ABC - Be Near Me (Phonogram)

This sounds like a B side. They've never been the same without Trevor Horn and they're no good at producing themselves. The song is weak and I don't like this four-piece line-up. Pleasant enough, I suppose, but I don't think it'll be a hit. It doesn't sound glamorous enough. Thumbs down! (Curt Smith, Record Mirror, March 30, 1985)

Rose: Lots of nice sounds. The main melody is dead good but I can't get very excited by the song. Jill: This is much more like the ABC of old. I thought it was weak at first but I really like it now. There's a good toy piano on it. I feel a bit cheeky saying this but I wish they didn't look so daft. (Strawberry Switchblade, Smash Hits, March 28, 1985)

Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule The World (Phonogram)

An excellent follow-up to "Shout". A very twee introduction but I think high-pitched vocals suit Curt Smith immensely. I hope it gives them a Number One. (Marshall O'Leary, Smash Hits, March 14, 1985)

TFF's so called harder sound (not before time) has been overstated. I'm no fan but I can hear the makings of a passable pop group in this mild tune. Highly hummable, well arranged and not at all megalomaniac. 'Everybody' even features a rockist guitar fade out from Roland which would have been cause for cries of "hang the scoundrel" two years back. Times change. A certain top five hit. (Max Bell, No 1, March 30, 1985)

Tears For Fears - Change (Phonogram)

I'm not much of a Tears fan myself - all this staring out of windows and ruminating on the state of the world seems pretty futile to me - but this is an undeniably strong follow-up to "Mad World": up-tempo, almost disco directed, and complete with fashionably Eastern-sounding percussion. Not bad. (Dave Rimmer, Smash Hits, January 20, 1983)

Tears For Fears - Head Over Heels (Mercury)

Tears For Fears have certainly come of age. Here they are again, living down their old 'wimp' tag, and singing their hearts out in a single that will certainly follow "Shout" and "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" to make this their third big hit in a row. The song is similar in style to "Shout", and probably deserves its success, but I can't help wondering where they'd be if they had any real competition in the charts. (Maureen Rice, Smash Hits, June 5, 1985)

Everything Tears For Fears do these days is tinged with gold-dust. Although the melody on their latest isn't as strong as "Shout", it'll undoubtedly grow on you as steadfastly as it climbs the charts. I'll be humming it until the next one's released. (Anne Lambert, No 1, June 15, 1985)

Tears For Fears - Mad World (Mercury)

Ooh look. Here's another one. Gardner and Smith break into a tuneless chorus of Cat Stevens' "Matthew And Son" - and it does sound like it. (Simon Hills, Record Mirror, September 18, 1982)

It's only a matter of time before this tuneful electro-duo have a hit. This may not be the one, but it does grow on you and the occasional rapid-fire brass riff pushes it along nicely. (Johnny Black, Smash Hits, September 30, 1982)

Tears For Fears - The Way You Are (Phonogram)

Apparently months in the making and full of moaning in rhythm, noises from the mysterious East and words about the singer's hands belonging to someone else. All a bit odd, really. I still couldn't make head nor tail of it. Unlikely, but brave. (Dave Rimmer, Smash Hits, December 8, 1983)

Boring. There's no melody, no tune in the backing 'cos it's all percussive. Not one of their best, definitely, but they do have a huge following, so... (Keren Woodward [Bananarama], Record Mirror, December 3, 1983)

They can write good songs, but this isn't one of them. "Pale Shelter" I thought was great. Trouble is, I think those noises have been used all this year by them, by Japan, and that horrible Howard Jones! It makes me sick the way everyone has to bring out a new single every three months. We just refuse to do it. We're only going to release singles when we like them. (Siobhan Fahey [Bananarama], Record Mirror, December 3, 1983)

If all the reviews in this column were reduced to a yes or a no, I'd give this one a definite yes. It's very much the same TFF, well-arranged and tuneful, though not a very strong song. The lyrics are still a bit sixth form, the production still accounts for a good half of the record's merits . . . But in the end, it is a good pop record. Yes. (Sunie, No 1, November 26, 1983)

Tears For Fears - Shout (Mercury)

Altogether more relaxed and accomplished than their last single, "Mothers Talk". Effective and powerful pop with an insidious chorus you'll find yourself singing at the most inopportune moments. For that reason, a hit. (Lesley White, Smash Hits, December 6, 1984)

So, it's not quite such a bummer this week after all. I mean there's a new single from Tears For Fears called "Shout". It sounds a bit like the soundtrack to Merry Christmas Mister Boring. You know that film with David Bowie in it pretending to be Michael York dressed up as a lizard. (neil [Nigel Planer], Record Mirror, December 1, 1984)

From Real Men to unashamed Quiche Eaters, and 'arguably their best single yet', it says here. the singing is far too angst-ridden; something a bit cooler would have been twice as effective. But musically, as ever, they're doing interesting, textured things. I just hope that they haven't abandoned their poppier side in favour of this more sombre mood. (Sunie, No 1, November 24, 1984)