Hit Zone!

Like 1984's SUDDENLY,this album would spawn four hits. They are WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH(THE TOUGH GET GOING) from the 1985 film,THE JEWEL OF THE NILE. In the video,the film's stars Michael Douglas,Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito appear as background vocalists backing up Billy Ocean performing the song on stage. Also there's LOVE IS FOREVER,a beautiful love ballad that did not appear on the 1989 GREATEST HITS compilation. The title track is cool. So is THERE WILL BE SAD SONGS(TO MAKE YOU CRY). The other songs are great.

good billy ocean record

this is a very good album its so eighties i remember seeing the video for when the going gets tough little danny davito and kathleen turner dancing was very good times then to bad we cant turn back the clock best songs 1. love zone 2. sad songs 3 tough gets going

An 80's Classic!

This gem of an album, while sounding seriously dated at times, is still a pleasure from start to finish. The opener, "When The Going Gets Tough...." is a fun song with a great melody (especially on the bridge) that hearkens back to the mid 80's and times of sheer enjoyment (remember the video with Danny Devito, Michael Douglas et all?) and fun of the forgettable movie it was featured in "Jewel Of The Nile". The burbling, bass popping title track is the best cut here, with it's light jazz flourishes and serious R&B groove (I'd love to know who the bassist and guitarist are, they really anchor this baby)"Love Zone" never sounds old or trite, it's a timeless track. The biggest hit here, "....Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)" is still a lovely, if saccharine ballad that has stood the test of time fairly well and still gets regular play on light FM stations across the nation. It will somehow endure through the ages.
All in all a nice, if not indespensible, collection. The title track elevates it just slightly above average.