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Marc Almond's rise to fame is largely due to Soft Cell and this track. He went on to become a famous solo artist. I just recently heard a segment on BBC Radio Documentary series where he traveled to Russia to learn more about a famous gay Russian singer who was plunged into obscurity because of his sexuality. So he's still around and working.
Soft Cell are a group I've always liked but I've never picked up their album. I really should. I like a lot of the songs on it. Even if they're considered a one hit wonder. I still like them.
This is an interesting single because it was released in order to promote a new Marc Almond CD rather than Soft Cell. He used it to capitalize on the success of Soft Cell to promote his own solo project, "Memorabilia". There are 3 tracks on the disc. The first is a new remix of 'Tainted Love'. The second is a 12" version of a new song called, 'Where The Heart Is' and the final track is the original 12" version of 'Tainted Love' which is basically an extended version of the song.
Housed in a Euro slim case, I think this is a pretty good release. Of course it might not matter so much if I had the corresponding albums, but I don't so it's very relevant to me. I'm glad I at least have this but I'd like to have more. My final words: A GREAT SINGLE TO SUPPORT A GREAT SONG!
SOFT CELL-MARC ALMOND - TAINTED LOVE
01. Tainted Love '91 (7")
02. Where The Heart Is (12")
03. Tainted Love (Original 12" Version)
This interesting import single is actually the product of a film soundtrack rather than a Marilyn Manson album which explains the addition of tracks by other bands. Both Mest and Stabbing Westward get a chance to deliver some goods with a track each.
Marilyn Manson starts off the single with a cover of 'Tainted Love' the song made a household name by 80's New Wave band, Soft Cell. Although Manson's version is a lot heavier in the beat and slower in tempo, it's a fairly straightforward rendition. It stays faithful to the arrangement created by Soft Cell and Manson's spooky vocal delivery takes a song that already borders on soft core s&m and turns it into sinister snuff porn. You'll be hiding under the bed after this one. And that's exactly what I think he wanted to accomplish! Well done!
Mest appears next and I know absolutely nothing about this group other than their appearance on this disc. They cover Modern English's 'I Melt With You'. There seems to be a trend in recent films to have newer bands cover 80's hits. That's cool most of the time. Sometimes it isn't. I'm not a huge fan of Mest and what they do here. Whereas the goal would be to make a better version of the older track, they just bang it out in a rather aggressive manner that doesn't recall the original track in a way that will make you remember it fondly. Obviously the original is better.
Marilyn appears again on track number three performing 'Suicide Is Painless'. This is a song that was actually the theme song for M*A*S*H*. Unlike the other tracks on this disc, this song dates all the way back to the early 70's. And Manson delivers what could possibly be the creepiest version of this track ever recorded. Again, they score with an amazing sound. If you like Manson at all, this is one track you need to get your hands on.
The final track is by Stabbing Westward. I saw them open for Depeche Mode once. They did a good job. On track number four they offer up a hit by New Order, 'Bizarre Love Triangle'. New Order is a complicated band with so many musical directions it's often hard to interpret their music. But Stabbing Westward are up to the challenge. They don't stay faithful to the original, but they offer up a grunge tinged version more appropriate for the time and it's actually enjoyable to listen to.
The fact is, even the Mest track isn't bad. It's still fun to listen to. That being what it is, this is a great single to own and if you like any of these bands, I don't know why you wouldn't own it. Of course there's always the chance the songs all show up on other releases but I don't own any.
My final words: MANSON DELIVERS SOME CREEPY COVERS FOR ALL THE GOOD LITTLE BOYS AND GIRLS TO ENJOY!!!!
MARILYN MANSON - TAINTED LOVE
01. Marilyn Manson - Tainted Love
02. Mest - I Melt With You
03. Marilyn Manson - Suicide Is Painless
04. Stabbing Westward - Bizarre Love Triangle
The one thing I've always loved about Marilyn Manson is what I call the great "galloping" drum beats they sometimes use. Adam and the Ants championed the loping drum sound back in the 80's and Marilyn picked up the banner for the 90's and 2000's. But that's not the only reason. I've also been drawn to the theatricality of this group. So much outrage over something so simple minded.
Marilyn Manson is one of those people who woke up one morning, looked out the window on his suburban neighborhood and said, "I'm gonna write and perform music based on everything a mother would hate." The band and songs were conceptually created to upset parents. In that sense alone, Marilyn Manson is a social experiment in modern parent/child relationships.
As a "Best Of" compilation, 'Lest We Forget...' fails to achieve a true "Best Of" title. I've always thought if you really wanted to create a "Best Of" record you'd let the hardcore fan base choose the tracklist. These are the people who would really have a say in what the best songs by the group actually are. In the grand tradition of record company formula releases, the "Best Of" is actually a single disc collection of released singles and oddities. But hardly represents the band's best work.
For the most part, I genuinely like the majority of the songs on this release. Marilyn Manson falls into a category of music I like to call "Go-Go Metal". Bands who use industrial beats and sounds, combined with new wave synthesizers, power chord guitar work and a theatrical approach to live performance. I've enjoyed bands in this genre for a long time. They have so many elements of entertainment I find exciting.
Considering I have all of Manson's albums, going through this disc song by song will be kinda pointless. Better by far to focus attention on the tracks that are safely assigned strictly to this release. The cover tunes are the most obvious. Depeche Mode's 'Personal Jesus' makes an appearance and the arrangement is fairly faithful to the original version. Of course the very subject matter and lyrics make it perfect for Manson's character to perform. In fact, after listening to his version, Martin Gore would have done better donating the tune to Manson first time around. It easily fits his image more than it ever fit theirs. And that's from a die-hard Mode fan.
Although Soft Cell's version is also a cover of the 1964 Gloria Jones classic 'Tainted Love', it's the first version of the song to gain any notoriety. Based on it's success, other bands have recorded the track or sampled Soft Cell's arrangement. From my understanding, Manson recorded this song for a movie soundtrack that used popular artists of the time covering 80s classics. Another track worth drawing some attention to is the cover of the Eurythmics classic 'Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)'. Although it appears on a regular album, it's interesting to see it among a compilation containing to many cover tunes.
I think I'd be interested in seeing Manson release an all cover tune record. He's done some brilliant covers. Like the cover of Danny Elfman's 'This Is Halloween' from Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas" or David Bowie's 'Golden Years'. He's also performed live cover versions by other artists such as Madonna's 'Like A Virgin'. That would be an interesting CD.
My final word: TWO THUMBS UP. I quite like what's happening here. Great disc with some awesome tunes. Would be better if was titled 'Lest We Forget The Singles Of', but that's being nit picky (even if it is accurate).
MARILYN MANSON - LEST WE FORGET THE BEST OF
01. The Love Song
02. Personal Jesus
03. Mobscene
04. The Fight Song
05. Tainted Love
06. The Dope Show
07. This Is The New Shit
08. Disposable Teens
09. Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)
10. Lunchbox
11. Tourniquet
12. Rock Is Dead
13. Get Your Gunn
14. The Nobodies
15. Long Hard Road Out Of Hell
16. The Beautiful People
17. The Reflecting God
