Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Relax (ZTT)

The sound of leather boys at pleasure, Frankie's debut single takes the boystown style out of safe hands and into a hard and dangerous night. Despite the title, the boys huff and puff like crazy, making their particular disco sound like a factory. A dark and dubious record that pumps up more steam than a posse of pistons. Let it whip, Frankie. (Mark Cooper, No 1, November 5, 1983)

Naughty lyrics that will shock the powers that be at BBC. Which is a shame as this Trevor Horn-produced powerhouse dance record screams out to be heard. In the sterile, germ free world of disco this is one contagious disease which should be caught. (Mark Steels, Smash Hits, November 10, 1983)

Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Watching The Wildlife (ZTT)

Here's an odd claim to lay at the feet of big, brash, bulging Frankie - their new single is a grower. Not a slap-bang-mind-that-axe-m'dear-disco stormer; a grower, as in rather excellent string arrangement, muted chorus and unusual hooks. Whether the great British pound in your pocket will decide to leap generously across the counter is another matter considering the muted reception 'Warriors' received. Still, here's hoping. (Paul Simper, No 1, March 7, 1987)

The fact that you're supposed to get a CONDOM with the cassette version of this could lead to irksome speculation about the title. So let's just say that giving away prophylactics is a GOOD IDEA, and if this piece of swinging, brassy, orchestral bombast wasn't all swollen up like an inflated Durex, it might have been too. (Roger Morton, Record Mirror, March 7, 1987)

Let's Talk About (Safe) Sex: Not only was the single one of the first to be released on cassette (Cassetted) but it also came with a free condom. Not sure how many twelve-year-olds bought that.

Frankie Goes To Hollywood - The Power Of Love (ZTT)

Led Zeppelin do a ballad! Gosh, these boys are versatile. I've tried to see some redeeming feature in this - as you might expect, it's Trevor Horn's lush production. Otherwise the thing's a fairly major disappointment. Seventies' kitsch seems to be the Flavour Of The Month, but a pomp rock revival I can live without. (Sunie, No 1, November 24, 1984)

A stronger-than-brandy, big ballady monster. A lot of heart, all over the place. Strings sweep, fools weep. 'Make love your goal', pleads Holly, going over the big top and outta sight. The B-side carries the Lads' Xmessage - beep beep! - in which they get pissed, take the piss out of themselves, and make a few suggestions (about getting the most out of the festive season). O come, all ye ... (Mark Cordery, Record Mirror, November 24, 1984)

Grace Jones - Slave To The Rhythm (ZTT)

Everyone at "Ver Hits" thinks this ultra smooth 'n' slick jazz-tinged ZTT production number is a work of unparalleled genius. Everyone except me, that is, who thinks it's all gloss and no substance. So there. (Vici MacDonald, Smash Hits, October 9, 1985)

Kept this one under your hat, eh, Trey? T Horn's latest love child sees a long over-due return to vinyl by Grace Jones. The lady is certainly not one to be manipulated; hence those illustrious fingers on the knobs haven't been permitted to twiddle to excess. An understatement perhaps, as it's rather difficult to ascertain exactly what the man with the grotesque glasses has injected. Ms Androgynous does at least sing, as opposed to sneer, for a change but, all things considered, I'd rather shuffle around to one of her earlier masterpieces. (Lesley O'Toole, Record Mirror, October 5, 1985)

The Ice Woman returns with a record that demands obedience. Taking up where "Pull Up To The Bumper" left off, this Trevor Horn produced blockbuster grabs the attention by virtue of its quiet, calculated power. Grace Jones in this mood elevates dance music to pure ritual. Her voice has a tribal quality that drains the listener of resistance while the backbeat moves even the most jaded limbs into irresistible motion. Imagine John Barry meets the Pleasuredome. Imagine a killing song. (Max Bell, No 1, October 12, 1985)

Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Rage Hard (ZTT)

The best things in life are threes. So after Whambley and Prince, here come the boys who'll come all over you.. Frankie, welcome back. So what's new? Well, there's more of those awfully nice guitar noises, less of the 'frisco disco and some jolly good burps on the B-side. 'Rage Hard' may not at first catch the ear in the same way as 'Relax' or 'Two Tribes' but crank it up for a couple of hours and even Snabber Towers will shake to the chandeliers. Beefy! Only weak link is a less than brutal version of Bowie's "Sufragette City" on the 12-inch but whom careth? The Hit Parade is for Frankie. And Frankie only. 5/5 (Paul Simper, No 1, August 30, 1986)

Frankie have been away for what seems like ages. Actually it's been 18 months and during this time they've been messing about in recording studios all over the world. Naturally then, you'd expect them to come forging back with a single impressive enough to knock your socks off. Unfortunately this didn't even wrinkle mine. "Rage Hard" sounds like any of their previous singles but watered-down and without the guts. They've even used that familiar "menacing" voice from the "Two Tribes" single (the one that tells you what to do in the event of a nuclear explosion) but it's no longer menacing - in fact it sounds like he was out of the room when his bit was being recorded. The overall effect is a bit limp and very disappointing. (Ro Newton, Smash Hits, August 27, 1986)

Propaganda - Duel (ZTT)

Last time I reviewed the singles I had to write about "The Nine Lives Of Dr Mabuse" by this new German group Propaganda: it made Single Of The Fortnight and proved to one of the best records of last year. Now they're back, this time with the greatest song ever made. Well, maybe not ever; but it's the best today even though tomorrow I might change my mind. A 'concept', "Duel" has a dark and light, happy and sad, good and evil side: side two. "Jewel", is the same song given a well mad techno-punk treatment. ZTT describe them as 'Abba in Hell' - therefore "Duel" must be Abba in Heaven. Single Of The Fortnight. (Peter Martin, Smash Hits, April 11, 1985)

Since their brilliant debut single "Dr Mabuse" nearly a year ago, Propaganda have had to wait in the shadows while ZTT pushed Frankie's success to the limits. But it sounds like the wait has done them good. "Duel" is a superbly-crafted song with a melody line that Abba would have been proud of, but containing references to `screaming' and 'bleeding' that give the song an atmosphere of unease. On the flipside there's "Jewel", a punky-thrash version of "Duel", which highlights the understated intensity of the A-side. Single of the week. (Stuart Husband, No 1, April 20, 1985)

They look complete and utter wankers in their photos. I think the whole thing is pointless and horrible. It's not exciting, challenging or beautiful. (Green Gartside [Scritti Politti], Record Mirror, April 27, 1985)

Propaganda - Dr Mabuse (ZTT)

While a lot of music seems to be taking the soft option these days, ZTT come up with an ideal successor to their last release Frankie Goes To Hollywood's "Relax". "Dr Mabuse" is bold, striking, exciting and totally enjoyable. It's all about "selling your soul" with lots of Germanic voices sounding mysterious over a dynamic Kraftwerk style driving rhythm. Trevor Horn's production gives it an epic quality, while the German group shroud the whole thing in drama and mystery. Totally over the top, it deserves to be Single Of The Fortnight. (Peter Martin, Smash Hits, March 15, 1984)

This record is simply monstrous. ZTT's follow-up to Frankie's "Relax" proves that their ambition knows no bounds. 'Sell him your soul' chant the voices of Propaganda like Abba in hell. Behind the chorus Trevor Horn organizes a wall of sound that is pure drama from start to finish. ZTT know how to command and love to tempt. If your soul remains intact at the end of this extravaganza, you still don't know how to relax. (Mark Cooper, No 1, March 10, 1984)