Big Pig - Hungry Town (A&M)

Splendid name. Lots of heavy skiffle disco tribal percussion. A Wailing harmonica, an oinking digeridoo, an Annie Lennox-ish singer, and a song about world hunger. yes, it's a mess, which they try to excuse by being Australian. But are they? Could be George Michael making a pig of himself? Nah, just some Aussies making a sow's ear of a dance record. Are there no abattoirs in the outback? (Roger Morton, Record Mirror, October 3, 1987)

Pet Shop Boys - It's A Sin (Parlophone)

An enormous clap of thunder, horns winking in the distance and then an absolutely huge slab of European disco drama in which Neil Tennant, sounding oddly like Princess Stephanie (and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that), sings 'When I look back upon my life/It's always with a sense of shame'. the tune is impossibly grand but, um, haven't we heard it somewhere before? We have. It's Cat Stevens antiquated chestnut "Wild World" almost to the note - and a very nice tune that was too. This is going to be such a massive hit - an undoubted Number One in at least 500 European countries - that it might well blow your hat off. (Tom Hibbert, Smash Hits, June 17, 1987)

Sounds a bit like that "It's Raining Men" song by the Weather Girls! I think the video will have a lot to do with whether or not this record makes it - they definitely seem strong on image (two picture sleeves for the price of one!). There's a strong beat there but it gets you going in places and then suddenly dies down a bit, like a Frankie Goes To Hollywood song.Just when it was getting exciting as well! They're not the sort of band whose records I'd buy, anyway, though I might dance to them in a club. (Neidet Salih, No 1, June 20, 1987)

Iggy Pop - Isolation (A&M)

Rumbling and dark, slow and brooding, a lot of evocative "things"... this is a chanson of quite epic and majestic proportions. It was produced, mixed and co-written by Iggy's ski-instructor i.e. Dame David Bowie which is jolly odd in itself. Why is this so wonderful when everything on Bowie's own LP [Never Let Me Down] is so useless? Probably because Iggy isn't a chameleon - he's just a bloke who can out boom and out croon anyone on the planet including Mick Hucknall even though he's approximately four million years old. This sloping and slippering heart-churner is all about how nobody loves Iggy. Fortunately, that is not true. Bravo wrinkly! (Tom Hibbert, Smash Hits, June 17, 1987)

Ross: David Bowie has a lot to answer for.
Sean: I'll just say, oh dear.
Ross: There you go, a wee short one.
(The Soup Dragons, Record Mirror, June 20, 1987)

The Mighty Lemon Drops - Out Of Hand (Chrysalis)

I love the 60s Phil Spectorish production on this. The song's not bad - but it doesn't move mountains or anything. This is the first thing I've heard from them and on the strength of the production I wouldn't mind listening to some more. (Kim Wilde, No 1, April 18, 1987)

A bit "Needles And Pins" and a bit "Back Of Love", but a damn fine record even among those odious comparisons. The MLD's have delivered what they promised, and that's a relief. (Nancy Culp, Record Mirror, April 11, 1987)

The Lover Speaks - I Close My Eyes And Count To Ten (A&M)

I suppose if you're going to murder someone else's song you should at least be brazen about it. That's something this cosmetic counter duo most definitely are. A singer straining on the wrong side of Phil Oakey, an OTT orchestration in the manner of The Damned's "Eloise" (and it didn't do them any harm, did it?), and a Sarah Brightman School Of Acting In Pop Videos award in the passion department. A hit - no doubt about it. (Eleanor Levy, Record Mirror, February 21, 1987)