If you were a music-obsessed kid scanning the airwaves for signs of life, songs like “Tainted Love,” “Every Little Bit Hurts” & “Dirty Water” gave you hope. Believe it or not, one man wrote them all.
Huge Ed Cobb fan. Despite being from Boston & well before the Red Sox adopted “Dirty Water” it’s the song of his I loved to hate. Well before Minor Threat released it & perhaps before they started playing it Boston’s The Outlets covered “Good Guys” live starting back in 1980. That’s were I heard it first and as usual tracked it down to it’s source. As I kept digging into the Nuggets & slightly off-kilter early ‘60s soul, Ed Cobb’s name kept popping up with regularity & with songs of unusual quality my teenage self could identify with. Thanks, Seth, for a solid overview.
Great article, but I'm surprised you didn't mention the best-known cover of "Tainted Love," which was recorded by the British New Wave group Soft Cell for their second single om Phonogram in 1981. That's how I first heard it, anyway--back to back with their version of "Where Did Our Love Go?" in their distinctive Roxy-Music-goes-to-Hell style.
Ed Cobb rules. He also wrote and produced Toni Basil’s first single “Breakaway.” he’s important.
Had no idear! Thanks much, Tosh!
Huge Ed Cobb fan. Despite being from Boston & well before the Red Sox adopted “Dirty Water” it’s the song of his I loved to hate. Well before Minor Threat released it & perhaps before they started playing it Boston’s The Outlets covered “Good Guys” live starting back in 1980. That’s were I heard it first and as usual tracked it down to it’s source. As I kept digging into the Nuggets & slightly off-kilter early ‘60s soul, Ed Cobb’s name kept popping up with regularity & with songs of unusual quality my teenage self could identify with. Thanks, Seth, for a solid overview.
Ah, thank YOU Bruce! Appreciate your piping up!....
You’re most welcome, Seth. I have a big mouth & love taking music.
HA! Right back atcha….
Great article, but I'm surprised you didn't mention the best-known cover of "Tainted Love," which was recorded by the British New Wave group Soft Cell for their second single om Phonogram in 1981. That's how I first heard it, anyway--back to back with their version of "Where Did Our Love Go?" in their distinctive Roxy-Music-goes-to-Hell style.
Thanks Andrew! Check the link ("already know that")!....
K. Where do I find this link? Doesn't seem to be on this page....
4th paragraph in the "In the Beginning" section.