Leslie Sebastian Charles, known professionally as Billy Ocean, is a Trinidadian-born British singer and songwriter. Between 1976 and 1988, he had a series of hit songs in the UK and internationally.
"Chain Reaction" is a song by American singer Diana Ross, released on November 12, 1985 by RCA and Capitol, as the second single from her sixteenth studio album, Eaten Alive (1985). The song was written by the Bee Gees and contains additional vocals from Barry Gibb. Sonically, "Chain Reaction" is an R&B and dance-pop song. According to the Gibbs' biography, the brothers had initial reservations about offering the song to Ross in case it was too Motown-like for her.
"Freeway of Love" is a song by American singer Aretha Franklin. It was written by Jeffrey Cohen and Narada Michael Walden and produced by the latter for Franklin's thirtieth studio album Who's Zoomin' Who? (1985). The song features a notable contribution from Clarence Clemons, the saxophonist from Bruce Springsteen’'s E Street Band. Sylvester, Martha Wash, and Jeanie Tracy provided backup vocals on "Freeway of Love".
"Ghostbusters" is a song written by American musician Ray Parker Jr. as the theme to the 1984 film Ghostbusters, and included on its soundtrack. Debuting at number 68 on June 16, 1984, the song peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on August 11, staying there for three weeks, and at No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart on September 16, staying there for three weeks. The song reentered the UK Top 75 on November 2, 2008 at No. 49 and again on November 5, 2021, at No. 38.
"Diamonds" is a song by American trumpeter Herb Alpert from his 27th studio album, Keep Your Eye on Me (1987). Released as the second single from Keep Your Eye on Me on March 14, 1987, by A&M Records, the song features lead and background vocals by American singers Janet Jackson and Lisa Keith.
"Rebel Yell" is a song by English-American rock musician Billy Idol. It is the title track of his 1983 album of the same name, and was released as the album's lead single in October 1983. Although it charted outside the UK Top 40, a 1985 re-issue peaked at no. 6, and it reached no. 46 in the US. The song received wide critical acclaim and in 2009 was named the 79th best hard rock song of all time by VH1 based on a public vote.
"Living on Video" is a song by Canadian synth-pop band Trans-X written and published in 1982, but not released as a single until May 1983 by Polydor Records, and then remixed in 1985. It became a massive hit worldwide, with the remixed version peaking at No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 61 on the Billboard Hot 100. Trans-X also originally recorded a French-language version under the title "Vivre sur Vidéo". The song has been covered by many artists throughout the years.
"If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" is the first single by English musician Sting from his solo debut album, The Dream of the Blue Turtles (1985). It is also the opening track of the album, and is featured on Fields of Gold: The Best of Sting 1984–1994 as well as The Very Best of Sting & The Police.
"Mony Mony" is a 1968 single by American pop rock band Tommy James and the Shondells, which reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 3 in the U.S. Written by Bobby Bloom, Ritchie Cordell, Bo Gentry, and Tommy James, the song has appeared in various film and television works such as the Oliver Stone drama Heaven & Earth. It was also covered by English singer-songwriter Billy Idol in 1981. Idol's version, which took in more of a rock sound, became an international top 40 hit and additionally revived public interest in the original garage rock single. Idol recorded a live version in 1985 which was ultimately released in 1987 where it became an even bigger hit than the Shondells 1968 original, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Love & Pride" is the debut single by Coventry band King, produced by Richard James Burgess and featured on the band's first studio album, Steps in Time.
"Let's Go!" is a single by the English new wave band Wang Chung, released on 6 January 1987 from their fourth studio album, Mosaic (1986). The single was a hit for the band in the United States, where it provided them with their second and last Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1987, peaking at No. 9. The single also formed the basis for its official music video. It also hit No. 9 on the Canada RPM Top 100 Singles chart. Jack Hues sings the verses of the song, and Nick Feldman sings the bridge. Both sing the chorus.
"Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car" is a song by the Trinidadian-British singer Billy Ocean, based on a line in the Sherman Brothers' song "You're Sixteen". It was released as the first single from Ocean's seventh studio album Tear Down These Walls (1988). Part of its popularity lay in its cutting-edge music video, which features animation mixed with live-action sequences. The saxophone solo is performed by Vernon Jeffrey Smith.
Suddenly is the fifth studio album by British singer Billy Ocean, released on 12 September 1984 by Jive Records. It featured his first major US pop hit single "Caribbean Queen ", which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Prior to that, his biggest success on the US charts had been a number-22 placing for "Love Really Hurts Without You" in 1976, which was one of a number of UK hits he had achieved by the release of this album. Despite these earlier hits, Suddenly became Ocean's first charting album in the United Kingdom, reaching number nine on the UK Album Chart. It also reached number nine in the US, and spawned two additional US top-five singles in the title track and "Loverboy", while a fourth single, "Mystery Lady", reached the US top 40. "Caribbean Queen" and "Suddenly" also reached the top 10 of the UK Singles Chart.
"In My House" is a song produced, written and arranged by American musician Rick James and recorded by his protégées, the Mary Jane Girls, for their second studio album, Only Four You (1985). It was released as the album's lead single in October 1984 by Gordy Records. In the United States, the single topped Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart in April 1985 and remained atop the chart for two weeks. It also reached the top 10 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, peaking at number seven on the Hot 100 in June 1985 and remained in the top 40 for 12 weeks. It is the group's highest-peaking single and their only top-40 entry on the Billboard Hot 100, although they have had other singles succeed on both the R&B and dance charts.
"No Promises" is a song by Australian band Icehouse, released in October 1985, as the first single issued from the band's 1986 album, Measure for Measure. The single was released in Australia through Regular Records, on 7", 12" and maxi-cassette single formats. Chrysalis Records issued the single in the UK and Europe on 7" and 12" formats, with different track listings. "No Promises" was subsequently released in the US by Chrysalis on 7" and 12" formats, again with different track listings. The single peaked at #30 on the Australian singles chart in February 1986. A remixed version by (Love) Tattoo was included on the Icehouse remix album Meltdown in 2002. Two music videos were filmed to promote the single; the second of these was directed by Dieter Trattmann.
"Almost Paradise... Love Theme from Footloose" is the title of a duet sung by Mike Reno of Loverboy and Ann Wilson of Heart. It is one of several major hits written by singer Eric Carmen with lyricist Dean Pitchford, another being "Make Me Lose Control".
"Suddenly" is a song from 1985 co-written and performed by UK-based singer Billy Ocean. Co-written and produced by Keith Diamond, it is the title track to Ocean's 1984 breakthrough album.
Love Zone is the sixth studio album by 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 " 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.
"When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" is a 1985 song co-written and originally recorded by English singer Billy Ocean in 1985.
"We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)" is a song written by Graham Lyle and Terry Britten. It was recorded by American singer Tina Turner for the soundtrack album to the 1985 film Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, which starred Mel Gibson and Turner. On the heels of Turner's multiplatinum album Private Dancer (1984), the song was released as a 7-inch single, an extended version was released as a 12-inch single and on the film's soundtrack album. In the United Kingdom, a shaped picture disc was also issued. The power ballad received a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Original Song and a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. As songwriters, Lyle and Britten received the Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically.
