Private Lives - Living In A World (Turned Upside Down) (EMI)

The best record of the week comes from two London boys called John Adams and Morris Michael. "Living In A World (Turned Upside Down)" is a lush soul ballad that could have stepped straight out of the Hall And Oates back catalogue - though it's some time since John and Daryl came up with a record that gripped like this. Considering the standard of the current chart, Private Lives ought to walk right into TOTP and take up residency. And if it doesn't happen here, it's certain to happen somewhere: Top Ten in at least ten countries is my rash prediction. Estimated chart placing: 10. (Phil McNeill, No 1, January 28, 1984)

My wise old editor, Mr McNeill assures me that this new version of the Private Lives single is not a patch on the original, released earlier this year. And who am I to argue? That said, there's not much more wrong with it this time round. Seven inches of pop/soul that's up there with the very best of Hall And Oates. Now you can't say fairer than that. (Paul Simper, No 1, October 13, 1984)


I like Private Lives' older material, but you can't please everyone all the time. I think John's vocal arrangements are good and should get played on Radio 2's peak time! Right on Robin Gibb! (Steve Strange, Record Mirror, January 21, 1984) 

"Living In A World (Turned Upside Down)" is trying to be a classic of someone else's kind. Hall & Oates' kind, to be precise. It fails. Instead, the duo provide what is commonly termed 'a ballad' with the truly inspired message 'We're living in a world turned upside down'. Profundity is obviously not their strong point. (Eleanor Levy, Record Mirror, October 13, 1984)