Hipsway - Ask The Lord (A New Version) (Mercury)

Amazing how much better records sound when the band are famous. This is a "new version" - remarkably similar to the old version, actually - of Hipsway's earliest single, a naggingly catchy, busy little chugger which begins with an Eastern call to prayer, has Graham "Skin" Skinner observing that money doesn't bring happiness (crackling with originality, this) in the middle and ends with him asking the Lord why not. The Lord's reply (if any) is not recorded. (Ian Cranna, Smash Hits, May 7, 1986)

OK. So we know what a good single this is. But, does that really justify its re-release (even if the cover itself is pretty snazzy)? What makes it worse is the fact that there are some exceedingly lush tunes on their self-titled debut LP eagerly beckoning release - namely "Forbidden" and "Long White Car". Hands up (and no cheating!) those of you out there that can 'really' distinguish an original recording from its newly remixed twin? Not many I'll bet. A worthy song all the same. 3/5 (Anna Martin, No 1, May 10, 1986)

Hipsway - The Broken Years (Mercury)

This, the first single by four blokes from Glasgow, is simply the best record I've heard for months. There's nothing startlingly new or original about it - it's just a really good rock/funk song (imagine a punchy mixture of The Kane Gang and The Smiths) sung brilliantly by the deep-voiced Graham Skinner. If all their songs are this excellent we're going to hear an awful lot more of them. Single Of The Fortnight. (Chris Heath, Smash Hits, June 19, 1985)

Come on down, the price is right. It's summer and time to play 'Great White Hope' for 'Big Money'. Hipsway, like Coronation Street's Bet Lynch, show their (soul) roots but make up for their inelegance by a brassy attitude. (Mike Gardner, Record Mirror, June 22, 1985)