King - Soul On My Boots (CBS)

This is really nice, the bass player's good. It could be a hit and they've got quite a good image. The old long hair's coming back, like mine, and it's important to have a good image without being too fabricated. The only thing is, they shouldn't wear Doctor Martens. I've never had a pair of them. (Andy Taylor [Duran Duran], Record Mirror, July 14, 1984)

King - Taste Of Your Tears (CBS)

The first three times I heard this piece of jangly '60s "la la la" wimpery, I had to check the sleeve to remind myself who the group was - it's that unmemorable. I think it's meant to be the song people wave their fraying "Paul King's a really hunky geezer" scarves around to at concerts, but quite frankly it would be more at home backing a jolly cornflake commercial. And yet this is the same group who were responsible for the magnificent "Love And Pride"! It's all very rum. (Vici MacDonald, Smash Hits, October 9, 1985)

King - Won't You Hold My Hand Now (CBS)

An obvious follow-up this. I reviewed 'Hold My Hand' first time round and although it's been fiddled with a bit it still sounds the best King single yet let out of The Tower. More raunchy than "Love And Pride", the boys use both their boots and guitars to kick ass. Of course I knew they were going to make it all along... (Paul Simper, No 1, March 16, 1985)

Though they've yet to produce a classic 45, the boys from Coventry have certainly tried their hand at just about every musical style in the book. "Love & Pride" was a ska-based Gary Glitter/Jobriath gallop, "Soul On My Boots" was Culture Club on amphetamine ... and this here disc is like a mutant Shadows gone haywire. However thin and lifeless King may appear, you can't get the damn tunes out of your head. (Dylan Jones, Record Mirror, October 20, 1984)

Ah ha - a hot property! King have finally got the success they believed themselves worthy of and Paul's become a sex symbol. Swoon! As for this, it's more forceful than "Love And Pride" - stronger where that seemed to have great gaps in the mix, more controlled, less boppy and very very professional. Re-mixed to squeaky clean perfection. I'm going to stick my neck out here... I think it might be a hit. (Eleanor Levy, Record Mirror, March 16, 1985)

It's catchy but I think the instruments drown his voice too much. Probably a hit but not as big as "Love And Pride". I do like this group and the song is good but the chorus is very boring. (Marshall O'Leary, Smash Hits, March 14, 1985)

King - Love & Pride (CBS)

This lot were once briefly touted by the inkier side of the pop press as the next new something or other. They don't look or sound like it on the strength of this single. Judging by the cover, their image is based on Wayne from Auf Wiedersehen Pet, and the music's more or less like Fashion's - modern and anonymous. (Sunie, No 1, April 21, 1984)

I don't know much about this band but I find the tune very instant. After a few plays I flip over to find that the B-side has a rough edge the A-side doesn't. I'm afraid "Don't Stop" turns me on and "Love & Pride" doesn't. (Dave Gahan, Smash Hits, April 26, 1984)