Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing

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Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing
Soft Cell - Non-Stop Ecstatic Dancing album cover.jpg
Remix album by
Soft Cell
ReleasedJune 1982
Recorded1982
Genre
Length27:53
Label Some Bizzare
Producer Mike Thorne
Soft Cell chronology
Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret
(1981)
Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing
(1982)
The Art of Falling Apart
(1983)
Singles from Non-Stop Ecstatic Dancing
  1. "What"
    Released: August 1982

Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing is a 'mini' or 'remix' album by English synth-pop duo Soft Cell, released in the United Kingdom in June 1982, by Some Bizzare Records. [3] In addition to remixes of the group's older material, it included a brand-new track, a cover of Judy Street's 1966 song "What", which reached number three on the UK Singles Chart. In some territories the album was released as an EP.

Contents

As the name implies, Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing was conceived, by the band's own admission, under the influence of MDMA (commonly referred to as ecstasy). Vocalist Marc Almond later said in an interview with journalist Simon Tebbutt that the album's sound, as well as the sound of the band, was influenced by a short stint working at The Warehouse, a popular nightclub in Leeds. [4] The album is more dance-oriented than the group's first album Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret , with remixes and instrumental versions of two songs from its predecessor, and both sides of the Memorabilia single, as well as the new track "What". In the United Kingdom, this mini-LP format was just becoming prominent. Subsequent reissues would see the original mini-album length track listing bolstered with several extended versions of other Soft Cell material of the period. [3] [5]

Originally, the album was set to be produced by Donald Fagen of Steely Dan, and several tracks co-written by him were recorded, but those songs were shelved due to label disputes with MCA Records. The whole album had to be scrapped due to songwriting liabilities and Soft Cell famously had to write and record the album in the span of one week. [6]

The band went on hiatus for a small period of time after the album's release, with David Ball taking time to reconcile with his girlfriend and Almond performing with Marc and the Mambas. This fuelled rumours that the band was splitting up, though they would release two more albums, The Art of Falling Apart (1983) and This Last Night in Sodom (1984). [3]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [7]
The Philadelphia Inquirer Star full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Smash Hits Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [8]

In a contemporary review, Ken Tucker of The Philadelphia Inquirer gave the release a one star rating out of five, declaring it "more sterile English dance music" and that the release was "more of the same junk. And I do mean same: Two of the cuts here are simply re-recorded versions of previously released material." [1]

Track listing

All tracks are written by David Ball and Marc Almond, except where noted

UK and European edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Memorabilia" 5:22
2."Where Did Our Love Go"4:12
3."What" H. B. Barnum 4:33
4."A Man Could Get Lost" 4:05
5."Chips on My Shoulder" 4:26
6."Sex Dwarf" 5:15
Total length:27:53
1998 UK remastered CD bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
7."Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go" (extended)
  • Ed Cobb
  • B. Holland
  • Dozier
  • E. Holland
8:57
8."Memorabilia" (extended) 7:45
9."What!" (extended)Barnum6:11
10."So" (extended)Ball8:50
11."Torch" (extended) 8:30
12."Insecure Me" (extended) 8:15
Total length:76:21
North American edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Memorabilia" 5:22
2."Where Did Our Love Go"
  • B. Holland
  • Dozier
  • E. Holland
4:24
3."What"Barnum4:33
4."A Man Could Get Lost" 3:58
5."Insecure...Me?" 7:30
6."Sex Dwarf" 5:15
Total length:31:02

Notes

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing. [9]

Soft Cell

Additional musicians

Technical

Artwork

Charts

Chart performance for Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing
Chart (1982)Peak
position
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [10] 42
UK Albums (OCC) [11] 6
US Billboard 200 [12] 57

Certifications

Certifications for Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [13] Gold100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soft Cell</span> English synthpop duo

Soft Cell are an English synth-pop duo who came to prominence in the early 1980s. The duo consists of vocalist Marc Almond and instrumentalist David Ball. The band are primarily known for their 1981 hit version of "Tainted Love" and their platinum-selling debut album Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marc Almond</span> English singer (born 1957)

Peter Mark "Marc" Almond is an English singer best known from the synth-pop/new wave duo Soft Cell and for his distinctive soulful voice and androgynous image. He has also had a diverse career as a solo artist. His collaborations include a duet with Gene Pitney on the 1989 UK number one single "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart". Almond's career spanning over four decades has enjoyed critical and commercial acclaim, and he has sold over 30 million records worldwide. He spent a month in a coma after a near-fatal motorcycle accident in 2004 and later became a patron of the brain trauma charity Headway.

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<i>This Last Night in Sodom</i> 1984 studio album by Soft Cell

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<i>Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret</i> 1981 studio album by Soft Cell

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<i>The Art of Falling Apart</i> 1983 studio album by Soft Cell

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<i>Memorabilia – The Singles</i> 1991 compilation album by Soft Cell and Marc Almond

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Say Hello, Wave Goodbye</span> 1982 single by Soft Cell

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"What" is a song and single written by H. B. Barnum, performed by Melinda Marx and released in 1965. Marx, daughter of Groucho Marx was a reluctant pop singer and the high notes on "What" found her straining. She recorded only one further single before leaving musical performing which had been foist upon her by her father.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Tucker, Ken (1 August 1982). "New Albums". The Philadelphia Inquirer . p. 8-H. ISSN   0885-6613 via Newspapers.com.
  2. Evans, Richard (6 August 2024). "1982.1". Listening to the Music the Machines Make: Inventing Electronic Pop 1978-1983. Omnibus Press. p. 337. ISBN   978-1-915841-45-2.
  3. 1 2 3 "Marc Almond Discography".
  4. "Leeds Warehouse – the Superclub Started by a Spy". 19 October 2020.
  5. "Soft Cell – Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing". Discogs.
  6. "Soft Cell – Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing".
  7. McDonald, Steven. "Non-Stop Ecstatic Dancing – Soft Cell". AllMusic . Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  8. Silverton, Peter (24 June 1982). "Album Reviews". Smash Hits . Vol. 4, no. 13. p. 17. ISSN   0260-3004.
  9. Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing (liner notes). Soft Cell. Some Bizzare Records. 1982. BZX 1012.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. "Dutchcharts.nl – Soft Cell – Non-Stop Ecstatic Dancing" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  11. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  12. "Soft Cell Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  13. "British album certifications – Soft Cell – Non-Stop Ecstatic Dancing". British Phonographic Industry. 15 November 1982. Retrieved 20 March 2021.