The story behind synth-pop duo Soft Cell's breakthrough hit Tainted Love is an often forgotten one. The song was originally an obscure Northern soul track written by Ed Cobb (formerly of male vocal quartet The Four Preps), and recorded by American soul singer Gloria Jones (who would later go on to become the partner of T Rex frontman Marc Bolan). The track also appeared as the B-side to Jones’ commercially unsuccessful 1965 single, My Bad Boy’s Comin’ Home.