Gloria Jones - Tainted Love

[Speedcuffs100]

Awsome. Have played this with my band. Everybody either does not know it, or thinks it's a soft cell cover................

[PippyShortStocking1]

Loved this classic - HATED the Soft Cell crappy attempt! Remember spinning to this, back in the day!

[drwhatson]

...I doubt if many people knew of this record when it was new, as it was originally issued as a B-side! Due to it's growing popularity the record was bootlegged in late '73, but continued to be played when Richard began deejaying at Wigan Casino. Since then, it has been bootlegged about 5 times on assorted faux labels, one of which was bought by Marc Almond. The 45 was first issued in the UK by Neil Rushton's Inferno label, C.1979.

[drwhatson]

A little history of "Tainted Love" to clarify matters. Gloria Jones had a few minor US hits on Uptown - notably "Heartbeat Pts. 1 & 2" and "Finder's Keepers" both of which were released in the UK in the 60s on Capitol and Stateside. "Tainted Love" was released on the US (black and silver) Champion label, and was subsequently "discovered" and played on the UK's Northern Soul scene. (It was a big record for a young Richard Searling at Va-Va in mid-1973)...

[drwhatson]

@djshelleymac How was Gloria Jones "paid"? The song was written by Ed Cobb - and I doubt if even he was paid royalties. As always, the poor singer provides the inspiration - and often the vocal matrix - and gets nothing but a little reflected limelight from those who build their feeble careers by ripping them off. Ditto "sampling", as far as I can see.

[northernmanatheart]

there can only ever be one original. As evry one knows a copy or sequel is only ever that, a substandard attempt to recreate magic.

[smilecal]

there is only one version of this for all of us that lived those days ... and this is it ... all the other rip off merchants ruined our scene ... this is northern at its finest .... we all luv'd it and rushed to the dance floor the second it started to play ... the people that weren't there have no idea at all ... and the people that ripped us off ... you're despised by the rest of us .... ktf ... C A L .. prestatyn .

[Kifly95]

Don't Touch me (Please!)

I Cannot Stand the Way you (Tease!)

best part of the song.

[tonymaye]

yes but she killed marc bolan

[thelearner60]

I like the photos  of pollution and greed that accompanied this song.

[bigfatcrisp9]

WOW!!! I didn't know this existed!

[paul99227]

always the best and always will be the best keep the faith

[drwhatson]

Gloria Jones was a talented singer and a long-time staff writer at Motown records - a fact a some people are unaware of.

Soft Cell went on "covering" other peoples songs because essentially, the only talent they had of their own was the capacity to play three notes on a Bontempi organ and mince about in a spangly costume - something a retarded chimpanzee could be trained to do.

[bigunfromwigan]

@drwhatson.-well said that man! here-here!

[djshelleymack]

@drwhatson They got her paid though!

[Xtubelis]

Pretty ironic. She was indeed Marc Bolan's tainted love. It cost him his life.

[matts1874]

my two yr old daughter does this dance with me, hard to beleive but great to watch, her clap timing is bang on

[PerfectRhythmUK]

Fuck yeah! love this.

[matts1874]

soft cell, plums, not a patch on this, nuff said

[soulchosen]

Northern Soul classic! ktf

[barriobajaj]

djdeitch, Gloria Jones was driving drunk and struck a tree killing her passenger/boy friend Marc Bolan. Gloria suffered minor injuries and was later charged with drunken driving. She and Bolan had a son together but were unmarried so she didn't share in Bolan's millions. Her and Bolan's flat was looted by fans while she was in the hospital. She flew back to the U.S. with her son with no possessions and only 10,000 pounds left to her by Bolan in a will written in '73. A sad story indeed.

[jelboysvw]

However there is a tribute band called T-Rextasy and Gloria Jones sold marc bolans clothes to him and he not only looks and dresses like him sings like him spookily brilliant - a must see band!! ha also has his mannerisms and they say he has impersonated marc bolan longer than marc bolan has been himself you understand? bizarre I know!!

[dutchbolanfan]

She didn't sell Marc' clothes, they where stolen from his home and turned up in auctions since then....

[jelboysvw]

No, He bought them from her.

[hooplemott]

Trextasy are indeed fantastic. Recommend anyone to go see them!

[SirFunkward]

i think this is really great but soft cell made the song "something special" !!

[1559godhead]

the fine young cannibals have totally ripped off this riff and rhythm.

[Speedcuffs100]

@1559godhead Yah, it's good thing is'nt it ? lol. twats

[nickymace]

Great!

[motown250]

nice track

[soulfortoday]

WIGAN HERE WE COME KTF

[djdeitch]

Fantastic Northern Antham,shame she was in that car with Marc Bolan when it hit that tree in Barnes London,ktf.

[tom9872]

Sounds even better today than it did way back when.

[Jawblues]

(Soft cell is gay , Marlyn manson is a fucking emo)

BUT JONES IS COOOOL FUCKING COOOL

[trebornos]

@Jawblues You're a fucking cunt!!!

[keikocat2001]

Thanks for adding this. I heard it about 10 years ago in a mall food court and could never get anyone to believe me that Soft Cell's version was a cover! Very gratifying.

[goohber1]

If you were around in the 60's, and not sheltered, then you knew Soft Cell's version was cover.

[Squallbass]

CLASSIC CHOON how can anyone dis it??? No soul No taste!!!

[pleasebeafreename]

Soft Cell desecrated this song. This version is sooo much better. The good thing though is Gloria Jones got the songwritting credit so made some cash from the song. Most of the early 60s soul singers hardly earned a penny from their songs because intellectual property rights weren't enforced back then. So they desecrated the song, but kuddos to making it popular and helping Gloria make some cash from it.

[dechips]

I reckon the Soft Cell cover is the better of the two.

Over this years this view has caused me much derision and gnashing of teeth off my fellow soulies.

Remember when they cut their cover it was a tribute both to Bolan and Northern Soul. They were a unknown duet that pulled it off with an amazing cover and created an iconic record.

It wasnt that the a record company picked a rareity for some modern R&B warbler to exploit and line their already well laden pockets!

[jameycruz]

2 different eras.2 different sounds.If your New Wave,you go Soft Cell.If your Northern,you go Gloria.2 great records

[dechips]

Very wise words - the anamoly here though is I consider myself a soulie....!

I spose my point was the cover does the original great justice and as you say both great records. KTF.

[madmetal]

this song sucks ass. the newer version is 10 times better

[kenporich]

How old atre you? ........4

[shadetail]

I can see why this wasn't popular.

[tenaciousjp]

To 'bighairybollocks'

Your a moron

[bighairybollocks]

Drugged up & drunk she killed Marc & fled to the US instantly afterwards to escape charges.Marc could play guitar,had a great voice& had a most amazingly charasmatic personality (my parents met Marc & my grandparents drank with his Dad as they lived on the estate in Roehampton where he was a caretaker)Karma will right what she did to Marc-u don't ever drive out of ur head and risk the lives of others, especially the lives of loved ones.Always keep a little marc in your heart.R.I.P Marc Bolan

[cheesecakemousetrap]

Ahhhh, shaddup!

[jugard11]

wow so this is the original version it's so upbeat

[Mogoldner]

This so kicks the butt of Soft Cell, it's not even funny

[razelma]

Great song...

Brilliant video!