Ocean Drive (National Album Day 2023)

Ocean Drive, the multi-platinum selling debut album from the much-loved Lighthouse Family, is released for the first time ever on vinyl – Originally released on Wildcard/Polydor Records in September 1995, the album reached No 3 in the UK charts, and spawned four Top 20 singles.

Lighthouse Family formed in Newcastle when keyboardist Paul Tucker and singer Tunde Baiyewu were students in the city. Taking their name from lighthouses in Whitley Bay and Tynemouth, the pair began to craft their gossamer pop-soul songs. Signed to Polydor in 1993, the group worked with the cream of session players to make their debut album.

Ocean Drive epitomised the slow burn: on its initial release, it faired modestly well, reflected by the No 61 and No 24 placings of its first singles. However, when Lifted was reissued as a single in February 1996, the album went stratospheric, hitting the Top 3, and getting further lifts every time a further single (the title track, Goodbye Heartbreak and Loving Every Minute) was taken from it – resulting in it being in the charts for a staggering 154 weeks.

Ocean Drive acted as a sweet, soulful antidote to the Britpop and boy and girl bands of the day. Hearing it again makes a listener realise quite how well known the whole album is – it was the perfect soundtrack for the burgeoning bar culture of the mid 90s.

Ocean Drive is presented with scrupulous attention to the detail, overseen by Paul Tucker, being the first time the album has ever been released on vinyl. This limited edition pressing is on high-quality 180g blue vinyl.