Thomas Dolby - Hyperactive! (EMI)

The mad professor of the music world is depicted on the cover with a shock of hair standing on end, fiddling away manically at a violin. It's what comes of making records with Magnus Pyke, I s' pose. Still, looks like Tom's come up with a winner this time, and should get that British hit at last. It's title sums up the record - its' a furiously fast blast of choppy funk with some fearsome vocals from an unidentified girl singer. (Karen Swayne, No 1, January 14, 1984)

Another brilliantly-produced single from Thomas. It has a high originality factor and deserves to be a success. However, one can't help thinking that the chart buyers aren't willing to accept a record that doesn't appear to have an identifiable chorus. It's only a matter of time for him anyway and working with Michael Jackson (which he's just done) is probably more exciting than having a British hit. So who cares? (Him probably.)  (Martyn Ware [Heaven 17], Smash Hits, January 19, 1984)

Note: The girl singer providing backup vocals was Adele Bertei, who had her own hit a few years later with "Just A Mirage".