Tracklist
02
Gun For Hire
08
Pleasure
album info:
Verified yes
Discs1
Rank−
Released1988-01-00
Record labelBMG/Arista
Charts
AddedAugust 1st, 2012
Last updated
AboutTear Down These Walls is the seventh solo studio album by British recording artist Billy Ocean. It was originally released in January 1988 by Jive and Arista as the follow-up to Ocean's critically and commercially successful 1986 album Love Zone. The album's title is a reference to then-President Ronald Reagan's "tear down this wall!!" speech. It features guest backing vocalists, including The Manhattans, Will Downing, Carroll Thompson, and Mary Cassidy, and is generally regarded as the culmination of the smoother, more adult-oriented sound of Ocean's later work.
On release, the album was received favourably by the majority of music critics. Ocean's second most commercially successful solo album, it went on to peak at #3 on the UK Albums Chart and reached #18 on the Billboard 200. The album launched four charting singles in the UK. "Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car" peaked at #3 on the UK Singles Chart; "Calypso Crazy" peaked at #35; "The Colour of Love" at #65; "Stand and Deliver" at #97.
Tear Down These Walls was released in 39 versions, including a unique Mini CD version (three 3" CDs) for the UK.
The album was re-released on 16 June 2014 on Cherry Pop featuring rare bonus content. The reissue is a 2-CD set with the original album digitally remastered from the original 1/2" mix tapes; the bonus content consists of associated 7", and 12" mixes.
In a retrospective review for AllMusic, critic Ron Wynn gave the album three out of five stars and wrote that "While he was still a successful attraction, this album wouldn't reach the multi-platinum levels of its predecessors." also noting that "Ocean's voice also lacked the resonance and authority it had on earlier dance tunes and wasn't as convincing or confident on ballads."
On release, the album was received favourably by the majority of music critics. Ocean's second most commercially successful solo album, it went on to peak at #3 on the UK Albums Chart and reached #18 on the Billboard 200. The album launched four charting singles in the UK. "Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car" peaked at #3 on the UK Singles Chart; "Calypso Crazy" peaked at #35; "The Colour of Love" at #65; "Stand and Deliver" at #97.
Tear Down These Walls was released in 39 versions, including a unique Mini CD version (three 3" CDs) for the UK.
The album was re-released on 16 June 2014 on Cherry Pop featuring rare bonus content. The reissue is a 2-CD set with the original album digitally remastered from the original 1/2" mix tapes; the bonus content consists of associated 7", and 12" mixes.
In a retrospective review for AllMusic, critic Ron Wynn gave the album three out of five stars and wrote that "While he was still a successful attraction, this album wouldn't reach the multi-platinum levels of its predecessors." also noting that "Ocean's voice also lacked the resonance and authority it had on earlier dance tunes and wasn't as convincing or confident on ballads."