Soft Cell have announced an expansive reissue of their breakout debut album, Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret, out October 20th via Mercury-EMI/UMR.
The release is highlighted by a 6xCD, 98-track Super Deluxe Edition featuring 40 previously unreleased tracks. In addition to a new remastering of the album by Barry Grint, the first disc includes the A- and B-sides in their original 7-inch versions. Meanwhile, the second disc features extended versions and new remixes of each of the album’s tracks, and the third is filled with BBC session highlights alongside demos, outtakes, and audio from BBC TV and radio appearances on The Richard Skinner Show, The Old Grey Whistle Test, Top of the Pops, and more.
Also included are a full instrumental version of the album and demos, original 12-inch A- and B-sides from 1981 and 1982, and live recordings from Soft Cell’s shows at Hammersmith’s Eventim Apollo in November 2021 and London O2 Arena in September 2018. The reissue is also available on 2xLP limited edition yellow/blue or black vinyl. Pre-orders are ongoing.
Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret was originally released in November 1981 and features Soft Cell’s signature international hit, “Tainted Love,” as well as the singles “Bedsitter” and “Say Hello, Wave Goodbye,” both of which were Top 5 singles in the UK. In a statement, vocalist Marc Almond said the album “tells a story of a bored ordinary bloke seething with his life wanting more and looking for excitement and adventure in a red neon lit Soho world of red-light cabarets, prostitutes and sex dwarves, looking back at his youth and wondering what happened.”
He continued, “The album was the other side of the coin of Margaret Thatcher’s Britain: I never felt it was political at the time, but it seems it now. Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret was the secret seedy life that went on behind the mask of Conservative Britain.” Bandmate Dave Ball described the LP as “the first period of Soft Cell, really. It was our pop period, and by 1982 we were done and dusted with that. The next one, was much darker.”
As a preview of the release, Soft Cell have shared the previously unreleased “Frustration (Extended Version).” Stream it below.
Soft Cell have a handful of remaining tour dates to close out 2023, including a pair of UK shows (grab tickets here) and a set at the inaugural Darker Waves Festival (grab tickets here) in November.
Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret Super Deluxe Edition Artwork:
Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret Super Deluxe Edition Tracklist:
Disc 1: 2023 Remaster + Singles, B-Sides and Edits
01. Frustration
02. Tainted Love
03. Seedy Films
04. Youth
05. Sex Dwarf
06. Entertain Me
07. Chips on My Shoulder
08. Bedsitter
09. Secret Life
10. Say Hello, Wave Goodbye
11. Memorabilia (Single Version)
12. A Man Could Get Lost (Single Version)
13. Persuasion (Edit of 12-inch Single B-Side) ^
14. Where Did Our Love Go? (Single B-Side)
15. Facility Girls (Single B-Side)
16. Fun City (Edit of 12-inch Single B-Side)
17. Torch (Single Version)
18. Insecure Me (Single B-Side)
19. What! (Single Version)
20. …So (Single B-Side)
Disc 2: Full-Length Versions and New Remixes
01. Frustration (Extended Version) ^
02. Tainted Love (2021 10-inch Extended Version)
03. Seedy Films (2023 Extended Version) ^
04. Youth (2018 ‘Wasted on the Young’ Extended Version)
05. Sex Dwarf (2023 Extended Version) ^
06. Entertain Me (2023 Extended Version) ^
07. Chips on My Shoulder (2018 Extended Version)
08. Bedsitter (1981 Original 12-inch Mix)
09. Secret Life (2018 Extended Version)
10. Say Hello, Wave Goodbye (2018 Dave Ball ‘Lateral Mix’)
11. A Man Could Get Lost (2023 Extended Version) ^
12. Memorabilia (Daniel Miller 2023 Remix)
13. Memorabilia (The Hacker 2023 Remix)
Disc 3: Curios, Rarities, Sessions, and Alternate Mixes
01. Frustration (Original ‘Mutant Moments’ Version)
02. Tainted Love (New 2023 Version) ^
03. Seedy Films (Richard X Remix)
04. Youth (Dave Ball ‘Warhol Funeral’ Mix) ^
05. Sex Dwarf (Live on BBC Old Grey Whistle Test, 4th February 1982)
06. Entertain Me (Richard Skinner Session, Radio 1, 26th July 1981)
07. Chips on My Shoulder (Live from The Oxford Road Show, 22nd January 1982) ^
08. Bedsitter ((Richard Skinner Session, Radio 1, 26th July 1981)
09. Secret Life (George Demure Remix)
10. Say Hello, Wave Goodbye (Live from The Oxford Road Show, 22nd January 1982) ^
11. A Man Could Get Lost (Live at Leeds Warehouse, 16th July 2018) ^
12. Torch (Live from Top of the Pops 2, 28th January 2002) ^
13. Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go (US Radio Edit) 04:01 ^
14. Seedy Films (Richard Skinner Session, Radio 1, 26th July 1981)
15. Youth (Live on BBC Old Grey Whistle Test, 4th February 1982) ^
16. Chips On My Shoulder (Richard Skinner Session, Radio 1, 26th July 1981)
17. Tainted Love (Live from Top of the Pops’ 1981 Reunion, 2001) ^
18. Bedsitter (‘Flexipop’ Version) ^
19. Memorabilia (2023 Dub Mix) ^
20. Tainted Love (Aborted 1981 Studio Take) ^
Disc 4: Instrumentals and Bonus Demos
01. Frustration (Instrumental) ^
02. Tainted Love (Instrumental) ^
03. Seedy Films (Instrumental) ^
04. Youth (Instrumental) ^
05. Sex Dwarf (Instrumental) ^
06. Entertain Me (Instrumental) ^
07. Chips on My Shoulder (Instrumental) ^
08. Bedsitter (Instrumental) ^
09. Secret Life (Instrumental) ^
10. Say Hello, Wave Goodbye (Single B-Side Instrumental)
11. A Man Could Get Lost (Original Daniel Miller Instrumental Version) ^
12. Torch (Instrumental) ^
13. What! (Instrumental) ^
14. Insecure Me (Instrumental) ^
15. Tainted Love (Original 1981 Daniel Miller Demo)
16. Seedy Films (Original 1981 Demo) ^
17. Sex Dwarf (Original 1981 Demo) ^
18. Chips on My Shoulder (Original Demo) ^
19. Secret Life (Original 1981 Demo) ^
20. Say Hello, Wave Goodbye (Original 1981 Demo) ^
Disc 5: The 1981 / 1982 12-inch Mixes and B-Sides
01. Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go? (Original 12-inch Version)
02. Memorabilia (Original 12-inch Version)
03. Torch (Original 12-inch Version)
04. What! (Original 12-inch Version)
05. Tainted Dub (Original Version)
06. Persuasion (Original 12-inch Version)
07. Facility Girls (Original 12-inch Version)
08. Fun City (Original Version)
09. Insecure Me (Original 12-inch Version)
10. …So (Original 12-inch Version)
Disc 6: Live In Concert, London 2021 and 2018
01. Frustration (Live at Eventim Apollo London, November 2021)
02. Tainted Love (Live at Eventim Apollo London, November 2021)
03. Seedy Films (Live at Eventim Apollo London, November 2021)
04. Youth (Live at Eventim Apollo London, November 2021)
05. Sex Dwarf (Live at Eventim Apollo London, November 2021)
06. Entertain Me (Live at Eventim Apollo London, November 2021)
07. Chips on My Shoulder (Live at Eventim Apollo London, November 2021)
08. Bedsitter (Live at Eventim Apollo London, November 2021)
09. Secret Life (Live at Eventim Apollo London, November 2021)
10. Say Hello, Wave Goodbye (Live at Eventim Apollo London, November 2021)
11. Torch (Live at Eventim Apollo London, November 2021)
12. Memorabilia (Live at Eventim Apollo London, November 2021)
13. Insecure Me (Live at 02 Arena London, 30 September 2018
14. What! (Live at 02 Arena London, 30 September 2018
15. Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go? (Live at 02 Arena London, 30 September 2018
^ = Previously unreleased
