Which 1982 song by Soft Cell was based on a 1960s northern soul recording?

Soft Cell’s 1981 recording “Tainted Love” was based on a 1960s northern soul recording.

The song was written by Ed Cobb and first recorded by American singer Gloria Jones in 1964. Soft Cell transformed it into a stark synth-pop performance, with Marc Almond’s vocal and Dave Ball’s electronic arrangement replacing the earlier version’s soul setting.

Released in the United Kingdom in 1981, Soft Cell’s version became a major international hit. In the United States, the single reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1982, making it the duo’s signature American hit.

The recording is sometimes incorrectly described as an original Soft Cell composition. Its distinctive two-song medley on the 12-inch release also included “Where Did Our Love Go,” but the radio hit is conventionally identified simply as “Tainted Love.”