It’s rare for a cover song to outperform the commercial success of the original, as the earlier version often resonates deeply with audiences even several years after its release. Nonetheless, when it does happen, it’s usually for a variety of reasons; one is that the cover song offers a fresh perspective that appeals to a more modern audience. In more recent years, it’s been country singer Luke Combs‘ 2023 version of “Fast Car,” which was initially written and performed by Tracy Chapman. While both versions were successful, Combs’ rendition reached a higher peak on the Billboard music charts. Another early example of this was in 1982, when the British synth-pop duo Soft Cell released a cover version of the Motown classic “Tainted Love.”
Soft Cell’s Version Of “Tainted Love” Outdid the Original
Motown, the famous pop, R&B, and soul-based record label, which was first established in 1959 and rose to prominence in the 1960s thanks to its plethora of talented and now iconic musical acts such as The Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and The Supremes and The Temptations, not only redefined the music industry but its legacy has for many generations after its inception, inspired many artists. Even artists whose genre is a world away from Motown’s signature sound have drawn inspiration from the famous record label’s music and its acts. Case in point, the British synth-pop group Soft Cell, which comprised members, vocalist Marc Almond and instrumentalist David Ball. Although the duo formed in 1978 and released several of their own original tracks, they didn’t achieve commercial success until the early 1980s. And that success was all thanks to the 1964 Motown hit song, originally sung by Gloria Jones and written and produced by Ed Cobb, titled “Tainted Love”. The nearly three-minute-long soul-pop song is about feeling trapped in a toxic relationship and deciding to escape. The song was later featured on the B-side of Jones’ 1965 single “My Bad Boy’s Comin’ Home”, both of which flopped commercially. It wasn’t until Soft Cell recorded and released the song, with a decidedly different melody, in 1982 that it became not only a smash hit but also helped to define 1980s music. In 2002, during an interview about their career, Almond stated, “Tainted Love” is still a very big single. It was issued as a remix recently. Wherever you go, you can’t run away from it. Soft Cell really comes from disco and dance music.”
Soft Cell’s David Ball Dies At Age 66
Soft Cell would go on to have other hit songs following the enormous commercial success of “Tainted Love,” such as “Soul Inside”, “Where the Heart Is,” and “Say Hello, Wave Goodbye.” However, the duo disbanded in 1984 following personal and professional hardships, but would later reunite in 2004. However, according to a recent BBC report, the group had been working on a new album until David Ball’s untimely passing. In a statement released by the late 66-year-old musician’s family and publicist, they stated that Ball died peacefully in his sleep at his home in London on Wednesday, 22 October. The cause of death has yet to be released. The shocking news comes on the heels of Ball being plagued by years of bad health, which was evident when, earlier this year, he and fellow Soft Cell member Marc Almond performed before a large crowd at the Rewind Festival in England, in which Ball performed in a wheelchair. “I managed to damage myself quite a bit,” he informed the Yorkshire Post during an interview in 2003. “I fractured lower vertebrae in my spine and cracked about five ribs and broke my wrist”.
Also, according to the BBC, in the last few years of his life, Ball had come down with pneumonia and developed sepsis, and was subsequently placed in an induced coma and remained in hospital for seven months. He had recovered sufficiently to work alongside his music partner on their upcoming album, Danceteria, scheduled for release next year. In a social media post, Almond shared this about Ball’s passing “The pair of us have been on a journey together heading on for 50 years with ups and downs, successes and failures, though to us it was never failure, just all part of the adventure, and it was one hell of an adventure,” the new wave rocker shared. Thank you Dave for being an immense part of my life and for the music you gave me,” he later concluded his touching tribute. “I wouldn’t be where I am without you.”
