Though the album was not well-received, Dave Thompson, reviewing an unofficial bootleg recording, called the live presentation "a revelation".

He would often use his name in the stage version of Soap Opera and perform previous hit Kinks songs as examples of his work as a star to explain that he is not actually the "ordinary" Norman.

[citation needed] Music critic Dave Lewis' contemporary review of the single said that "Davies's camp, Palm Court vocals are matched perfectly by the careful string arrangements, making the tune simple, catchy and amusing – in fact, everything a good pop song should be.

"[9] Kinks' biographer Nick Hasted described it as "a thirties pastiche tale with an archly acted, eventually addictive vocal.

"[10] Music critic Johnny Rogan summed up his review of the song stating that "Ray sings the composition in his Noël Coward voice with a sumptuous backing that works quite well.