On February 17, 2023, a 3CD deluxe edition of A Flock of Seagulls was released to commemorate its 40th anniversary. The 3CD featured a remastered version of the original album, B-sides, single versions, remixes, BBC sessions and a BBC concert from The Paris Theatre, London, which was originally transmitted in January 1982. It also featured sleeve notes by Classic Pop writer John Earls, including a new interview with lead singer and founding band member Mike Score. In addition, the remastered album was also available as a limited-edition transparent orange vinyl LP.[4]
The album received good reviews upon its release and radio airplay.[12][7] In his retrospective review for AllMusic, Tom Demalon gave the album 4.5 stars, calling it "great fun and a wonderful collection of new wave ear candy."
Critic Robert Christgau was also happy with it, giving it an A− and saying that it is "so transparently, guilelessly expedient that it actually provides the hook-chocked fun most current pop bands only advertise."[11] Other reviews pointed out the bands "pioneering sounds, compelling hooks and undeniably addictive gimmicks."[7]
John Gentile of Punknews.org has described the album as an example of early, experimental electronica, and stated that while its sound is "not strictly punk, or even post-punk," it contains elements of both genres and "uses them to their greatest extent."[13]
The band, and particularly this album, were influential during the 1980s for their image[14] and for their production techniques. Record producer Phil Spector called the album "phenomenal."[15]
^Rubin, Nick (November 2011). "US college radio, the 'New British Invasion' and media alterity". Radio Journal: International Studies in Broadcast and Audio Media. 9 (2): 127–143. doi:10.1386/rjao.9.2.127_1. ISSN1476-4504.
^Gentile, John (19 March 2013). "A Flock of Seagulls". Punknews.org. Retrieved 17 August 2023.