Time and Tide was Basia's first solo album following her and Danny White's departure from the band Matt Bianco.

All three tracks achieved success on the U.S. adult contemporary chart and the latter was also Basia's first song to break the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100.

In December 1987, it was included in Billboard's list of "overlooked pop albums that deserved more attention" compiled by Geoff Mayfield.

[8] The album was subsequently awarded a platinum sales certification by the Recording Industry Association of America in November 1989 for selling one million copies in the U.S.

In 2013, the album was re-released by independent UK label Cherry Red Records as 2 CD deluxe edition featuring instrumental versions and remixes.