Customer Reviews

Ultimate Collection

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4 star:		(2)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

This CD includes all of Billy Ocean's hits, even including his early hits such as the wonderful and completely forgotten "Love Really Hurts Without You" and "Nights." Nothing is omitted (but I wish they would have included "Pressure," from "Time To Move On," instead of those tepid R.Kelly ballads...recorded way before R. Kelly became a superstar). Billy Ocean ruled the airwaves and nightclubs in the 1980s and, like Jody Watley, Olivia Newton-John, the Pointer Sisters and Hall & Oates, has been completely forgotten by today's generation, and none of his songs are included in 80s retrospectives (save maybe for "Carribean Queen"). The reason? Probably because the style of music he made was not associated with one genre, or one ethnic group. He is the last of his kind, one who sings wonderful songs that effortlessly cross boundaries of rock, pop, R&B, dance, world, adult contemporary, etc.

Born in Trinidad as Leslie Charles, he was raised in Britain from an early age, eventually coming to public attention as Billy Ocean via two UK number two hits and two other UK top twenty hits in the seventies.

Billy's first UK hit, Love really hurts without you, was a catchy, up-tempo soul song that made number two in the UK. The follow-up, LOD Love on delivery, just made the top twenty. Next came Stop me if you've heard it all before, which just missed the top ten but isn't included here. After that came his second number two hit, Red light spells danger.

Billy's career seemed to be blossoming but it was at this point that things went wrong. His record label, GTO, was taken over by a major and although he remained for a few years, he only had two minor UK hits (not included here) to show for his efforts. He eventually signed with another label, Jive, a move that revived his recording career.

On his new label, Billy had three American number one hits (Caribbean queen, There'll be sad songs to make you cry, Get outta my dreams), all of which did well in Britain (two made the top ten and another just missed), a British number one hit (When the going gets tough the tough get going) and another British top ten hit, Suddenly, together with a few minor hits.

I generally like his seventies music best (and there is another compilation focusing exclusively on that period) but most people remember him for his eighties music, which I also enjoy. This compilation includes three of Billy's seventies hits together with all his big hits of the eighties. As such, it comes very close to justifying its title Ultimate collection and that will do for most people.

For once, a compilation with a fitting title! Released by BMG Strategic Marketing Group and Jive in mid-2004 is 'Ultimate Collection' by Billy Ocean, roughly 15 years after Ocean's 'Greatest Hits' release. I remember buying this shortly after it's release in 2004, stumbling upon it by accident. You can imagine my surprise when I found this, since I had been waiting for a more comprehensive, remastered collection from Ocean for a few years already. I figured that Jive/BMG had completely forgotten about this artist since so many other less successful acts already have numerous collections on the market.

Usually when these kind of ultimate collections find their ways into stores they are missing essential tracks and hit singles. Well, despite missing a few charting hits in the U.K. this release includes all 12 of Billy's U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Hits -- all of which made the Top 40, for that matter. In addition to the dozen Top 40 hits are two tracks from Ocean's 1993 effort, 'Time To Move On': "Everything's So Different Without You" was a very minor R&B and AC chart single. "Can We Go 'Round Again?" was, as far as I know, not even a single.

The only U.K. Top 40 hits missing here are "Stop Me (If You've Heard It All Before)", a #12 single in 1976, and "Calypso Crazy", a #35 single in 1988. Clocking in at roughly 75 minutes, 'Ultimate Collection' actually has room for one of these missing chart entries. Still, why should I complain with a massive 18 tracks on a single disc? Hint to Legacy/Sony BMG: How about a 2-disc 'The Essential Billy Ocean' for a complete singles overview?

The digital remastering is absolutely incredible! Hands down this disc features one of the best remastering jobs out of my 2,500+ CD music collection. Mastering credits go to James Cruz at Sony Music Studios, NYC. Cruz has brought out so much more fidelity than the original flat audio releases of the past. Gone is the dull and muddy presentation of those old '70s and '80s CDs. In their place is full, wide, bright, and crispy audio! The music jumps out at you for the very first time! "Ultimate" is the key word here when it comes to the sonic upgrade.

So why the review for this release now, 4 years after sitting in my collection? I've been hooked on this compilation lately due to my inclusion of "Loverboy" on a personal '80s collection. I was listening to the song in my car and was amazed at how brilliant it sounds even today, both sonically and musically. That guitar riff in the chorus is incredible! It really is amazing how much the remastering brings out of the recording, namely each time the electric guitar jars in and out in the chorus, creating a massive vibration! Amazing! The music took me back in time to when my local radio station used to keep "Loverboy" and other Ocean classics in regular rotation, even in the early '90s. It reminded how I don't really hear many Ocean songs on local radio anymore.

When I bought this disc in 2004 I completely ignored the back end of the disc. I decided to give it a listen lately and was surprised at how good the last 4 tracks are, starting with "Love Really Hurts Without You", which I somehow overlooked originally, much like the U.S. did when it only charted #22 while landing at #2 in the U.K. way back in 1976. Now that single is one of my favorites! What a catchy piece of music! The addition of "L.O.D. (Love On Delivery)", U.K. #19 in 1976, and "Red Light Spells Danger", U.K. #2 in 1977, are a couple highlights which did not make the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. "Red Light" is now a favorite as well, and now I understand why it charted so high in the U.K. "Nights", a U.S. Top Ten R&B and Top Ten Dance hit in 1981, completes the disc.

Billy Ocean's 'Ultimate Collection' is the ultimate purchase! But, you may have to buy this used or new from a seller since it is apparently now out of print. Grab it while you can!

Born in Trinidad as Leslie Charles, he was raised in Britain from an early age, eventually coming to public attention as Billy Ocean via two UK number two hits and two other UK top twenty hits in the seventies.

Billy's first UK hit, Love really hurts without you, was a catchy, up-tempo soul song that made number two in the UK. The follow-up, LOD Love on delivery, just made the top twenty. Next came Stop me if you've heard it all before, which just missed the top ten but isn't included here. After that came his second number two hit, Red light spells danger.

Billy's career seemed to be blossoming but it was at this point that things went wrong. His record label, GTO, was taken over by a major and although he remained for a few years, he only had two minor UK hits (not included here) to show for his efforts. He eventually signed with another label, Jive, a move that revived his recording career.

On his new label, Billy had three American number one hits (Caribbean queen, There'll be sad songs to make you cry, Get outta my dreams), all of which did well in Britain (two made the top ten and another just missed), a British number one hit (When the going gets tough the tough get going) and another British top ten hit, Suddenly, together with a few minor hits.

I generally like his seventies music best (and there is another compilation focusing exclusively on that period) but most people remember him for his eighties music, which I also enjoy. This compilation includes three of Billy's seventies hits together with all his big hits of the eighties. As such, it comes very close to justifying its title Ultimate collection and that will do for most people.

This cd is a must-have for any '80's music fan. Every one of Billy Ocean's hits are here in digitally remastered form. What's especially great about this collection is that it includes the single versions of the hits, just like you heard them on the radio. In addition to the hit singles, Billy's exquisite version of "The Long And Winding Road" is added as a bonus. People who only know Ocean from his '80's songs will be pleasently surprised by his 1970's output included here, especially the Motown-inspired "Love Really Hurts Without You." With its remastered sound and hit single versions, this cd is the blueprint for every greatest hits set!

Until this CD came out in 2004, the only other Billy Ocean Compilation in the U.S. was 1989's Greatest Hits, which itself was a solid sampler. This CD raises the stakes by including the 2 Top 40 songs that weren't on that CD, "Love Really Hurts Without You" and "Love Is Forever." So you get all of his Top 40 songs on this CD. As the title suggests this is a lot of Billy Ocean. Greatest Hits is still preferable, only because the songs that weren't big hits aren't very good. There's 2 songs from Ocean's last US CD (as of 2004), that were co-written with R. Kelly. Neither song works. There's also 2 average songs that were meant as followups to 1976's "Love Really Hurts", that charted in the UK but never made it in the States. On the other hand, the album track cover of "Long and Winding Road", is excellent as is his 1981 R&B/Dance hit, "Nights", which preceded "Caribbean Queen". The liner notes are okay but nothing special. If all you want are the hits stick with Greatest Hits (and if you're curious about Ocean's albums, Suddenly from 1984 is still in print and the best of his studio albums), if you want a little more, you can't go wrong with this 18 track collection.

A world class collection of songs performed by a true master with authentic talent.If the domestic collection is great the Japan version is out of this world with mind blowing sound quality.I can only say purchase this cd and pretend you are on vacation in the Carribbean with someone special.

I'm 28 years old.....and many of these songs first came out when I was too young to really care about what was on the radio. BUT now all these years later I can't imagine not having this in my cd collection. Whenever I hear Billy Ocean it reminds me of one of my aunts who ALWAYS had his tape on in her car. and I do mean ALWAYS!! :) Any of his songs take me back to when my feet could not quite touch the floor when in the car! This is really timely music that completely captures the era, but never runs the risk of sounding "dated". It is truly a shame that more of todays songwriters don't take some lessons from the oldschool and make some music that will have some meaning after 5 minutes!!!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED COMPILATION....

I really like Billy Ocean. It brings me back to my running around days and that was some good times. The song are really good also.

They're all here!!! Everything you've ever wanted by Billy Ocean plus a couple of surprises. You will not be disappointed!