Billy Ocean

 

Artist:  Billy Ocean

Birth Name:  Leslie Sebastian Charles

Born:  January 21, 1950.  Fyzabad, Trinidad and Tobago, British West Indies

Origin:  Romford, East London, England

Genre:  R&B, Pop, Soul, Reggae, Adult Contemporary, Adult Contemporary R&B, Dance-Pop, Disco

Occupation:  Singer, Songwriter

Instruments:  Vocals

Billy Ocean is a Trindadian-born British Singer and Songwriter. Between 1976 and 1988, he had a series of Hit Songs in the UK and Internationally.  He achieved breakthrough success with the 1976 single "Love Really Hurts Without You", and peaked at No. 2 in the UK and No. 3 in Australia. Later that year, he achieved two additional Top 20 Singles in the UK, in 1977, his single "Red Light Spells Danger", also peaked at No. 2, and he released the single "Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run)" in 1984.  In the UK, the song peaked at No 6.   In the U.S., It entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 85 but peaked at No. 1 10 weeks later.  He won Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Performance for the song.  It also charged in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and across Europe under three different titles.  He released in 1985, "When The Going Gets tough, The Tough Get Going" peaked at No. 1 in the UK, and No. 2 in the U.S., the following year.  He achieved an American No. 1 with the Single "There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)".  in 1988, his single "Get Outta My Dream, Get Into My Car" reached No. 1 in the U.S. and No. 3 in the UK.

Title:  Suddenly (2024)

Genre:  R&B, Pop, Soul, Reggae, Adult Contemporary, Adult Contemporary R&B, Dance-Pop, Disco

Label:  Sony Music

Rating:  *****

Format:  LP

Tracks:

Side One:  

 1.  Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run) (7:52)

 2.  Mystery Lady (5:02)

 3.  Syncopation (5:20)

 4.  The Long And Winding Road (4:40)

Side Two:

 1.  Loveboy (5:16)

 2.  Lucky Man (4:21)

 3.  Dancefloor (4:14)

 4.  If I Should Lose You (3:59)

 5.  Suddenly (3:5 3)

Personnel:

Billy Ocean:  Lead & Backing Vocals, Simmons Drums, LinnDrum

Barry J. Eastmond:  Keyboards Synthesizers

Keith Diamond:  Synth Bass, Simmons Drums, LinnDrum, Backing Vocals

Clarence "Binky" Brice:  Guitars

Vic Linton:  Guitars

Eddie Martinez:  Guitars

Geoff Whitehorn:  Guitars

Timmy Allen:  Bass

Terry Silverlight:  Drums on Tracks:  1/4, 2/5

Tony Maroni:  Percussion

Andy Newton:  Percussion

V. Jeffrey Smith:  Saxophone

Chrissie Faith:  Backing Vocals

Lisa Fischer:  Backing Vocals

Katie Kissoon:  Backing Vocals

Curtis King:  Backing Vocals

Stevie Lange:  Backing Vocals

Cindy Mizelle:  Backing Vocals

Meekaeel Muhammad:  Backing Vocals

Suddenly is the fifth studio album by Billy Ocean, originally released on September 12, 1984 by Jive, remastered and reissued on September 13, 2024 by Sony Music.  40th Anniversary Edition onOcean Colour Vinyl.