Billy Ocean - Billy Ocean - Greatest Hits

Musical memories: a pride from Trinidad!

Billy Ocean was one the most pleasant and emblematic figures of the pop movement between the early seventies. His repertoire was composed by easy to listen ballads and swinging pieces that were influence by the rhythm & soul. He is visibly influenced by Marvin Gaye, Lou Rawls and a little bit of Barry White. He was owner of a natural sympathy and unique charisma that so many successful moments gave us along his career.

This compilation confirms why he was the figure he was. Don't miss this important album, part of the musical history.


August 13, 2008

Most Of The Hits Included

Trinidad born British singer Billy Ocean (Leslie Sebastian Charles) rose to fame in the 80's where he had hit after hit on both sides of the atlantic with either happy pop songs or tearjerking ballads. Billy Ocean more then anyone is a perfect symbol of the 80's with his music that is typical for that era and even if it's a bit dated by now he still recorded some of the most memorable songs of the 80's. However, it all started in 1976 when he recorded his first album, an eponymous album that spawned the hit single "Love Really Hurts Without You" that peaked at #2 in the UK and #22 in the US. Few people would know that 8 years later he would be at #1 in both countries with his "Caribbean Queen" and also become one of the most successful caribbean singers of all time. Let's take a look at the songs.

It should've started with "Love Really Hurts Without You" his first hit which is quite typical for the late 70's. A happy uptempo Pop-R&B song with piano and disco vibes and Ocean's usual deep but happy voice. i don't know why it isn't on this version, cause I have the same at home with it included.

Next song is "When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Gets Going" which was the soundtrack to Michael Douglas/Danny De Vito's film "The Jewel of the Nile" and on the video we had the two of them dancing to it. It's another happy uptempo and one of my all time favorite songs that always make me smile. It peaked at #1 in the UK and #2 in the US.

"Licence To Chill" is very simular to "When The Going" actually with a happy beat and backround singers + a closure with saxophone and it became his last hit in 1989, proving to be a typical 80's artist.

"Caribbean Queen" from 1984, was Ocean's Biggest hit, a song dedicated to all the beautiful women from Jamaica, Cuba, Bahamas, Haiti, Dominican Repubic, Puerto Rico and Trinidad & Tobago. The song is a midtempo that actually uses the saxophone aswell. The song was also called European or African queen based on where it was released, but I prefered the Caribbean.

"There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry) was another massive hit peaking at #1 in the US. This however, was one of his slowest most romantic songs. 80's classic for sure.

"Loverboy" is a pop/rock song in fast pace from Ocean's succesful Suddenly album. Simply put, another strong and memorable Ocean trademark.

"Suddenly" is a ballad and another big hit from 1984 but apart from most other of his songs this one ain't too remarkable or typical for him, it's just a decent ballad.

"Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car" sound a little like "When The Going" and it was also soundtrack to a popular film, The Roger Rabbitt film that is. It became one of his biggest and last hits in 1988.

"Love Zone" a power-ballad with some good percussion and another memorable hook. It became a top 10 in 1986.

"Here's To You" was never a single and is a quite forgettable ballad. I think it was first released for this complilation. Maybe they needed more songs?.

"I Sleep Much Better (In Someone Else's Bed) a trademark midtempo with some backround singers and happy vibe. Released in 1990 it failed to chart.

"The Colour Of Love" another late ballad hit, eventhough it's very sweet song it didn't become as big as the singles he released in the mid 80's.

"Tear Down These Walls", is a decent uptempo but sounds alot like previous songs aswell. It was released very late and never became a hit.

"Mystery Lady" the last single from the "Suddenly" album is good aswell, a midtempo that may not be as famous as the others but is a nice addition to this complilation.

Overall, although this compilation is old it is the best one with most of his hits included. I'm bewildered though that "Love Really Hurts Without You" isn't included since it was his first song and also the ballad "Love is Forever" that was a minor hit eventhough it wasn't too hot. Other then that, everything else is found here. I would have liked to see the songs in chronological order aswell, here there is no order at all. However, the compilation is strong and if you're curious to find out more about Billy Ocean here's a perfect way to start rather then to buy his albums. A good purchase!. May 4, 2008

A dated childhood memory par excellence

As a child and young adult when I tended to believe that all "alternative" music was basically noisy, unlistenable grunge like Nirvana or Everclear or The Presidents Of The USA, the pop songs of my 1980s childhood occupied my attention because they were the most readily available alternative. I used to adore the big hits on "Greatest Hits" and said they were my favourite songs.

Today, however, as an experienced music listener, it is very clear to me that the material here is awfully dated and shallow. The huge beats on "When The Going Gets Tough", which was his only #1 hit, and his second biggest hit "Get Out Of My Dreams" were really catchy and even enchanting to me as a child, but if I listen to them now in the library at Melbourne University they seem awfully dated. The same is true of the earlier "Carribbean Queen", whilst "License To Chill" is even worse in this respect.

The slower material, to which Billy's "big" voice was never suited, comes off as even worse. I always thought "Here's To You" and "Loverboy" were terribly soppy, and it's easy to imagine how I would feel about them nowadays.

This is something I want to note as something I have given up, and it is so dated with its big beat dance track and so soppy on the ballads that one should steer clear of it. November 20, 2007

A romantic of all the times

Good romantic ballads with dancing music...I prefer the first compilation who was really romantic at all. April 11, 2007

Get Out of My Dreams

In my opinion, Billy Ocean is one of the most under rated male vocalist from the 1980's. His voice is very soulful. Great CD. January 11, 2007

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