Love Zone is the sixth studio album by the British singer Billy Ocean, released on 6 May 1986 by Jive Records. Three singles were released from the album, including Ocean's second US No. 1 single "There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)" and the US top ten entry "Love Zone". It also features the UK No. 1 and US No. 2 single "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going", which had originally been released as a single from the soundtrack to the 1985 film The Jewel of the Nile.

A critical and commercial success, it became his highest-charting album in both the UK and the US, where it peaked at number two and number six respectively, and has been certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of over two million copies.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic
The New York TimesFavourable

Love Zone received favourable reviews from critics. People noted that "Ocean just floats along on this smooth" album and that "the moods [he] creates are so richly romantic they shouldn't be inflicted on the brokenhearted".

The album received a Grammy Award nomination in the category of Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. Ocean also won two American Music Awards, including for Favorite Pop/Rock Single.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Wayne Brathwaite, Barry Eastmond and Billy Ocean, except where noted.

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going"BrathwaiteEastmondRobert John "Mutt" LangeOcean5:45
2."Love Zone"5:37
3."Without You"5:03
4."There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)"4:55
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
5."Bittersweet"4:58
6."It's Never Too Late to Try"BrathwaiteEastmondOceanJolyon Skinner4:54
7."Showdown"BrathwaiteEastmondOceanSkinner4:58
8."Promise Me"Jonathan ButlerSkinner4:36
9."Love Is Forever"4:15
Total length:44:56
Bonus tracks on 2011 reissue
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
10."Love Zone" (extended version)6:21
11."Bittersweet" (extended version)6:40
12."When the Going Gets Tough" (club mix)BrathwaiteEastmondLangeOcean6:46
13."There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)" (7" version)4:15

Production and artwork

  • Executive producer on track 1 – Robert John "Mutt" Lange
  • Producers – Barry J. Eastmond and Wayne Brathwaite
  • Engineers – Steve Power (1–7 and 9); Bryan "Chuck" New (track 8)
  • Mixing – Nigel Green (tracks 1, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 9); Bryan "Chuck" New (tracks 2, 6 and 7)
  • Cover photography – Rob Lee

Charts

Weekly chart performance for Love Zone
Chart (1986)Peak position
Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for Love Zone Chart (1986) Peak position Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) 8 Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM) 3 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) 7 European Albums (Music & Media) 11 Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) 9 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) 33 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) 8 Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) 3 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) 7 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) 16 UK Albums (OCC) 2 US Billboard 200 6 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) 1Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for Love Zone Chart (1986) Position Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) 53 Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM) 18 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) 68 European Albums (Music & Media) 61 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) 48 UK Albums (Gallup) 37 US Billboard 200 31 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) 14
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)8
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)3
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)7
European Albums (Music & Media)11
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)9
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)33
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)8
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)3
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)7
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)16
UK Albums (OCC)2
US Billboard 2006
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)1
Chart (1986)Position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)53
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)18
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)68
European Albums (Music & Media)61
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)48
UK Albums (Gallup)37
US Billboard 20031
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)14

Certifications

Certifications for Love Zone
RegionCertificationCertified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)Gold7,500^
United Kingdom (BPI)Gold100,000^
United States (RIAA)2× Platinum2,000,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

Bibliography

  • Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.

External links