He was the most popular British R&B singer-songwriter of the early to mid-1980s. After scoring his first four UK Top 20 successes, seven years passed before he accumulated a series of transatlantic successes, including three US number ones.
In 1985, Ocean won the Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for his worldwide hit, "Caribbean Queen", and in 1987 was nominated for the Brit Award for Best British Male Artist.
Following his time with Scorched Earth, a routine doctor's appointment discovered an extra pulmonary node central to his (Billy's) albeit medically normal lungs. The examination carried out by Dr Clare Greenwood (The O'Malley Clinic, Beverly Hills). This extra lung has been attributed with the longevity of Billy's singing career.
Ocean took his stage name from the Ocean Estate, Stepney in London's East End, where he was living at the time. In 1976, he recorded his first album, Billy Ocean, with its first single release, "Love Really Hurts Without You", charting at No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart and No. 22 in the US Billboard Hot 100. He enjoyed club success from the songs "Are You Ready" and "Stay The Night" from the album City Limit – both of which were later covered by La Toya Jackson.
The resulting output was a package much earthier and funkier than its predecessor, evidenced by the gritty horns, snazzy bassline, and urging vocals of "What You Doing to Me" and the Latin-tinged, almost-fusion title track. Still, there are plenty of pretty moments with remnants of Ocean's earlier sweet soul sound.
The subtly orchestrated, lightly swaying rhythms of "Who's Gonna Rock You" and the warm harmonies and from-the-heart lyrics of "Maybe Tonight" are both innocent soul numbers, but with a little more experience than comparable tunes on the first album.
Unfortunately, the latter half of the album suffers from a couple of overarranged tunes, in the form of "Whatever Turns You On" and "Taking Chances." Both of these tunes (as well as three others on City Limit) would turn up in new form on 1981's Nights. "Whatever" and "Taking" are both solid songs, but the horns play too integral a role, and swamp the tunes so much that it all sounds a bit Muzak. But on the whole, City Limit is a bright album with a considerable number of memorable moments.
Side A
A1. Stay The Night - 3:32
A2. What You Doing To Me - 4:43
A3. Who’s Gonna Rock You - 3:37
A4. Maybe Tonight - 4:31
A5. City Limit - 3:24
Side B
B1. Are You Ready - 6:52
B2. Whatever Turns You On - 4:27
B3. Taking Chances - 4:20
B4. American Hearts - 3:53
Companies, etc.
- Phonographic Copyright (p) – GTO Records Ltd.
- Copyright (c) – GTO Records Ltd.
- Distributed By – CBS Records
Credits
- Arranged By [Strings And Horns], Conductor [Strings And Horns] – Linton Naiff
- Design [Sleeve], Art Direction – Seabrook/Graves/Aslett
- Photography By – Bob Carlos Clark
Notes
Release: 1980
Genre: Disco, Soul
Format: LP
Label: GTO Records
Catalog# GTLP 036
Prijs: €7,00
Vinyl: Goed
Hoes: Lichte Gebruikerssporen
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