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
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
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 charts + Weekly chart performance for Love Zone Chart (1986) Peakposition Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) 8 European Albums (Music & Media) 11 Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) 9
Year-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
Certifications
See also List of Billboard number-one R&B albums of 1986
References
Bibliography
External links