First recorded by Gloria Jones (1964).
Hit version by Soft Cell (US #8/UK #1 1981).
From the wiki: “‘Tainted Love’is a song composed by Ed Cobb, formerly of American group The Four Preps, which was originally recorded by Gloria Jones in 1964. It was a commercial flop, failing to chart in either the US or the UK. Before Jones recorded the song, Cobb had offered it to The Standells, which he managed and produced, but they rejected it.