European queen - Billy Ocean

Not only did Billy Ocean record different versions of his song 'Caribbean queen', entitled 'African queen' and 'European queen', but there were also different edits of those songs. This single of 'European queen' features an edit which is shorter by 30 seconds when compared to the album version, but also an instrumental version which is actually longer than the album version! It's only 10 seconds longer, but still...

Having heard this song too often back in 1984, I never bought it, but now, more than a quarter of a century later, it's actually fun to hear this again.

My collection: 7" single no. 4848
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 8, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'European queen' / 'European queen (instrumental)'

Carribean queen - Billy Ocean

'Caribbean queen' was recorded by Billy Ocean in 1984 with Robert John 'Mutt' Lange co-writing and producing the track. The single reached number 6 in the UK singles chart, number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 15 in the Dutch Top 40.

The song was recorded with different titles for different parts of the world - resulting in versions such as 'European queen' and 'African queen'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4847
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 8, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Caribbean queen' / 'European queen'

Suddenly - Billy Ocean

After a string of uptempo hit singles, Billy Ocean surprised many with the slow ballad 'Suddely'. It was the title track of his 1984 album, but released a a single in 1985. Such was the success of this ballad, that he would release further slow songs like 'There'll be sad song (to make you cry)' in later years.

The single peaked at number 4 in the UK singles chart and the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, while peaking at number 23 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 821
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 13, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Suddenly' / 'Lucky man'

Loverboy - Billy Ocean

I remember a very strange music video for Billy Ocean's 'Loverboy', which was played rather often on television in 1985. These days, it simply does not appear anymore, except of course on YouTube.

The single was a good success for Billy Ocean, peaking at number 15 in the UK singles chart and number 5 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1842
Found: January 23, 1993
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Loverboy' / 'Loverboy (dub mix)'

Loverboy - Billy Ocean

'Loverboy' was the second single taken from Billy Ocean's 1984 album 'Suddenly'. It was produced by Robert John 'Mutt' Lange. The single peaked at number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 15 on the UK singles chart.

This 12" single features an extended version of the track, adding a lot of instrumental passages and synth riffs that makes the song so delicious in the first place. After buying this 12" single I found out that a limited edition was pressed on coloured vinyl. Oh well, you can't win them all...

My collection: 12" single no. 335
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Loverboy (extended)' / 'Loverboy (dub mix)'

Love really hurts without you - Billy Ocean

'State alternatives wherever possible'. This line was famous in the eighties, when I was ordering records in the UK via mail order. Back then, you just sent your order form with some money and hoped you would receive the singles you ordered two weeks later. I was usually lucky, and so my alternative was never used. I always wrote down 'Love really hurts without you' by Billy Ocean, because I knew the song and in time I knew I wanted to have it, but I wasn't that hot for it. Well, that's a fact: I finally bought the single in a shop in 2003 and only played it this year for the first time.

Leslie Sebastian Charles was born in Trinidad on January 21, 1950 (exactly 59 years ago today) and moved to England with his parents at the age of eight. In 1975 he took on the stage name Billy Ocean, taking the surname from the 'Ocean Estate' where he lived in East London. His debut single, 'Love really hurts without you', reached number 2 in the UK singles chart, number 11 in the Netherlands and number 22 in the US Billboard Hot 100.

My collection: 7" single no. 3390

Found: Geest, Den Haag, 2003

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Love really hurts without you' / 'You're running outa fools'

Download: here