Soft Cell and R&B Classics

The synth-pop group best known for their top hit, "Tainted Love," which is a cover of a soul song by Gloria Jones first recorded in 1965. It's quite odd to think that a British 1980s one hit wonder band one have their biggest hit be a cover of an old R&B song since their sound is so far from Motown. I am also surprised that the British pop group was listening to old R&B from the 1960s in 1981 when they covered "Tainted Love."

Here is the original Gloria Jones version of the song

Here is Soft Cell's version, which would also be famously sampled by Rihanna for her hit singe "S.O.S."

Rihanna's song

Soft Cell also covered The Supremes' "Where Did Our Love Go" less famously. "Where Did Our Love Go" is one of my favorite Supreme songs so this discovery was quite pleasant, although their cover is not nearly as entertaining.

Here is the original and a live performance

Solange, the younger sister of Beyonce, also sampled The Supremes' version of "Where Did Our Love Go?" on her second album for the song, "I Decided, Part 1." It sounds like she samples only the percussion from the Motown version, handclaps and tambourine.

Country pop singer Marie Osmond also covered "Where Did Our Love Go?" in the 1970s. Interesting but far from essential listening

The Clarendonians, a Jamaican rocksteady/ska group, also covered the song as "Baby, Baby"