Kajagoogoo - The Lion's Mouth (EMI)

Well well well, what do we have here? It's my old mates the "Chappypoopoos". I suppose I could slag it off 'cause they gave me the boot or, on the other hand, I could be really nice just in case they review my next single. However, I've decided to be purely and simply honest: I bumped into Nick [Beggs] at the record company offices just before Xmas and he played it to me then. I left the building humming the chorus and generally reminiscing. Good luck, guys. Single Of The Fortnight. (Limahl, Smash Hits, February 16, 1984)

Debbie Harry - Rush Rush (Chrysalis)

Oh Debbie, oh Debbie, oh Debbie! What happened to those wonderful days when you were such a worldwide star and you had the world (including me) at your fingertips? The rawness that gave Debbie Harry her incredible appeal has been chucked out of the window for some electronic gimmickry. I prefer the old days. (Limahl, Smash Hits, February 16, 1984)

Howard Jones - Hide And Seek (WEA)

So many artists seem to do two fast ones and then a slowy. This is a big, soft, slow, slushy ballad that sounds incredibly like Barry Manilow at times. I don't like this as much as his uptempo stuff but it's still up to his usual standard. I would think a chart cert. (Limahl, Smash Hits, February 16, 1984)

The strength of the new solo stars like Paul Young and Howard Jones is that they're not over-keen to impress. "Hide And Seek" builds ever so slowly from a few gentle drumbeats and synth doodlings into a stately and controlled masterpiece which harks back to Japan's "Ghosts". No.1 in a month. (Martin Townsend, No 1, February 18, 1984)

Dee C Lee - Selina Wow Wow (CBS)

Who's this? ... Oh, the girl from Wham! That's .. . alright. It stays on the same level, there's no light and shade .. it doesn't seem to quite take off. It's a very powerful chorus but it isn't very pretty, it doesn't swing. Could be a continental hit but I don't think it's what the UK wants to hear. Best of luck with it, though! (Phil Fearon, Record Mirror, March 3, 1984)

This lady was apparently booted out of Wham! but it obviously hasn't affected her talent and confidence. I love the chorus and verse, and I also love the middle. In fact, I love it all. May be a hit. (Limahl, Smash Hits, February 16, 1984)

Just like Carol Kenyon, Dee C. Lee is undoubtedly a great singer, but she stands a little lost
in the limelight. The self-penned "Selina Wow Wow" is an affectionate tribute to her sexy sister - a harmless, un-frantic exercise in funk. Dee C. Lee has a lovely voice and a vivacious personality. All she needs is some better material. (Maureen Rice, No 1, March 3, 1984)

Marillion - Punch And Judy (EMI)

This group hail from the same part of the country as the Kajas but their music is totally different. They'll be looking for their first hit but, to my ears, I don't think they'll get it with this one. It sounds a little dated to me. They apparently have a large loyal following so, if nothing else, it will please them. (Limahl, Smash Hits, February 16, 1984)

You've got to admire Marillion. Some bands nick chord sequences, others pinch songs. Marillion, they've nicked a whole group - Genesis. Here they rifle through the 1974 back catalogue, filching bits from every song on The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway LP. Six foot nine inch Duranie Fish stumbles about yelling "punch punch punch"as if he was Terry Lawless on a Frank Bruno training session. Undoubtedly the Heavy Medieval record of the week.(Frank Hopkinson, No 1, February 4, 1984)

Limahl - Only For Love (EMI)

Bearing Kajagoogoo's past efforts in mind, I honestly expected to loathe Limahl's debut solo single. And now that I've heard it I'm compelled to issue this warning - it's good! Simple, perfectly produced pop, you can really dance to this one and it's streets ahead of anything the Kajjers have brought out. Music and words by Limahl - he's not just a pretty face either. And with Carol Kenyon of Heaven 17 fame on backing vocals, need I say more? (Debbi Voller, No 1, October 29, 1983)

This makes "Big Apple" sound like an H2O reject. For all of Beggsie's talk of 'sophistication', Limahl has just kept his mouth shut and got on with the job in hand, producing a strong stylish debut. Just one thing, why's it called "Only For Love" when he persists in singing 'own letter fora leuuv'? (Peter Martin, Smash Hits, October 27, 1983)

Limahl - The Never Ending Story (EMI)

So twee it hurts! This is really just a cheap, over-dressed fairy story - and one that, as the title suggests, never seems to come to an end. Limahl only sings half of this anyway. The more demanding bits are handled by a mysterious girl. Limahl is a major talent. He once told me so himself. But this is just a joke, surely? (Paul Bursche, No 1, October 6, 1984)

Giorgio Moroder's certainly had a busy summer and seems to be making an onslaught on the charts from every direction, as writer, producer and performer. With a little vocal help from friends, Beth Anderson (vocals), Giorgio and legendary photographer Brian Aris (hi, Brian) who snapped the sleeve picture, it should be another hit for the ex-Kajagoogoo anagram.

Limahl - Love In Your Eyes (Parlophone)

He's back. Back! With a moving imitation of a piece of pink tissue paper (i.e. his singing is gigantically wispy) and a completely weedy pop song. Hip hip hooray! "Love In Your Eyes" is, of course, awesomely exquisite: swoonsome, tunesome, frighteningly wholesome, covered in fluff and without an ounce of malice. Better even than "Never Ending Story", Limahl's last blub-soaked imperishable, it's a work of intense drippiness. "Sublime". "Soppy". Totally brilliant. Single Of The Fortnight. (Tom Hibbert, Smash Hits, April 23, 1986)

Note: The late, great Tom Hibbert was notorious for his sarcastic reviews, very much in evidence here. I was also saddened to read that he suffered from a debilitating medical condition for the last fourteen years of his life, and so wrote nothing from the age of 45. Such a shame.