[…continued from last post]
The Hippie Generation had their classic morning-after song in Kris Kristofferson’s “Sunday Morning Coming Down.” The Punk Generation got their equivalent in one of Soft Cell’s greatest singles. Written with empathy for the new club kids who grew up on 12″ remixes instead of acoustic guitars, “Bedsitter” was the bittersweet flipside to the nocturnal habits of the new bright young things.
Beginning with tremolo synths blaring like distant car horns reverberating in a tunnel, the mournful, pitch-bent synth hook was contrasted by grinding stabs of synth bass. The dinky drum machine was still favoring back beats as Marc Almond recounted the faded glamor of his current dissipated state as he sounded as if his eyes were still encrusted with Kohl the morning after. The plaintive appearance of a glockenspiel in the chorus was a genius move from the musical mind of David Ball. Emphasizing the fragility of it all.
That there was a glockenspiel on this album spoke to the flexibility of David Ball to rope in the occasional acoustic instrument. “My Secret Life” was based on a jaunty barrel-house piano with synthetic handclaps for accompaniment. And synths which stood in for swinging horn section. Meanwhile, Mr. Almond was inhabiting another character whose lifestyle was getting the better of them as their best laid-plans were unraveling. The point where cutting a loss and escaping becomes the better option. That it was couched in a boogie-woogie framework told us that there was nothing off limits to these two. They would pick and choose from whatever tools they had at hand to accomplish the task without regard to its propriety.
The album’s final track was its third UK Top 5 hit single. “Say Hello, Wave Goodbye” was a bittersweet tune of failed romance sung with a healthy dose of compassion for both parties. It sounded for all the world like the tale of a young gay man who had given a hetero love affair a try along the way before getting a better grip on his sexual persona. The emotional ballad was a surprisingly traditional closure to an album that often was comprised of snapshots of desperate characters told with humor and empathy. That it was well sung by Almond, probably helped to cement its hit status.
One of the factors that makes this album such an easy listen decades later was the care and space that David Ball put into the music under his watchful eye. The sound was spacious and never crowded as he and producer Mike Thorne avoided clutter and overproduction. Often, the music was minimal as Almond carried the melodic weight with his vocals. There were simple early drum machines used throughout but Thorne utilized intriguing gambits to give them a heft they would lack if strictly direct injected into the sound board.
I can recall reading a 1981 issue of the tech mag Music Sound Output where Thorne was interviewed and told of outputting the drum machine playback from a speaker inside a bass drum and then miking them acoustically to give the often dinky sounds a sonic depth they didn’t normally have. Thorne has always proven his worth behind the boards, with a varied and often fascinating career.
But ultimately, it was down to Marc Almond’s lyrics and songwriting that made this such a compelling listen. Then and now. Each song was an empathetic portrait of squalor and compassion [to varying degrees] cheek by jowl, to successfully put across an emotional depth that belied the surfaces of songs like “Sex Dwarf” but were there if one could get past the sensationalism.
THE ULTRABOX COMETH
Coincidentally to my decision to revisit this album this week, the ultrabox version of “Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret” will be released in a six disc set early next month with the expanded to bursting album abetted with 36 previously unreleased recordings from that heady time where the world was their oyster and Soft Cell were at their commercial apex. Here’s the rundown.
Soft Cell: Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret Deluxe Boxed Set – UK – 6xCD [2023]
Disc 1: 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) 04:40
- What! (Single Version) 02:51
- …So (Single B-Side) 03:49
Disc 2: 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
Disc 3: 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
Disc 4: 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
Disc 5: 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
Disc 6: 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)
That looks very authoritative. I’m astonished that even after the “Keychains + Snowstorms” BSOG UMB gave found 36 new tracks to unleash on our ears. The band’s web store have the pre-order price of £58.00 [less shipping] of the 10″ x 10″ folio box which hits the sweet spot for me in terms of price. most intriguing was the second disc with David Ball’s modern remixes and extended versions of the full album… with the exception of the original “Bedsitter” 12″ mix, which all felt was definitive.
Is this more than I would need in my Record Cell? In all candor, yes. I have the original album, “Non-Stop Ecstatic Dancing” and the 3xCD of the band’s 12″ singles from their Some Bizarre era and that feels like enough for me. But don’t let my music buying fatigue stop you. D.J. hit that button if this calls your name.
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![Rock GPA: Ultravox - Quartet [part 6]](https://i0.wp.com/postpunkmonk.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/ultravox-quartetuklpa.jpg?resize=200%2C200&ssl=1)
Post-Punk Monk 
Say Hello, Wave Goodbye is one of the best tracks that Marc Almond has been involved in, I’m a sucker for any take that they do on it and I don’t think I’ve every been disappointed. Waifs and Strays IMO shares it’s DNA and is up there in my Soft Cell/Marc Almond favorites.
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Button was hit on this as soon as I heard about it on FB. Anything Marc Almond or (especially) Soft Cell and I’m there. Shame the original 12″ of ‘Say Hello Wave Goodbye’ is absent though. Dave doesn’t like it.
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davekturner50 – Really? Then they’re right; the devil is in the details.
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The curse of the collector…
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Excited for the Tennement Symphony box that releases today, just learned I could snag it as MP3 instead of a physical set. As much as I would love that physical SDE I can also save $40 in my pre-order price by switching it and in today’s economy, yes thank you I will. Happy birthday to me!
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Tim – Happy birthday to you, Sir! I have that album and all of its CD single, which will suffice for me. It’s the last Imperial Period Trevor Horn Production by my reckoning. Maybe PSB’s “Fundamental” might squeak past it. Not sure…
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Actually playing through my physical box set now. It’s a superbly designed and compiled set. Worth every penny. Enjoy!
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Actually playing through my physical box set now. It’s a superbly designed set and a veritable treasure of collected material. Worth every penny. Enjoy!
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Working my way through the period remixes that I’ve never heard (some never heard of) before. Some of these really date themselves to early 1990 mixes. That John Coxon mix of My Hand Over My Heart. Wow. The whole 90s’ kitchen sink went in there and somehow it works quite beautifully, There’s one bridge I’m gonna try to tinker with using the instrumental…..
Not normally a huge fan of 7” edits unless the song is tinkered with somehow and that “Love is a Beautiful Brutal Thing” delivers. This set is definately worth the entry fee.
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Tim – A great 7” mix can move the heavens and the earth. Especially if it’s very different from the 12” remix! Sometimes, we have rare gems like Visage’s “”Frequency 7” or China Crisis’ “This Occupation” which are in a class by themselves.
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Hey –
Do you know why one disc one they flipped side 1 and side 2 in the running order so they album now plays side 2/side 1?
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Cherry Red work directly with Marc for these reissues and the new order for the main album is the way Marc originally wanted it.
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I don’t see a switched tracklisting here at https://www.softcell.co.uk/product/non-stop-erotic-cabaret-2023-the-ultimate-value-bundle but it would make sense. I always thought ‘Entertain Me!’ to be the perfect opener and one of the best tracks.
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Can you tell me who played each instrument on the tracks and what they were ? I know they were Trumpet/ flugelhorn and clarinet… they need to be talked about more as they made this. Chips on my shoulder NSED is all about what I just mentioned? Do you have the full details of each track instruments ? Was there ever live videos with the instruments?
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As Tim says above, I’m probably going to have to delay the Tenement Symphony SDLX and get this one instead. I had almost forgotten about “What” and what a brilliant song it is until the listing reminded me of it. The greatest 60s girl-group single, only 20 years late!
While the NSEC box has more than a technically need, I’m interested in the new mixes as well as the extendeds and bonus tracks, so there we are — me, £58+ poorer, but richer in Soft Cell!
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PS. May I just add — OUCH! The shipping to my country is … eye-watering on top of the poor conversion rate! I guess I’ll have to look at it as $1.25 per song … (winces)
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hi mr monk,
superdeluxedition has announced a bluray with atmos mixes,
and other exclusives.
This SDE-exclusive blu-ray audio edition offers you a Non-Stop Immersive Cabaret, featuring a brand new 2023 Dolby Atmos Mix of Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret created at Abbey Road Studios under the supervision of the band. Additionally, three non-album singles ‘Memorabilia‘, ‘Torch‘ and ‘What!’ are also included in Dolby Atmos. So this blu-ray includes all five of Soft Cell’s UK top 10 hits, in Atmos.
Furthermore, instrumentals of the album and the three bonus tracks are also included in Dolby Atmos and the same 13 tracks also feature in the original 1981 stereo mix, remastered. If that’s not enough, four original Tim Pope promo videos for ‘Bedsitter’, ‘Say Hello Wave Goodbye’, ‘Torch’ and ‘What!’, available physically in HD for the very first time.
Blu-ray content summary:
Dolby Atmos Mix of Album + bonus singles (Memorabilia, Torch, What!)
Dolby Atmos Instrumentals of album + bonus singles
Remastered Original Stereo Mix of album + bonus singles
Four HD videos: Bedsitter, Say Hello Wave Goodbye, Torch, What!
All at a fair price too.
later
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ne gative 1
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negative1ne – The SDE Dolby Atmos Blu-Ray steamroller keeps rolling along! Always at what seems like a bargain price, so how could I not approve? I bought the “Lexicon Of Love” Blu-Ray in spite of being in Monastic saving mode… it’s great. And so worth the $29 after shipping it cost me. Not really needing too many surround mixes as that’s not how I listen to music. And my Soft Cell collection is satisfactory for my needs. But I certainly approve. Not received the email yet from SDE.
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