Non-Stop Ecstatic Dancing

Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing
EP by Soft Cell
Released	21 June 1982 (1982-06-21)
Recorded	1982
Genre	Synthpop, New Wave
Length	27:50
Label	Some Bizzare Sire Vertigo (original release) Mercury (various reissues)
Producer	Mike Thorne
Soft Cell chronology
Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret (1981) Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing (1982) The Art of Falling Apart (1983)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing is an EP by English synthpop duo Soft Cell, released in the United Kingdom on 21 June 1982 by Some Bizzare Records. It produced a top five hit, a cover of Judy Street's 1966 song "What?", as well as remixes of both sides of the band's first single, "Memorabilia" and "A Man Could Get Lost".

Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing is widely recognized as being one of the first house records in the United Kingdom^{[citation needed]}, as well as the first record in the UK to feature turntable scratches.^{[citation needed]} However, it is notable that the scratch sounds heard on the record were not created on actual turntables but, rather, on producer Mike Thorne's Serge synthesizer.

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). The album and its inspiration, Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret, were both recorded almost simultaneously in New York City at a time when its gay club scene was just beginning to emerge. Vocalist Marc Almond later admitted 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. The album is much more dance-oriented than Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret, with extended versions and instrumental cuts of various songs from its predecessor as well as several new tracks.

The album caused some controversy as well with the music video for the song "Sex Dwarf", which included whips, raw meat, chainsaws, transvestites, and even a so-called "sex dwarf". An unedited version of the video was seized by police and provided fuel for major scandal, largely fueled by tabloid newspapers, that eventually resulted in violence and unrest at many concerts during a small club tour to promote their video collection, Soft Cell's Non-Stop Exotic Video Show. 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 fueled rumours that the band was splitting up; although they would release two more albums (1983's The Art of Falling Apart and 1984's This Last Night in Sodom), tensions were already beginning to tear the band apart.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Dave Ball and Marc Almond, except where noted. 

UK and European edition
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Memorabilia"		5:22
2.	"Where Did Our Love Go?"	Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Edward Holland, Jr.	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

1998 UK remastered CD bonus tracks
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
7.	"Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go?" (Extended)	Ed Cobb, Holland, Dozier, Holland	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

North American edition
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Memorabilia"		5:22
2.	"Where Did Our Love Go?"	Holland, Dozier, Holland	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

The original North American vinyl release replaced "Chips on My Shoulder" with the extended version of "Insecure...Me?", while the 1999 remastered CD reissue contained both tracks.

Personnel

Marc Almond – vocals Dave Ball – backing vocals, synthesizers Peter Ashworth – front cover photography Cindy Ecstasy – rap Huw Feather – design John Gatchell – trumpet, flugelhorn Harvey Goldberg – mixing

Josh – back cover photography Nicky Kalliongis – assistant engineer M.T. 9 – artwork Jack Skinner – cutting engineer Mike Thorne – producer David Tofani – tenor saxophone Don Wershba – engineer

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1982) Peak position Dutch Albums Chart[2] 42 UK Albums Chart[3] 6 US Top LPs[4] 57

Certifications Country Certification United Kingdom Gold[5]

References

1. ^ McDonald, Steven. "Non-Stop Ecstatic Dancing – Soft Cell – Review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/album/non-stop-ecstatic-dancing-r49695/review. Retrieved 21 June 2006. 
2. ^ "Soft Cell – Non-Stop Ecstatic Dancing" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Hung Medien. http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Soft+Cell&titel=Non-Stop+Ecstatic+Dancing&cat=a. Retrieved 25 July 2011. 
3. ^ "Chart Stats – Soft Cell – Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing". The Official Charts Company. Chart Stats. http://www.chartstats.com/release.php?release=41122. Retrieved 25 July 2011. 
4. ^ "Non-Stop Ecstatic Dancing – Soft Cell – Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/album/non-stop-ecstatic-dancing-r49695/charts-awards/billboard-album. Retrieved 25 July 2011. 
5. ^ "Certified Awards Search". British Phonographic Industry. 15 November 1982. http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/Search.aspx. Retrieved 25 July 2011.