Non‐Stop Erotic Cabaret

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

Non‐Stop Erotic Cabaret · Soft Cell's debut album was released on 27 November 1981 on Some Bizzare Records. It was made on a small budget. Producer Mike Thorne lent out his Synclavier, an instrument that was normally far beyond the duo's reach. The title comes from a real sign outside a strip club in Soho.

The album was carried by the single Tainted Love, a cover of Gloria Jones that topped the charts worldwide. Bedsitter and Say Hello, Wave Goodbye also made the top five in England. Marc Almond later said that the record tells the story of a man with a dull suburban life who seeks out the wild life in Soho. He has an affair, but returns to his wife. Neil Tennant called it a musical. Sex Dwarf caused an uproar, as its video was banned for its S&M imagery. Reviews were mostly positive. Melody Maker spoke of a brilliant indictment of the emptiness of pop, while NME found the concept hollow.

Listening

Track list

1. 1Frustration4:12Apple Music ↗
2. 2Tainted Love2:34Apple Music ↗
3. 3Seedy Films5:05Apple Music ↗
4. 4Youth3:15Apple Music ↗
5. 5Sex Dwarf5:16Apple Music ↗
6. 6Entertain Me3:35Apple Music ↗
7. 7Chips on My Shoulder4:07Apple Music ↗
8. 8Bedsitter3:35Apple Music ↗
9. 9Secret Life3:37Apple Music ↗
10. 10Say Hello, Wave Goodbye5:24Apple Music ↗
11. 11Where Did Our Love Go? (Bonus Track)3:14Apple Music ↗
12. 12Memorabilia (Bonus Track)4:49Apple Music ↗
13. 13Facility Girls (Bonus Track)2:22Apple Music ↗
14. 14Fun City (Bonus Track)7:45Apple Music ↗
15. 15Torch (Bonus Track)4:08Apple Music ↗
16. 16Insecure Me (Bonus Track)4:39Apple Music ↗
17. 17What? (Bonus Track)2:51Apple Music ↗
18. 18So (Bonus Track)3:49Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗