The song was initially released in the UK as "European Queen" in May 1984,[citation needed] but it did not achieve success.[3] As suggested by people at the record company, it was re-recorded for different parts of the world—resulting in the versions "Caribbean Queen" and "African Queen".[4]
In the US, the song was released under the title "Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)". It entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 85 on the chart dated 11 August 1984. Ten weeks later, it hit number one and stayed at the top of the chart for two consecutive weeks. The song charted for 26 weeks. This version then also achieved success in Europe:
The song was released in Europe as "European Queen" and nobody was interested in it. When we changed the name to "Caribbean Queen" and released it in the U. S., it took off and started snowballing and they started playing it in Europe. I guess it had more appeal as "Caribbean Queen" because Europe conjures up a vision of rain and snow and cold, but Caribbean sounds like sunshine and blue skies. It's much more exotic.
— Billy Ocean[3]
Charts
"Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)"
Weekly charts
Weekly chart performance for "Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)"
^Promis, Jose F. "Billy Ocean – Greatest Hits [Jive]". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
^Breihan, Tom (9 September 2020). "The Number Ones: Billy Ocean's "Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run)"". Stereogum. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
^ a b c"Sizzling Billy Ocean Has 'Caribbean Queen' to Thank for Crowning". Chicago Tribune. 17 February 1985. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
^ a bCampbell, Mary (22 February 1985). "Amazed by Popularity – Billy Ocean's New Album Gave Him Strong Beginning". TV Plus (Schenectady Gazette Supplement). p. 23. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
^ a b c d e"Suddenly – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
^"V. JEFFREY SMITH (TORS-Producer/Sound Engineer)..." The Outlet Radio Show. 15 March 2015. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
^"Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 96, no. 51. 22 December 1984. p. 66. ISSN 0006-2510.