A Man Can Get Lost

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This article is about single; for song see A Man Could Get Lost, for digital release see Memorabilia / A Man Could Get Lost E.P.
A Man Can Get Lost
single by Soft Cell
Cover photograph by Paolo Di Paolo
Released 21 March 1981[?]
Recorded Stage One Studio
Produced Daniel Miller
Label Some Bizzare
Phonogram
Genre synth-pop, new wave
Format 7″
Next Tainted Love
Related Memorabilia

A Man Can Get Lost is a debut single by Soft Cell, released in March 1981. Its sister 12″ single release is Memorabilia.

Recording[edit | edit source]

After Stevo negotiated a deal with Phonogram record label for Soft Cell to release two singles, the duet's choice of producer fell on Daniel Miller, which was primarily motivated by his earlier work with Fad Gadget (with whom both Almond and Ball studied with at Leeds Polytechnic) and his own releases as the Normal and Silicon Teens.[1][2][3]

Singles were recorded with Miller in 16 track Stage One Studio in December 1980. “A Man Could Get Lost” was a song from earlier repertoire of the duo, while the idea for “Memorabilia” came to Almond just before studio session and was improvised during recording, both lyrically and musically.[1] The latter was recorded as a full, long version and later shortened for a 7″ format.[3] Both tracks use Almond's first take vocals.[1]

Release[edit | edit source]

Both A Man Can Get Lost and Memorabilia singles were released on 21 March, 1981.[?] Not only they were debut singles for Soft Cell, but also the first single releases of Some Bizzare label. The reason behind singles having different A sides remains unknown.

Track listing[edit | edit source]

All songs written and composed by David Ball and Marc Almond. 

Side 1 
No.TitleLength
1. “A Man Can Get Lost” (*) 3:17
Side 2 
No.TitleLength
2. “Memorabilia”   4:51

* Like the single itself, “A Man Could Get Lost” track is mistitled as “A Man Can Get Lost”.

Personnel[edit | edit source]

Artwork[edit | edit source]

Front cover features a posterized photograph of Almond and Ball sitting by ‘Soft Cell’ neon sign, shot by famed Hollywood photographer Paolo Di Paolo.[4][5] Same artwork goes for Memorabilia single. Sleeve design is credited to Soft Cell.

On advertisement of the singles a newer, and also posterized, photograph of the duo was used, with Ball in a white shirt and Almond in a new romantic style outfit, taken by Peter Ashworth earlier in 1981.[6][7]

Reception[edit | edit source]

Both singles failed to get into pop charts, but in the end the 12" Memorabilia managed to make name for Soft Cell in the club scene, both UK and US.[1][2][3]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Keychains And Snowstorms: The Soft Cell Story (box set book)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 SOFT CELL Interview - The Electricity Club (Interview with Dave Ball). Chi Ming Lai. 18 August 2018. (electricityclub.co.uk)  archived
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Electronic Boy (autobiography by David Ball)
  4. ↑ To Show You I've Been There ... (official Soft Cell photo book)
  5. ↑ SOFT CELL To Show You I've Been There... - The Electricity Club (Article about To Show You I've Been There... book). Chi Ming Lai. 26 April 2019. (electricityclub.co.uk)  archived
  6. ↑ Tainted Life (autobiography by Marc Almond)
  7. ↑ nothingelseon on Twitter: «Funk & Fear together at last! Soft Cell have a record out!.. .... 17 May 2019. (Twitter)  archived
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