Top 5 Songs By Soft Cell

Top 5 Songs By Soft Cell

In honour of Dave Ball - who passed away on Thursday (23.10.25) at the age of 66 - here is a list of the top 5 songs by the iconic pop duo.

5. What! (1982)

Originally recorded by soul artist Judy Street in 1968, Soft Cell’s version of What! became their third major UK Top 5 hit. It’s an exuberant, high-energy track that contrasts sharply with the darker tones of Bedsitter and Say Hello, Wave Goodbye. Driven by bouncy synths and Almond’s flamboyant vocal performance, it shows the duo’s playful side and their ability to blend retro soul energy with new wave sensibility.

4. Torch (1982)

A standalone single released between albums, Torch reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart and featured a guest vocal by Cindy Ecstasy, a New York club personality who befriended Almond in the early days of Soft Cell. The song blends Northern Soul influences with a sleazy, late-night synth groove, embodying the decadent side of London’s early club scene. Its distinctive brass lines and spoken-word interlude gave it a cult following among fans.

3. Say Hello, Wave Goodbye (1982)

This sweeping synth-pop ballad closed Soft Cell’s debut album Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret and showcased Almond’s knack for theatrical heartbreak. The song tells the story of a relationship ending in a seedy city bar, delivered with cabaret-style emotion and cinematic flair. Over the years, it’s been covered by multiple artists — including David Gray — but Almond’s original remains a classic of bittersweet 1980s pop.

2. Bedsitter (1981)

Released later the same year, Bedsitter offered a poignant look at urban loneliness. Almond described it as a “slice of nightlife,” chronicling the alienation of young adults living in small city apartments while pretending to be glamorous. The track’s mix of pulsing synths and storytelling lyrics captured the melancholy beneath early-’80s club culture. It became another Top 5 UK hit and remains one of Soft Cell’s most acclaimed original compositions.

1. Tainted Love (1981)

Soft Cell’s breakout hit — and one of the defining songs of the 1980s — Tainted Love was actually a cover of a 1964 northern soul single by Gloria Jones. Marc Almond and David Ball transformed it into a dark, synth-driven masterpiece. Its hypnotic electronic pulse and Almond’s emotive vocal made it an instant hit, topping the UK Singles Chart and reaching No. 8 in the U.S. The song’s moody edge and minimalist arrangement helped pave the way for the synth-pop movement that dominated the decade.