"Love Is Forever" by Billy Ocean

Song#:  2908
Date:  10/25/1986
Debut:  77
Peak:  16
Weeks:  16
Genre:  R&B, Adult Contemporary, Pop



Pop Bits:  Ocean's sixth album, Love Zone, would be his second multi-platinum success thanks in part to three Top 10 hits including the #1 "There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)." This fourth single was selected for release and it would end up doing very well at AC reaching #1 and staying there for three weeks. It was his third (and final) #1 on that chart. The tune would also be a success at R&B making it to #10. It crossed over to the Pop chart, but just couldn't quite make it into the Top 10. Still, the run of hit singles was impressive and they helped the album sell over two million copies.

ReduxReview:  I vaguely remember this album closer. It's a lovely little tune that sounds like something Burt Bacharach and Carol Bayer Sager might have written for someone like Dionne Warwick. (Ocean co-write the song with producers Barry Eastmond and Wayne Braithwaite.) While it is pretty and well-done with a nice vocal from Ocean, it's not as memorable as Ocean's other hit singles. Perhaps a bigger, more effective arrangement might have sold the tune better. As-is it is pleasant, if unremarkable, listen.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  Ocean's first hit came in 1976 with "Love Really Hurts Without You." The song did okay in the US reaching #22, but it did much better in Europe, especially in the UK where it got to #2. Ocean would remain popular in England where he resided and the Love Zone album would be his best effort there reaching #2 and going gold. In addition to the four singles that were released in the US, the UK saw one additional track released. "Bittersweet" would be a minor hit getting to #44. After a five-single run from the album, Ocean's first hit would get a new dance remix and be issued out as a single. The '86 dance mix of "Love Really Hurts Without You" would grab a little bit of airplay and make it to #81 on the UK chart. The track was released in a few other European territories, but it was not put out in the US.

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