The Armoury Show - Glory Of Love (Parlophone)

Richard Jobson has certainly progressed since his days with the Skids. You can understand at least half he's singing on this record, although he does deliver a good few heathen chants for old times, so you still feel you're among friends. Not as good as it should be, but they're getting there. (Eleanor Levy, Record Mirror, June 29, 1985)

The Armoury Show are a powerful team (Richard Jobson and John McGeogh) so heaven only knows why this band aren't having massive hits. Their first two singles had enough fury and passion for the whole top hundred but obviously they're falling on deaf ears. Having said that though, the recorded "Glory Of Love" doesn't quite match up to their live version -a case of the wrong producer for the right song. (Debbi Voller, No 1, July 6, 1985)

The Armoury Show - Castles In Spain (Parlophone)

Having already extolled the virtues of the band's new LP, any further words of praise are icing on the cake. Possibly the strongest track on the album and I can't see any reason why this racy little stomper shouldn't be top 20 by, oh, next week? (Nancy Culp, Record Mirror, October 26, 1985)

Originally released back in July '84, it's been bunged out again in the hope that it'll be a hit this time round. In an unfortunate piece of timing, however, it's up against new singles by Simple Minds and Echo And The Bunnymen, and as it's so wildly derivative of both, "Castles In Spain" may not fare much better now. Still, if you like sweeping guitars and emotive vocals (courtesy of ex-Skidsman Richard Jobson) you'll like this. (Karen Swayne, No 1, October 19, 1985)

The Armoury Show - Love In Anger (Parlophone)

[Richard] Jobson looks like Kermit the frog on the sleeve, which conceals a rather tender ballad. Shame the AS haven't done what they were capable of chart-wise, but then again, open-hearted angst isn't exactly commercial, is it? Very fine nevertheless, with its finger on my heartbeat definitely. Pardon me while I wallow.... (Nancy Culp, Record Mirror, January 31, 1987)

I've always had a soft spot for Richard Jobson - can't think why. Perhaps it's because he's a bit of a Renaissance man, writing books and poetry, acting and singing with a modicum of success. The Armoury Show have been on ice recently while their leader was off on some secret cultural mission to China (strange boy). Now they're back with quite a nice little debut for a new label. I don't know if it's strong enough to take them back into the charts, but you can expect to hear a lot from them this year. (Pat Thomas, No 1, January 31, 1987)