Tainted Love
"Tainted Love" | ||||
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File:Tainted Love - Gloria Jones.jpg | ||||
Single by Gloria Jones | ||||
A-side | "My Bad Boy's Comin' Home" | |||
Released | May 1965 | |||
Recorded | 1964 | |||
Genre | Northern soul[1] | |||
Label | Champion (distributed by Vee-Jay) | |||
Songwriter(s) | Ed Cobb | |||
Producer(s) | Ed Cobb | |||
Gloria Jones singles chronology | ||||
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"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.[2] It attained worldwide fame after being covered by Soft Cell in 1981 and has since been covered by numerous groups and artists.[3]
Gloria Jones version (1965)
American artist Gloria Jones recorded the original version of "Tainted Love", which was written and produced by Ed Cobb. It was the B-side of her 1965 single "My Bad Boy's Comin' Home",[4] which was a commercial flop, failing to chart in 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.[5] 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.[6]
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.[7]
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.[8]
In 2014, NME ranked it number 305 in their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[9]
Soft Cell version (1981)
"Tainted Love" | ||||
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![]() | ||||
Single by Soft Cell | ||||
from the album Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret | ||||
A-side | "Tainted Love" / "Where Did Our Love Go" | |||
B-side | "Memorabilia" / "Tainted Dub" | |||
Released | July 17, 1981 (UK)[10] January 16, 1982 (US) | |||
Recorded | 1981 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 2:34 (album version) 2:41 (single version) 8:58 (extended dance version with "Where Did Our Love Go?" cover) | |||
Label | Some Bizzare Sire/Warner Bros. Records (US) | |||
Songwriter(s) | Ed Cobb | |||
Producer(s) | Mike Thorne | |||
Soft Cell singles chronology | ||||
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English vocal-and-synth duo Soft Cell became aware of the song through its status as a UK "Northern Soul" hit.[13] A DJ Ian “Frank” Dewhirst recalled in 2010 that he put “Tainted Love” on when Marc Almond, the duo’s singer who worked as a cloakroom guy, came to ask if it was Jones’ recording, before asking to tape it. Some time after, Soft Cell began performing the song in their live setlist, choosing it instead of Frankie Valli’s “The Night”.[14] Eventually, a Phonogram Records A&R manager Roger Aimes 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.[15][16] Thorne commented that he was surprised by the choice as he had not been impressed by the 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."[17]
The Soft Cell recording featured a slower tempo than Jones' version, and was in the key of G rather than the original C to match Marc Almond's lower voice. Synthesizers and rhythm machines replaced the original's guitars, bass, drums, and horns.
The band's record label[clarification needed] chose to release "Tainted Love" on July 7, 1981 as Soft Cell's second single (their first was "Memorabilia", which did not chart).[17] The Phonogram Records representatives implied that this single would be Soft Cell's final release on Some Bizzare if it did not sell.[17] The 12" single version (extended dance version) was a medley, transitioning to a cover of the Supremes' "Where Did Our Love Go" halfway through the song. Buoyed by the then-dominant synthpop sound of the time and a memorable performance on Top of the Pops, "Tainted Love" rapidly reached number 1 on the UK singles chart. "Tainted Love" was the best-selling single of 1981 in the UK and has sold 1.35 million copies as of August 2017.[18]
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 US Top 40. The song reached number 8 during the summer of 1982 and spent a then record-breaking 43 weeks on the Hot 100.
A video was recorded specially for Soft Cell's video album Non-Stop Exotic Video Show featuring band members David Ball as a cricketer meeting Marc Almond in a toga on what seems to be Mount Olympus.[19]
A remixed version of the song was issued in 1991, seven years after Soft Cell's dissolution in 1984. The video for the remix, directed by Peter Christopherson, features a man pacing at night and dancing with starry apparitions, while Almond sings amongst the stars.[20] Christopherson's band Coil had covered "Tainted Love" in 1985, with a music video that included a cameo appearance by Almond.[21]
Soft Cell's version of "Tainted Love" ranked number 5 on VH1's 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the 1980s.[22] It was also heavily sampled on Rihanna's 2006 single "SOS" and the Veronicas's 2007 single "Hook Me Up".[23] In 2015 the song was voted by the British public as the nation's fourth favourite 1980s number one in a poll for ITV.[24]
In 1997 the track was used as the inspiration and hook for an advert for Levi's jeans directed by Spike Jonze which uses a hospital heart monitor to recreate the 'bink bink' sound as the badly injured patient and surgeons sing the song.[25]
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada)[46] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[47] | Gold | 500,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Marilyn Manson version (2001)
"Tainted Love" | ||||
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![]() | ||||
Single by Marilyn Manson | ||||
from the album Not Another Teen Movie soundtrack and The Golden Age of Grotesque | ||||
Released | November 2001 | |||
Genre | Electronic rock[48] | |||
Length | 3:20 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | Ed Cobb | |||
Producer(s) | ||||
Marilyn Manson singles chronology | ||||
|
American band Marilyn Manson covered "Tainted Love" with an arrangement based on Soft Cell's version. It was released in 2001 as a single from the Not Another Teen Movie soundtrack.[49] The accompanying music video featured cast members Chyler Leigh, Chris Evans and Jaime Pressly.[50][51] It was later included as a bonus track on international editions of the band's following album, The Golden Age of Grotesque.[52] The eponymous vocalist said that he wasn't "really thinking about '80s nostalgia" during the recording, while recognizing it as a main concept behind the soundtrack.[53]
Released in the United Kingdom on March 23, 2002, the song became their biggest hit in that country, entering the UK Singles Chart at number 6 the week before its official release date.[54] The track reached its peak position of number 5 the following week, and spent a total of 11 weeks in the Top 75.[55] The song also became a top five hit throughout Europe, and topped the Portuguese chart.[56] It was nominated for the Kerrang! Award for Best Single in 2002,[57] and won the Kerrang! Award for Best Video.[58] It was also nominated for Best Video at the 2002 Q Awards.[59]
Charts
(2001–02) | Peak position |
---|---|
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[60] | 2 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[61] | 11 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[62] | 7 |
Denmark (Tracklisten)[63] | 3 |
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[56] | 3 |
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[64] | 11 |
France (SNEP)[65] | 25 |
Invalid chart entered Germany2 | 3 |
Ireland (IRMA)[31] | 11 |
Italy (FIMI)[66] | 2 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[67] | 44 |
Norway (VG-lista)[68] | 7 |
Poland (Polish Singles Chart)[69] | 20 |
Portugal (Billboard)[56] | 1 |
Scotland (OCC)[70] | 4 |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[71] | 4 |
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[72] | 11 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[73] | 2 |
UK (Official Charts Company)[55] | 5 |
US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks[74] | 30 |
US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks[74] | 33 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Austria (IFPI Austria)[75] | Gold | 25,000* |
Belgium (BEA)[76] | Gold | 25,000* |
Germany (BVMI)[77] | Gold | 250,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[78] | Silver | 200,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ^ Miller 2011, p. 119.
- ^ "Tainted Love — Songlexikon". Songlexikon.de. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
- ^ Various Versions Of Tainted Love. YouTube. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
- ^ Rob Finnis; Tony Rounce (2008). You Heard It Here First! (CD booklet). London: Ace Records Ltd. p. 2. CDCHD 1204.
- ^ Talevski 2006, p. 90.
- ^ Standells (February 21, 2015). "The Standells rejected "Tainted Love"? Okay, let's clear this up once-and-for-all". Facebook. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
- ^ Haslam 1999, p. 172, chapter 6.
- ^ Saint Cad (October 14, 2012). "10 More Famous Songs With Unknown Originals". Listverse.com. Listverse Ltd. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
- ^ "Rocklist.net....NME The 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time.. 2014". NME. August 8, 2014. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
- ^ http://www.45cat.com/record/bzs2
- ^ Tim Sendra. "Pop & Wave, Vol. 1 - Various Artists". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
the collection has some of the biggest hits of the new wave era. Songs like "Cars" by Gary Numan, "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell (...) are the type of tunes that define the era.
- ^ William Ruhlmann. "Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret - Soft Cell". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
...the remake of Gloria Jones' "Tainted Love," which dominated dance clubs and eventually peaked in the pop Top Ten with its synth-pop sound and Almond's plaintive vocal in 1981-1982.
- ^ Davis 2012, September 1981. Soft Cell: Tainted Love.
- ^ Almond 2002, pp. 115–116.
- ^ Mike Thorne (March 1999). "Soft Cell: Tainted Love". The Stereo Society. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
- ^ Almond 2002, p. 116.
- ^ a b c Buskin, Richard (April 2012). "Classic Tracks: Tainted Love". Sound on Sound. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
- ^ Copsey, Rob (August 31, 2017). "Official Charts Flashback 1981: Soft Cell - Tainted Love". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
- ^ Irvin, Jim; McLear, Colin, eds. (2007). The Mojo Collection (4th ed.). Canongate Books. p. 464. ISBN 978-1-8476-7643-6.
{{cite book}}
: Invalid|ref=harv
(help) - ^ "WEEKEND | The bizarreness of Soft Cell's 'Tainted Love' videos". Yale Daily News. March 23, 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
- ^ Matt Keeley (August 14, 2016). "WATCH: The First Ever AIDS Charity Music Single was Incredibly Dark and Boldly Gay". Unicorn Booty. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
- ^ Ali, Rahsheeda (May 2, 2013). "100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the '80s | Music News + Gossip | VH1 Music — Page 97". Vh1.com. Archived from the original on September 12, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
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suggested) (help) - ^ Wood, Mikael (June 24, 2008). "Review - The Veronicas' Hook Me Up". The Village Voice. Village Voice Media. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
- ^ Westbrook, Caroline (July 25, 2015). "The Nation's Favourite 80s Number One: 12 more classic 80s chart-toppers which didn't make the cut". Metro. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
- ^ "A Vivid-bound Spike Jonze on smashing cameras and smashing success". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives: Australian Chart Book. p. 105. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between 1983 and 19 June 1988.
- ^ "Soft Cell – Tainted Love" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
- ^ "Soft Cell – Tainted Love" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
- ^ "Top Singles — Volume 36, No. 3, February 27, 1982". Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "InfoDisc : Tous les Titres par Artiste". Dominic DURAND / InfoDisc (in French). InfoDisc.fr. June 24, 2013. Archived from the original on October 26, 2013. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) You have to use the index at the top of the page and search "Soft Cell" - ^ a b c "The Irish Charts — All there is to know". IRMA. Retrieved July 25, 2013. Only results when searching "Tainted love"
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Soft Cell — Tainted Love" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
- ^ "Soft Cell – Tainted Love" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
- ^ "Soft Cell – Tainted Love". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
- ^ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 - 1989 Acts (S)". Rock.co.za. John Samson. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
- ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- ^ "Soft Cell – Tainted Love". Singles Top 100. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
- ^ "Soft Cell – Tainted Love". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
- ^ a b c "Soft Cell". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e "Soft Cell awards at Allmusic". Allmusic. All Media Network. Archived from the original on June 12, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
- ^ "Chartfile Top 100" Record Mirror 26 December 1981: 27
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
{{cite book}}
:|format=
requires|url=
(help) - ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on August 11, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "End of Year Charts 1982". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
- ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1982/Top 100 Songs of 1982". Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ^ "Canadian single certifications – Soft Cell – Tainted Love". Music Canada. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
- ^ "British single certifications – Soft Cell – Tainted Love". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 28, 2018. Select singles in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Tainted Love in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- ^ "The Golden Age of Grotesque BBC review". BBC. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
- ^ Wiederhorn, Jon (November 22, 2001). "Marilyn Manson Says Scoring Comes Naturally For Him". MTV. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
- ^ "'Not Another' Alt Rock Covers Soundtrack". Billboard. November 5, 2001. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
- ^ Rampton, Mike (November 19, 2016). "Video Breakdown: Marilyn Manson – Tainted Love". Louder Sound. Future Publishing. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
- ^ Promis, Jose (September 27, 2003). "Missing Tracks Mean Fewer U.S. Album Sales". Billboard. 115 (39): 14. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on August 1, 2017. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
{{cite journal}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Winwood, Ian (February 23, 2002). "Paranoia. Jail Sentences. September 11. And Kittens?" (transcription). Kerrang!. No. 892. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
- ^ Tobias Zywietz. "Chart Log UK: M — My Vitriol". Dipl.-Bibl.(FH) Tobias Zywietz. Zobbel.de. Retrieved August 14, 2008.
- ^ a b "Marilyn Manson". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
- ^ a b c Danyel Smith, ed. (May 18, 2002). "Hits of The World". Billboard. Vol. 114, no. 20. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved April 21, 2017. cf. last week position for Portugal peak position
- ^ "Kerrang! awards 2002 - nominations in full". BBC Online. BBC. August 20, 2002. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Kerrang! awards 2002: The winners". BBC Online. BBC. August 28, 2002. Archived from the original on July 15, 2004. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Entertainment | Q Awards 2002: Winners". BBC Online. BBC. October 14, 2002. Archived from the original on September 20, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Marilyn Manson – Tainted Love" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
- ^ "Marilyn Manson – Tainted Love" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
- ^ "Marilyn Manson – Tainted Love" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
- ^ "Marilyn Manson – Tainted Love". Tracklisten. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
- ^ "Marilyn Manson: Tainted Love" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
- ^ "Marilyn Manson – Tainted Love" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
- ^ "Marilyn Manson – Tainted Love". Top Digital Download. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
- ^ "Marilyn Manson – Tainted Love" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
- ^ "Marilyn Manson – Tainted Love". VG-lista. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
- ^ "TAINTED LOVE — Marilyn Manson". Nowe Media, Polskie Radio. LP3.polskieradio.pl. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
- ^ "Marilyn Manson – Tainted Love" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
- ^ "Marilyn Manson – Tainted Love". Singles Top 100. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
- ^ "Marilyn Manson – Tainted Love". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
- ^ a b "Marilyn Manson awards at Allmusic". Allmusic. All Media Network. Archived from the original on February 14, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
- ^ "Austrian single certifications – Marilyn Manson – Tainted Love" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
- ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2002". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Marilyn Manson; 'Tainted Love')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
- ^ "British single certifications – Marilyn Manson – Tainted Love". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 29, 2018. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Tainted Love in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
Bibliography
- Almond, Marc (2002). Порочная жизнь (автобиография) [Tainted Life] (in Russian). Translated in Russian by Katya Strelnitzki. Москва: Современная музыка. ISBN 5-93138-045-0.
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(help) - Bielefeldt, Christian; Pendzich, Mark (2011). "Spot checks of pop history: The cover recordings of 'Stand By Me' and 'Tainted Love'". Lied und populäre Kultur / Song and Popular Culture. 56: 97–111. JSTOR 23339032.
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suggested) (help) - Davis, Sharon (2012). "September 1981. Soft Cell: Tainted Love". 80s Chart-Toppers: Every Chart-Topper Tells a Story. Random House. ISBN 978-1-7805-7411-0.
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(help) - Haslam, Dave (1999). Manchester, England: The Story of the Pop Cult City. Fourth Estate. ISBN 978-1-8411-5145-8.
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(help) - Miller, Chuck (2011). Tracy L. Schmidt (ed.). Warman's American Records. Krause Publications. p. 119. ISBN 978-1-4402-2821-6.
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(help) - Nick Talevski (2006). Knocking on Heaven's Door: Rock Obituaries. Omnibus Press. p. 90. ISBN 1-84609-091-1. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
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(help)
- Single chart usages for Germany2
- 1964 songs
- 1981 singles
- 2001 singles
- European Hot 100 Singles number-one singles
- Marilyn Manson (band) songs
- Number-one singles in Australia
- Number-one singles in Germany
- Number-one singles in South Africa
- RPM Top Singles number-one singles
- Soft Cell songs
- Songs written by Ed Cobb
- UK Singles Chart number-one singles
- Northern soul songs
- Sire Records singles
- Warner Bros. Records singles
- Nothing Records singles
- Interscope Records singles
- Universal Records singles
- Vee-Jay Records singles
- Brit Award for British Single