Having made his mainstream breakthrough two years earlier
with Suddenly, Ocean ditched Keith Diamond in favour of Barry Eastmond and
Wayne Braithwaite as producer/ co-writers. It worked, with Braithwaite's
commanding bass - honed working with Melba Moore and Kashif - adding steel
under Anita Baker/Gladys Knight producer Eastmond's smooth polish.
Braithwaite's slap bass propels the title track and the low-slung funk of
Showdown, seemingly made for a chase scene.
Despite the title, Love Zone is relatively light on
ballads, though the yearning Love Is Forever is up there with Ocean's best
slowies. Mostly, it's Billy having fun with his success, with the edgy It's
Never Too Late To Try and gospel-tinged closer Promise Me superb deep cuts.
Next time out, on Tear Down These Walls two years later, Ocean tried that
crucial step too far in maintaining the momentum, with Mutt Lange and Teddy
Riley the wrong producers to keep Eastmond and Braithwaite's natural flow
going.
Here, then, is when Ocean
got it exactly right commercially and artistically. Music On Vinyl's usual
glossy touches are just right, too, even if they can't improve on its
misleadingly cheesy album title, nor the cover photo of Ocean looking less than
convincing as a loverman smoothie. Image aside, Ocean really was in the zone.
