Human League - Louise (Virgin)

When Hysteria first came out, this was the track everyone pointed to and exclaimed: "that should have been the single". Wishful thinking, I reckon, to see this somewhat drab ballad as this year's "Don't You Want Me", but it'll probably be a hit of some sort all the same. All I know is, that nagging bass line is going to drive me raving mad. (Dave Rimmer, Smash Hits, November 22, 1984)

'Hello Louise, remember me?' Hey, it's uncle Phil and t'boys and girls in t'League with
the third single pulled from the disappointing Hysteria LP. The last single "Life On Your Own" was a perfect League single - catchy, glamorous with just a hint of heartache. "Louise" is also another Mills & Boon electro romance, but Phil Oakey's deadpan delivery sounds as romantic as a wellington boot. (Adrian Tierney-Jones, No 1, November 10, 1984)

Beneath the lumpy synthesiser squeals and dull, thudding rhythms lies a simple, plaintive peach of a song. Its insidious melody and Oakey-Cokey's appropriately deadpan delivery would all but wrench out those heart strings if it wasn't for all those bleeding Bontempis sounding like a budgie chirping on a digital watch alarm. (Pedro, Record Mirror, November 10, 1984)