A regular figure in the upper reaches of the pop charts throughout the ’70s and much of the ’80s, Billy Ocean – Britain’s most successful black artist – hit the number one spot in 1986 with ‘When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going’.
A long sabbatical (17 years) saw him retreat from the music to bring up his family. But he’s been touring successfully in recent years and remains as popular as ever. Here, he covers some of his favourite tunes. Many are very well known and loved in their original incarnations. Nonetheless he comes trumps on a trio of Sam Cooke classics including a rousing version of, ‘Having A Party’, a more sombre take on the civil rights anthem ‘A Change Is Gonna Come’ and a soulful ‘You Send Me’. Elsewhere, he goes back further in time, tackling ‘Cry Me A River’ and Sinatra’s ‘It Was a Very Good Year’. He also offers a terrific version of the smooth, jazzy ‘These Foolish Things’ – probably best known through Bryan Ferry’s version but a music-hall standard that goes back to the 1930s. Not bad at all.

Key Track: 'The Foolish Things'