The Gloria Jones Challenge is our ongoing examination of the many, many, many covers of Jones’ classic Northern Soul jam “Tainted Love” – to see how they stack up compared to the original.
Today’s challenger gives the song the West End musical treatment.
But first the original.
And now, today’s challenger Elouise.
Postcard Editor: Taken from a London musical that highlights the artists that influenced Elouise and is loosely strung together with her life story (and no we have no idea who she is either) the materials promoting the musical say it’s a celebration of the music that led her to become a singer. If that’s so then why isn’t this version a little closer to the original, at least in spirit? Still it’s much better than Max Raabe or the Stella Starlite Trio versions, which are both sort of in the same wheelhouse of influences. Overall, not a bad version, and maybe it makes sense in the “play” as she sings it after a break-up or something.
CHALLENGER STANDINGS ACCORDING TO EDITOR:
1. Shades Apart
2. Dave Phillips
3. East German Polka Band
4. Bilal
5. Inspiral Carpets
6. Hannah Peel
7. My Brightest Diamond
8. Marilyn Manson
9. The Re-Entrants
10. Ali Dee
11. Ruth Swan(n)
12. Coil
13. Elouise
14. The Swampy’s
15. Alejandra Guzman
16. Pussycat Dolls
17. Bluekilla
18. Straight No Chaser
19. Impedance
20. Blues MAMA
21. Roundheels
22. Max Raabe
23. Stella Starlight Trio
24. Access Zero
25. Ashley Nicole
CHALLENGER STANDINGS ACCORDING TO CHACHA:
1. Dave Phillips
2. Stella Starlight Trio
3. Max Raabe
4. Ali Dee
5. The Re-Entrants
6. My Brightest Diamond
7. Hannah Peel
8. Ruth Swan(n)
9. Marilyn Manson
10. East German Polka Band
11. The Swampy’s
12. Bilal
13. Inspiral Carpets
14. Elouise
15. Bluekilla
16. Alejandra Guzman
17. Shades Apart
18. Pussycat Dolls
19. Blues MAMA
20. Straight No Chaser
21. Coil
22. Access Zero
23. Roundheels
24. Impedance
25. Ashley Nicole
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