ABC - S.O.S. (Phonogram)

ABC lost a fair number of admirers with the new 'heavy' style of their Beauty Stab LP. But if they did get a little bit too raunchy at times, this lush ballad is not an offender. As ever Martin Fry's preoccupied with love and all the problems it brings, but the lyrics aren't as clever clever as they have been in the past. The apple crumble saga, for instance, is not continued. I like it. So there. (Karen Swayne, No 1, January 14, 1984)

It's always a bit sad when the best part of a record is the fade. The song is slight and Martin Fry sounds as if he'd rather be anywhere but in front of a microphone. Then after a cosy sax solo from Steve Singleton the singalong fade begins. But even with Frankie Goes To Hollywood on backing vocals, it isn't quite epic enough. Shame. (Ian Birch, Smash Hits, January 5, 1984)

It really is a waste of time asking me to review this. If this type of music has any merit then it completely escapes me. They call heavy metal moronic. This makes it sound like Sibelius. (Lemmy, Record Mirror, January 14, 1984)