Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing
{{short description|1982 remix by Soft Cell}}
{{use British English|date=May 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing
| type = remix
| artist = Soft Cell
| cover = Soft Cell - Non-Stop Ecstatic Dancing album cover.jpg
| alt =
| released = June 1982
| recorded = 1982
| studio =
| genre =
- Synth-pop
- dance
- disco{{cite book|title= Listening to the Music the Machines Make: Inventing Electronic Pop 1978-1983|first=Richard|last=Evans|date= August 6, 2024|chapter= 1982.1|page= 337|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=978-1-915841-45-2
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EID8zgEACAAJ}}
| length = 27:53
| label = Some Bizzare
| producer = Mike Thorne
| prev_title = Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret
| prev_year = 1981
| next_title = The Art of Falling Apart
| next_year = 1983
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Non-Stop Ecstatic Dancing
| type = remix
| single1 = What
| single1date = August 1982
}}
}}
Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing is a 'mini' or 'remix' album by English synth-pop duo Soft Cell, released in the United Kingdom in June 1982, by Some Bizzare Records.{{cite web |title=Marc Almond Discography |url=http://www.marcalmond.co.uk/history/discography.html#softcellalbums}} In addition to remixes of the group's older material, it included a brand-new track, a cover of Judy Street's 1966 song "What", which reached number three on the UK Singles Chart. In some territories the album was released as an EP.
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). Vocalist Marc Almond later stated in an interview with journalist Simon Tebbutt that both the album's sound and the sound of the band were influenced by his brief time working at The Warehouse, a well-known nightclub in Leeds.{{cite web |date=19 October 2020 |title=Leeds Warehouse – the Superclub Started by a Spy |url=https://www.on-magazine.co.uk/yorkshire/history/leeds-warehouse/}}
The album is more dance-oriented than the group's first album Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret, with remixes and instrumental versions of two songs from its predecessor, and both sides of the Memorabilia single, as well as the new track "What". In the United Kingdom, this mini-LP format was just becoming prominent. Subsequent reissues would see the original mini-album length track listing bolstered with several extended versions of other Soft Cell material of the period.{{cite web |title=Soft Cell – Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/126866-Soft-Cell-Non-Stop-Ecstatic-Dancing |publisher=Discogs}}
Originally, the album was set to be produced by Donald Fagen of Steely Dan, and several tracks co-written by him were recorded, but those songs were shelved due to label disputes with MCA Records. The whole album had to be scrapped due to songwriting liabilities and Soft Cell famously had to write and record the album in the span of one week.{{cite web |title=Soft Cell – Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing |url=https://www.captainstomp.com/vinyl/lp/soft-cell-non-stop-ecstatic-dancing}}
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 fuelled rumours that the band was splitting up, though they would release two more albums, The Art of Falling Apart (1983) and This Last Night in Sodom (1984).
Reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |last=McDonald |first=Steven |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/non-stop-ecstatic-dancing-mw0000049289 |title=Non-Stop Ecstatic Dancing – Soft Cell |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=20 March 2021}}
| rev2 = The Philadelphia Inquirer
| rev2Score = {{Rating|1|5}}{{cite news |last=Tucker |first=Ken |author-link=Ken Tucker |title=New Albums |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52154350/the-philadelphia-inquirer/ |newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=1 August 1982 |page=8-H |issn=0885-6613 |via=Newspapers.com}}
| rev3 = Smash Hits
| rev3Score = {{Rating|6|10}}{{cite magazine |last=Silverton |first=Peter |title=Album Reviews |magazine=Smash Hits |volume=4 |issue=13 |page=17 |date=24 June 1982 |issn=0260-3004}}
}}
In a contemporary review, Ken Tucker of The Philadelphia Inquirer gave the release a one star rating out of five, declaring it "more sterile English dance music" and that the release was "more of the same junk. And I do mean same: Two of the cuts here are simply re-recorded versions of previously released material."
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = UK and European edition
| all_writing = David Ball and Marc Almond, except where noted
| title1 = Memorabilia
| length1 = 5:22
| title2 = Where Did Our Love Go
| writer2 = {{hlist|Brian Holland|Lamont Dozier|Edward Holland Jr.}}
| length2 = 4:12
| title3 = What
| writer3 = H. B. Barnum
| length3 = 4:33
| title4 = A Man Could Get Lost
| length4 = 4:05
| title5 = Chips on My Shoulder
| length5 = 4:26
| title6 = Sex Dwarf
| length6 = 5:15
| total_length = 27:53
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = 1998 UK remastered CD bonus tracks
| title7 = Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go
| note7 = extended
| writer7 = {{hlist|Ed Cobb|B. Holland|Dozier|E. Holland}}
| length7 = 8:57
| title8 = Memorabilia
| note8 = extended
| length8 = 7:45
| title9 = What!
| note9 = extended
| writer9 = Barnum
| length9 = 6:11
| title10 = So
| note10 = extended
| writer10 = Ball
| length10 = 8:50
| title11 = Torch
| note11 = extended
| length11 = 8:30
| title12 = Insecure Me
| note12 = extended
| length12 = 8:15
| total_length = 76:21
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = North American edition
| title1 = Memorabilia
| length1 = 5:22
| title2 = Where Did Our Love Go
| writer2 = {{hlist|B. Holland|Dozier|E. Holland}}
| length2 = 4:24
| title3 = What
| writer3 = Barnum
| length3 = 4:33
| title4 = A Man Could Get Lost
| length4 = 3:58
| title5 = Insecure...Me?
| length5 = 7:30
| title6 = Sex Dwarf
| length6 = 5:15
| total_length = 31:02
}}
=Notes=
- "Memorabilia" appears here as a brand-new version, with a rap by Cindy Ecstasy.
- "Where Did Our Love Go" is a remix of the B-side of "Tainted Love".
- "A Man Could Get Lost" and "Chips on My Shoulder" are heavily remixed instrumental versions.
- "Sex Dwarf" is also remixed, but is closer to the structure of the original song.
- The original North American vinyl release replaced "Chips on My Shoulder" with an edit of the extended version of "Insecure...Me?", while the 1999 CD reissue contains both tracks.
Personnel
=Soft Cell=
=Additional musicians=
- Cindy Ecstasy – rap
- David Tofani – tenor saxophone
- John Gatchell – trumpet, flugelhorn
=Technical=
- Mike Thorne – production
- Don Wershba – engineering
- Nicky Kalliongis – engineering assistance
- Harvey Goldberg – mixing
- Jack Skinner – cutting engineer
=Artwork=
- Peter Ashworth – front photo
- Josh – back photo
- Huw Feather – design
- M.T. 9 – artwork
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing ! scope="col"| Chart (1982) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| {{album chart|Netherlands|42|artist=Soft Cell|album=Non-Stop Ecstatic Dancing|rowheader=true|access-date=25 July 2011}} |
| {{album chart|UK2|6|date=19820627|rowheader=true|access-date=20 March 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Billboard200|57|artist=Soft Cell|rowheader=true|access-date=20 March 2021}} |
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Soft Cell|title=Non-Stop Ecstatic Dancing|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1982|certyear=1982|id=4633-1799-2|date=15 November 1982|access-date=20 March 2021}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=yes}}