Potential
| Potential | |
| Track by Soft Cell | |
 | |
| Year | 1980 |
| Written | David Ball |
| Composed | David Ball |
| Produced | Soft Cell |
| Genre | post punk, minimal wave |
| From | Mutant Moments |
| Also in | The Bedsit Tapes Keychains And Snowstorms |
Origin[edit | edit source]
“Potential” is one of the songs fully written by David Ball during his early years in Leeds Polytechnic.[1]
Record and release[edit | edit source]
The duo was performing “Potential” on their early live shows, particularly at their first festival appearance on Futurama 2.[1] In 1980 it was recorded at Leeds Polytechnic's studio for their debut record Mutant Moments EP.[2]
The track later appears in 2005 on The Bedsit Tapes compilation with other early Soft Cell demos, then in 2018 on Keychains And Snowstorms box set as remaster.
Personnel[edit | edit source]
- Vocals – Marc Almond
- Writtin-By, instruments – David Ball
Lyrics[edit | edit source]
Written by David Ball
Potential (x3)
A child in the playground
The woman on the bus
The man in the motor car
Or anyone of us
A youth on a motorbike
The old man in the park
The girl at the window
The footsteps in the dark
Chorus:
We have got the potential
We could be anything
We have got the potential
We could do anything
Behind closed doors
Behind the facade
The memories of a certain man
Are never, never, never too far
You can see him in the window
Sitting in his place
Take another look
You might recognize his face
Chorus
Potential
Potential
Do you think we've got the potential?
We have got the potential
We have got the potential
Potential
Potential
P.O.T.E.N.T.I.A.L.
Potential
Potential
We have got the potential
Potential (x5)
Availability[edit | edit source]
“Potential” appears on following records.
| Year | Title | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 
|
Mutant Moments | EP |
| 2005 | 
|
The Bedsit Tapes | Compilation |
| 2018 | 
|
Keychains And Snowstorms | Box set |
| Title | Format | Version | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Futurama | Album | Live | |
| The Live And Studio Adventures Of Soft Cell | Compilation | Original | |
|
Science Fiction Stories (CD) | Compilation | Original |
Original version of the track is also available on streaming platforms.
Listen[edit | edit source]
- Official uploads on YouTube
Trivia[edit | edit source]
- “Potential” is the only song from Mutant Moments which wasn't re-recorded (like “Metro MRX” and “Frustration”) or remixed (like “L.O.V.E. Feelings”) later.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Tainted Life (autobiography by Marc Almond)
- ↑ SOFT CELL Interview - The Electricity Club (Interview with Dave Ball). Chi Ming Lai. 18 August 2018. (electricityclub.co.uk) archived
