The Blow Monkeys - Out With Her (RCA)

What an old cynic Dr Robert is. Everyone else is falling over themselves with the joys of being in love, and here he is analysing the consequences. Should his heart rule his head or vice versa? Judging by all the sighing and gasping he's up to on this slowie, it sounds like love doesn't really come into it at all. Not when you can survive on lust. Classy all the same. (Jane Wilkes, Record Mirror, March 21, 1987)

Hark! What a cheeky monkey Dr Robert is. Hear him wake up, yawn, stretch and then launch into the heaviest breathing I've heard this side of Donna Summer. Highly provocative, and if that alone doesn't make this song appealing, the sultry, smoothy blend of piano and glistening percussion just might. Most relaxing, I must say. (Ro Newton, Smash Hits, March 25, 1987)

The Blow Monkeys - Atomic Lullaby (RCA)

More than obvious schmaltzy chords of the effort from the promising Blow Monkeys. Let's leave boring MOR to Spandau, eh lads? The obligatory sax wails on like Spiney with bad guts. Originality quota 2/10. (Andy Strickland, Record Mirror, September 22, 1984)

Friends have been raving about this band to me, and with good reason. The Blow Monkeys (don't be put off by the name) have come up with the week's best, and most unusual single. Opening with moody sax, "Atomic Lullaby" builds to a final crescendo with a style all of its own. The subdued but distinctive vocal fits somewhere between Lloyd Cole and Morrissey. The singer is called Dr Robert and he has a sinister charm that is hard to ignore. Try to hear it. (Karen Swayne, No 1, September 22, 1984)

The Blow Monkeys - The Man From Russia (RCA)

Most Intriguing Title Of The Fortnight, made even more curious by the fact that it's impossible to work out what the song's about. Dreamy vocals, real 'live' drums and a brass section add up to an optimistic sound. I can imagine this being covered by Shirley Bassey or Liza Minnelli. (Linda Duff, Smash Hits, July 5, 1984)

The Blow Monkeys - It Doesn't Have To Be This Way (RCA)

Dr Robert can barely be forgiven for desecrating the memory of "Brief Encounter" on father week's The Tube, and can be forgiven even less for soiling my ears with this Kid Creole-meets-the-Style Council-and-produces-the-aural-equivalent-of-rubber-coated-marshmallows. Go boil your brains, young man, and come back when you've stopped trying to be either Marc Bolan or a venerable Sixties soul legend (preferably deceased). (Nancy Culp, Record Mirror, January 31, 1987)

Very reminiscent of "Digging Your Scene" - and this is not a bad thing. The irrepressible and slightly weird Dr Robert has once again come up with the goods. Jaunty, jangly, jazzy and more besides. Slowly this group is carving a niche for itself. I reckon we best get used to them as they intend to be around for a while. (Pat Thomas, No 1, January 31, 1987)

Note: Prophetic words from Pat. Thirty years later, The Monkeys are still going strong.

The Blow Monkeys - Don't Be Scared Of Me (RCA)

This has all the right elements - the swoonsome Dr Robert drooling a sultry melody, tootsome horns and a swishy production - but somehow they combine to leave me totally non-plussed. Good background music for cocktail parties (if you have them) but a mite too swanky for its own good. (Lola Borg, Smash Hits, July 2, 1986)