| Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Remix album by Soft Cell | ||||
| Released | June 1982 | |||
| Recorded | 1982 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 27:53 | |||
| Label | Some Bizzare | |||
| Producer | Mike Thorne | |||
| Soft Cell chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Non-Stop Ecstatic Dancing | ||||
| ||||
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.[2] 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.
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.[3] 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.[2][4]
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.[5]
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).[2]
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [6] |
| The Philadelphia Inquirer | [1] |
| Smash Hits |   [7] |
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
| No. | Title | Writer(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 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7. | "Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go" (extended) |
| 8:57 |
| 8. | "Memorabilia" (extended) | 7:45 | |
| 9. | "What!" (extended) | Barnum | 6:11 |
| 10. | "So" (extended) | Ball | 8:50 |
| 11. | "Torch" (extended) | 8:30 | |
| 12. | "Insecure Me" (extended) | 8:15 | |
| Total length: | 76:21 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Memorabilia" | 5:22 | |
| 2. | "Where Did Our Love Go" |
| 4:24 |
| 3. | "What" | Barnum | 4:33 |
| 4. | "A Man Could Get Lost" | 3:58 | |
| 5. | "Insecure...Me?" | 7:30 | |
| 6. | "Sex Dwarf" | 5:15 | |
| Total length: | 31:02 | ||
Notes
- "Memorabilia" appears here as a brand-new version, with a rap by Cindy Ecstasy.
- "Where Did Our Love Go" is a remix of the B-side of "Tainted Love".
- "A Man Could Get Lost" and "Chips on My Shoulder" are heavily remixed instrumental versions.
- "Sex Dwarf" is also remixed, but is closer to the structure of the original song.
- The original North American vinyl release replaced "Chips on My Shoulder" with an edit of the extended version of "Insecure...Me?", while the 1999 CD reissue contains both tracks.
Personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing.[8]
Soft Cell
Additional musicians
- Cindy Ecstasy – rap
- David Tofani – tenor saxophone
- John Gatchell – trumpet, flugelhorn
Technical
- Mike Thorne – production
- Don Wershba – engineering
- Nicky Kalliongis – engineering assistance
- Harvey Goldberg – mixing
- Jack Skinner – cutting engineer
Artwork
- Peter Ashworth – front photo
- Josh – back photo
- Huw Feather – design
- M.T. 9 – artwork
Charts
| Chart (1982) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[9] | 42 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[10] | 6 |
| US Billboard 200[11] | 57 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[12] | Gold | 100,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
- ^ a b c Tucker, Ken (1 August 1982). "New Albums". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 8-H. ISSN 0885-6613 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c "Marc Almond Discography".
- ^ "Leeds Warehouse – the Superclub Started by a Spy". 19 October 2020.
- ^ "Soft Cell – Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing". Discogs.
- ^ "Soft Cell – Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing".
- ^ McDonald, Steven. "Non-Stop Ecstatic Dancing – Soft Cell". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ Silverton, Peter (24 June 1982). "Album Reviews". Smash Hits. Vol. 4, no. 13. p. 17. ISSN 0260-3004.
- ^ 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) - ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Soft Cell – Non-Stop Ecstatic Dancing" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ "Soft Cell Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ "British album certifications – Soft Cell – Non-Stop Ecstatic Dancing". British Phonographic Industry. 15 November 1982. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
This page was last edited on 29 October 2023, at 23:55