Poor Old Soul

A-Side: Poor Old Soul
B-Side: Poor Old Soul Pt.2

Record label: Postcard 81-2
Producer: unknown

Released: 17/03/81
Purchased: 23/05/83

I’d better come clean . . . . I like Orange Juice: no pips, no peel, no growl, no snarl, just juice . . . . the plunging, tumbling structures, holding their breath and sweeping so sweetly. Edwyn Collins‘ mopish vocals are tear jerking. The simple twists of fate, the grievous confessions, the subtle changes in resolution, the common theme of weakness in the lyrics.

The scrappy, scruffy ordinary shape of their image . . . and their fourth single! How much longer can it go on? “Poor Old Soul” is as precariously persuasive as their three 1980 singles: subtly obsessive, kindly festive. The B-side is a version of the A-side – Naughty boys! Juice pop is the force of despair: innocent and distressed. There, well my friends, is the information. But are you impressed? Hah hah hah hah hah hah hah (NME, 21/03/81)