Soft Cell - Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing

Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing is the second studio album by British synth-pop duo Soft Cell, originally released in June 1982 via Some Bizzare Records.

The synth-pop duo Soft Cell was formed around 1977 by vocalist Marc Almond and instrumentalist David Ball.

Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing is a six track EP containing remixes of the group's older material, together with a brand new track, a cover of Judy Street's 1966 song "What", which became a Top 3 hit for Soft Cell.

As the name implies, Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing was conceived under the influence of MDMA (commonly referred to as ecstasy). Vocalist Marc Almond later said in an interview with journalist Simon Tebbutt that the album's sound, as well as the sound of the band, was influenced by a short stint working at The Warehouse, a popular nightclub in Leeds. The album is more dance-oriented than the group's first album Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret, with extended versions and instrumental cuts of various songs from its predecessor as well as several new tracks.

Originally, the album was to have been produced by Donald Fagen of Steely Dan, and several tracks co-written by him were recorded, but those songs were shelved due to record label disputes with MCA Records. The whole album had to be scrapped due to song-writing liabilities and Soft Cell famously had to write and record the album in the span of one week.

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).

The album peaked at #6 on the UK Albums chart.

Check out the tracks:  “What”; “Where Did Our Love Go”; and “Memorabilia”.

This LP record is a 2016 reissue on 180 gram heavyweight vinyl, pressed in Europe.