The song most people know by Soft Cell is a cover version

Soul singer Gloria Jones was the first artist to perform this song in 1964. It was a b-side on the “My Bad Boy’s Comin’ Home” single. The record was no hit success.

British DJ Richard Searle took a copy of the single home from America in 1973 and played it for his ‘Northern Soul’ dance audience. It became a cult hit and Gloria Jones re-recorded the song again in 1976, 12 year after the first recording.

In 1981 Soft Cell covered the song and it became a hit. The (in that time new) electronic music together with that soul song was a good combination.

Who was first with a version

There are people who claim that Neo-Rockabilly musician Dave Phillips was playing the song at his performances around 1980 and that Soft Cell members David Ball or Marc Almond came to know the song by attending a concert of Dave Phillips. Soft Cell released their single in 1981, Dave Phillips his in 1982. What doesn’t state who was playing the song first of course.

audio

I had some fun with these 3 versions, hope you dig it

Gloria Jones / Dave Phillips & The Hot Rod Gang / Soft Cell

In the mean time the track is recorded by many artists. Significant that the original version didn’t even make it to the A-side of a single.

compilation

I made a compilation, 21 versions of the song compiled together.

You can find it here, enjoy!