        Entertain Me 03:00
        Chips On My Shoulder 04:06
        Bedsitter 03:36
        Secret Life 03:37
        Say Hello, Wave Goodbye 05:34
        Memorabilia (Single Version) 04:49
        A Man Could Get Lost (Single Version) 03:17
        Persuasion (Edit Of 12” Single B-Side) 03:36 *
        Where Did Our Love Go? (Single B-Side) 03:14
        Facility Girls (Single B-Side) 02:23
        Fun City (Edit Of 12” Single B-Side) 04:24
        Torch (Single Version) 04:08
        Insecure Me (Single B-Side) 03:10
        What! (Single Version) 02:51
        …So (Single B-Side) 03:49
        CD2 - Non-Stop Extended Cabaret: Full-Length Versions & New Remixes
        Frustration (Extended Version) 06:02 *
        Tainted Love (2021 10" Extended Version) 05:05
        Seedy Films (2023 Extended Version) 05:16 *
        Youth (2018 ‘Wasted On The Young’ Extended Version) 05:41
        Sex Dwarf (2023 Extended Version) 05:45 *
        Entertain Me (2023 Extended Version) 06:05 *
        Chips On My Shoulder (2018 Extended Version) 06:16
        Bedsitter (1981 Original 12” Mix) 07:52
        Secret Life (2018 Extended Version) 05:20
        Say Hello, Wave Goodbye (2018 Dave Ball ‘Lateral Mix’) 07:07
        A Man Could Get Lost (2023 Extended Version) 05:08 *
        Memorabilia (Daniel Miller 2023 Remix) 05:16
        Memorabilia (The Hacker 2023 Remix) 06:37
        CD3 - Non-Stop Exotic Cabaret: Curios, Rarities, Sessions & Alternate Mixes
        Frustration (Original ‘Mutant Moments’ Version) 03:32
        Tainted Love (New 2023 Version) 03:01 *
        Seedy Films (Richard X Remix) 05:20
        Youth (Dave Ball ‘Warhol Funeral’ Mix) 03:05 *
        Sex Dwarf (Live On BBC ‘Old Grey Whistle Test’ 4th February 1982) 05:16
        Entertain Me (Richard Skinner Session, Radio 1, 26th July 1981) 03:45
        Chips On My Shoulder (Live From ‘The Oxford Road Show’ 22nd January 1982) 03:28 *
        Bedsitter ((Richard Skinner Session, Radio 1, 26th July 1981) 03:34
        Secret Life (George Demure Remix) 05:10
        Say Hello, Wave Goodbye (Live From ‘The Oxford Road Show’ 22nd January 1982) 04:33 *
        A Man Could Get Lost (Live At Leeds Warehouse, 16th July 2018) 03:30 *
        Torch (Live From ‘Top Of The Pops 2’, 28th January 2002) 04:05 *
        Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go (US Radio Edit) 04:01 *
        Seedy Films (Richard Skinner Session, Radio 1, 26th July 1981) 03:58
        Youth (Live On BBC ‘Old Grey Whistle Test’ 4th February 1982) 03:15 *
        Chips On My Shoulder (Richard Skinner Session, Radio 1, 26th July 1981) 04:20
        Tainted Love (Live From ‘Top Of The Pops’ 1981 Reunion, 2001) 03:14 *
        Bedsitter (‘Flexipop’ Version) 03:45 *
        Memorabilia (2023 Dub Mix) 5:44 *
        Tainted Love (Aborted 1981 Studio Take) 1:07 *
        CD4 - Non-Stop Instrumental Cabaret: Instrumentals & Bonus Demos
        Frustration (Instrumental) 04:15 *
        Tainted Love (Instrumental) 03:01 *
        Seedy Films (Instrumental) 05:10 *
        Youth (Instrumental) 03:25 *
        Sex Dwarf (Instrumental) 05:15 *
        Entertain Me (Instrumental) 02:57 *
        Chips On My Shoulder (Instrumental) 04:09 *
        Bedsitter (Instrumental) 03:39 *
        Secret Life (Instrumental) 04:03 *
        Say Hello, Wave Goodbye (Single B-Side Instrumental) 03:54
        A Man Could Get Lost (Original Daniel Miller Instrumental Version) 03:30 *
        Torch (Instrumental) 04:12 *
        What! (Instrumental) 03:11 *
        Insecure Me (Instrumental) 03:12 *
        Tainted Love (Original 1981 Daniel Miller Demo) 02:47
        Seedy Films (Original 1981 Demo) 04:02 *
        Sex Dwarf (Original 1981 Demo) 06:53 *
        Chips On My Shoulder (Original Demo) 03:50 *
        Secret Life (Original 1981 Demo) 03:39 *
        Say Hello, Wave Goodbye (Original 1981 Demo) 04:39 *
        CD5 - Non-Stop Original Cabaret: The 1981 / 1982 12” Mixes & B Sides
        Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go? (Original 12" Version) 08:57
        Memorabilia (Original 12" Version) 07:47
        Torch (Original 12" Version) 08:28
        What! (Original 12" Version) 06:09
        Tainted Dub (Original Version) 09:14
        Persuasion (Original 12" Version) 07:35
        Facility Girls (Original 12" Version) 07:16
        Fun City (Original Version) 07:33
        Insecure Me (Original 12" Version) 08:16
        …So (Original 12" Version) 08:29
        CD6 - Non-Stop Intimate Cabaret: Live In Concert, London 2021 & 2018
        Frustration (Live At Eventim Apollo London, November 2021)
        Tainted Love (Live At Eventim Apollo London, November 2021)
        Seedy Films (Live At Eventim Apollo London, November 2021)
        Youth (Live At Eventim Apollo London, November 2021)
        Sex Dwarf (Live At Eventim Apollo London, November 2021)
        Entertain Me (Live At Eventim Apollo London, November 2021)
        Chips On My Shoulder (Live At Eventim Apollo London, November 2021)
        Bedsitter (Live At Eventim Apollo London, November 2021)
        Secret Life (Live At Eventim Apollo London, November 2021)
        Say Hello, Wave Goodbye (Live At Eventim Apollo London, November 2021)
        Torch (Live At Eventim Apollo London, November 2021)
        Memorabilia (Live At Eventim Apollo London, November 2021)
        Insecure Me (Live At 02 Arena London, 30 September 2018
        What! (Live At 02 Arena London, 30 September 2018
        Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go? (Live At 02 Arena London, 30 September 2018

        2LP Black/Coloured
        LP1 - Side A

        Frustration 04:12
        Tainted Love 02:35
        Seedy Films 05:05
        Youth 03:21
        Sex Dwarf 05:47
        LP1 - Side B
        Entertain Me 03:00
        Chips On My Shoulder 04:06
        Bedsitter 03:36
        Secret Life 03:37
        Say Hello, Wave Goodbye 05:34
        LP2 - Side C
        Memorabilia (Single Version) 04:49
        A Man Could Get Lost (Single Version) 03:17
        Persuasion (Edit Of 12” Single B-Side) 03:36
        Where Did Our Love Go? (Single B-Side) 03:14
        Facility Girls (Single B-Side) 02:23
        Say Hello, Wave Goodbye (Single B-side, Instrumental) 03:54
        LP2 - Side D
        Fun City (Edit Of 12” Single B-Side) 04:24
        Torch (Single Version) 04:08
        Insecure Me (Single B-Side) 03:10
        What! (Single Version) 02:51
        …So (Single B-Side) 03:49

        Soft Cell

        Memorabillia - 2023 Reissue

          The birth point of ecstasy in British music is usually credited to acid house and the second summer of love: a cemented vision of kids sweating and vibrating in clubs, fields and warehouses in 1988, united by universal empathy and mind-popping sounds. However, in 1981, a couple of young men from Leeds went to New York, discovered the drug in its infancy, fused its’ gritty synth pop to acid house’s squelchy 303 groove and recorded an album: Soft Cell’s Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret. The rest, as they say, is history.

          Shortly before that Soft Cell’s debut single Memorabilia was born. Originally recorded a decade before the explosion of acid house and rooted in predominantly black NYC, Chicago and Detroit gay clubs, Memorabilia is a seminal early prelude to rave culture. Merging a

          strutting disco bass line with a futuristic proto acid-techno beat, Marc Almond has past described Memorabilia as “the first acid house techno record ever”.

          Dave Ball remembers: “Memorabilia got to about number 99 in the charts, but the clubs picked up on it. In NME or Sounds they had a chart for the Danceteria in New York, and we were in it. Our label Phonogram saw this and thought: ‘why is this weird little duo from Leeds that no one’s heard of suddenly getting played in one of the hippest clubs in New York?’ So I think they thought: ‘we’ll give them another chance’.”

          Berlin’s very own upcomers Wally Funk round off the remix package, upping the original tempo slightly, while combining elements the of original production with the later Non-Stop Ecstatic Dancing version to create a new hybrid, best played extremely loud!


          TRACK LISTING

          A1. Daniel Miller 2023 Remix
          A2. Daniel Miller 2023 Remix Instrumental
          B1. The Hacker 2023 Remix
          B2. Wally Funk 2023 Remix

          Soft Cell

          *Happiness Not Included

            Soft Cell - legendary frontman Marc Almond and producer/instrumentalist Dave Ball - return with their fifth studio album and first in 20 years, ‘*Happiness Not Included’, to be released in Spring 2022. It represents their first new album since they issued ‘Cruelty Without Beauty’ back in 2002. 

            TRACK LISTING

            CD Tracklist:
            1. Happy Happy Happy
            2. Polaroid
            3. Bruises On My Illusions
            4. Purple Zone
            5. Heart Like Chernobyl
            6. Light Sleepers
            7. Happiness Not Included
            8. Nostalgia Machine
            9. Nighthawks
            10. I’m Not A Friend Of God
            11. Tranquiliser
            12. New Eden

            LP Tracklist:
            SIDE A
            1. Happy Happy Happy
            2. Polaroid
            3. Bruises On My Illusions
            4. Purple Zone
            5. Heart Like Chernobyl
            6. Light Sleepers
            SIDE B
            1. Happiness Not Included
            2. Nostalgia Machine
            3. I’m Not A Friend Of God
            4. Tranquiliser
            5. New Eden

            Soft Cell

            Cruelty Without Beauty (2020 Extended Mixes)

            Soft Cell’s 2002 reunion album ‘Cruelty Without Beauty’ gets an official reissue this week, along with this mega 12" of new remixes.

            Long regarded by many fans as an overlooked masterpiece, the album features a lyrical outlook that was as true to Soft Cell’s maturity and perspective back in 2002 as it is relevant and accurate to the world situation in 2020. Harshly honest, fatalistic and bleakly humorous, Cruelty Without Beauty also preserves the band’s highly distinctive and edgy sound, and stands alongside their greatest work.

            This white vinyl 12” features new updated 2020 mixes of Monoculture, Together Alone, Darker Times, Last Chance and more.

            TRACK LISTING

            A1. Darker Times
            A2. Monoculture
            A3. Le Grand Guignol

            B1. Last Chance
            B2. Together Alone
            B3. Caligula Syndrome


            Latest Pre-Sales

            213 NEW ITEMS

            E-newsletter —
            Sign up
            Back to top