Soft Cell's remake of this obscure 1965 Gloria Jones track was only their second single. Reportedly their label told them that if it failed to chart it would also be their last single (no pressure there). With the axe hanging over their heads Marc Almond and David Ball went into the studio and recorded their slowed down, synthed out version of the song in only a couple of days and it was released on July 7, 1981 in the UK where it shot to #1 on the charts. In the US the song had a much rockier ride and one that may be almost unique in the annals of the Billboard Hot 100. It entered the chart at #90, rose to #64, dropped back down to #100 and then slowly, inexorably began its rise all the way to #8 some five months after its US release.

Regardless of its chart history the song has gone on to become associated with the 80s like few others. Its poppy, synthetic beat and mannered vocals would be copied by countless Soft Cell wannabes and help set the stage for the "New Romantic" movement in British pop. The song has since been covered by dozens of artists including Marilyn Manson and the Pussycat Dolls. In 2006 Rihanna's third single "SOS", which is built around an audio sample of Tainted Love, would reach #1 in the US.