You know what would be a baller move? Primary Wave releasing a new compilation called Olivia’s Greatest Hits Vol. 3. Collect all the critical singles from 1983 on, and put the 1978-1982 missing hits on the GHV2 Deluxe.
I sure hope it’s mostly old songs… Duets albums are like Christmas albums… It’s what you do when the muses are gone…
Regarding the upcoming Greatest Hits Japan Deluxe Edition, I went back to see how Japan originally issued their GH on both LP and CD. (Not the GH Vol 2 as that is the same track order) We know that sometimes a different track order (especially from what we are so use to) can make the whole experience of listening quite different. I’m surprised that Japan didn’t stay with the same track order as how they originally issued their GH. Here is the track order of how Japan issued their GH LP and CD (I wasn’t aware they issued their CD on a black triangle for the GH) GH Japan LP 1977 EMI EMS-80960 GH Japan CD 1984 EMI-CP35-3115 (Black Triangle CD) Take Me Home Country Roads If Not For You Changes Let Me Be There If You Love Me (Let Me Know) I Honesty Love You Have You Never Been Mellow Jolene Please Mr Please Something Better To Do Let It Shine Come On Over Don't Stop Believin' Sam GH (Japan Deluxe CD Edition) 2022 Disc 1 If Not For You Banks Of The Ohio Love Song Take Me Home Country Roads Changes Let Me Be There If You Love Me (Let Me Know) I Honesty Love You Have You Never Been Mellow Please Mr Please The Air That I Breathe Something Better To Do Let It Shine Every Face Tells A Story Jolene Come On Over Don't Stop Believin' Sam Don't Cry For Me Argentina Making A Good Thing Better
Does anyone have the Japan GH black triangle CD? I wonder how it sounds. I have the Japan GH vol 2 black triangle CD and have always been very impressed with the mastering.
I kinda wish PW had stayed with releasing the GH Deluxe the way it was originally issued. I wish disc 1 could be exactly how it was issued in the US and disc 2 could be whatever additional songs they want to add. Just like how Physical and INFY deluxe were reissued. Especially when it comes to all these remasters. I want to pop in Cd 1 and it be exactly how they originally issued it…same songs…same track order.
Or at least keep it all chronological. I’m baffled by the incorrect placements of “Changes” and “Every Face Tells a Story,” and “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina” makes more sense as a closing track than “Making a Good Thing Better.” It was the last thing released as a single anyway.
I just realized that every CD albums of Olivia always have best quality are from Japan. I think that buy Olivia’s CD albums Japan released is a must-be.
The INFY Deluxe has good me re-listening to some early Olivia. I always loved this one - a clip was shown on the Portrait of a Legend show I caught back in 1983 just as my fandom was blossoming. It was years later that I finally heard the whole thing on 48 Original Tracks...
‘Changes’ isn’t too odd considering ‘Take Me Home Country Roads’ was released as a single in ‘72, so technically they’re both from the same year. To me closing with ‘Making A Good Thing Better’ leads into the pop years of ‘Volume 2’ a little better too. But yes, ‘Every Face Tells A Story’ is bizarrely situated! x
I grew up on the track sequence of the 8 track (!) of Greatest Hits so it was weird for me to finally get the LP years later and hear the songs in chronological order! To be honest, I’ve always preferred the “out of order” sequencing of the 8 track since the tracks on Volume 2 ended up not being in chronological order. I’m glad to see PW combining the track listings of the US, UK and Australian versions of the 1977 album into one “Deluxe Edition.” It gives a full and rich overview of her “Pre-Grease” period. It also makes me curious as to what will be included on Volume 2. I’m assuming we’ll get the 14 tracks from the Aussie Volume 3 and assuming Vol 2 will also have 20 tracks that leaves room for 6 more tracks. My guesses are 1. Summer Nights 2. Twist of Fate 3. Livin in Desperate Times 4. Soul Kiss 5. Dancin’ ‘Round and ‘Round (?) 6. The Rumour (?) I’m happy to see two separate volumes of GH being released with their original artwork. Those cover photos are classics and good representations of the material contained on them.
I also just finished adding my own version of Target’s upcoming Greatest Hits 1971-1982 to my digital library. I alternated songs between Vols 1 and 2 using the 8-track sequencing for Vol. 1 and the original song sequence of Vol. 2 (adding “Deeper Than The Night” because even as a six year old it bugged me that it wasn’t on there!) I thought it turned out pretty good and was an enjoyable listening experience with a balance of the country ballads and pop anthems. Here’s the full track list if anybody else wants to make their own! 1. If Not For You 2. Heart Attack 3. Something Better To Do 4. Magic 5. Come On Over 6. Physical 7. Let Me Be There 8. Hopelessly Devoted To You 9. If You Love Me (Let Me Know) 10. Deeper Than The Night 11. Have You Never Been Mellow 12. Make A Move On Me 13. Changes 14. A Little More Love 15. I Honestly Love You 16. You’re The One That I Want 17. Don’t Stop Believin’ 18. Tied Up 19. Please Mr. Please 20. Suddenly 21. Let It Shine 22. Xanadu 23. Sam
I got my INFY deluxe set today. I am very pleasantly pleased. Primary Wave has done a wonderful job with the packaging. Lots of great photos and the booklet is very nice with lots of pages. The remaster of the original album also sounds pretty good for a modern remaster. And a 50-min bonus disc is something I thought I would never see accompanying Olivia’s debut album. Yes, some of the songs on disc two in an incorrect order is a bummer, but overall I think Primary Wave really did a great job with this set. I am so looking forward to the rest of her albums in the 70’s given a deluxe treatment!
Wow this threat is really going fast can;t hardly keep up with these reactions. But yesterday i was finally been able to pick up my vinyl copy of "INFY", it looks very good so far and I can't wait to hear the record, but my record player doesn't work anymore so i need to buy a new recordplayer later this year because those things are so expensive. Now i need to wait until my cd copy arrives, i hope it won't take too long anymore. I wonder wich album they gonne release next, will it be "Olivia" 1972 or will they go for another album release?. I'm still not sure if i want to buy the new upcoming "Greatest Hits" album because the Japan version is not from Primary Waves records? it said Virgin Records that's strange, i rather want to see a new release from one of her older albums with some unreleased songs on it.
I discovered the song on the Crystal Lady LP in 1977. It was my favourite of the Pye B-sides included on the comp.
I had forgotten it was on Crystal Lady - that must have been where I first heard the full version, too. It could easily have been an A-side, I think.
I sort of get why Primary Wave are focusing on releasing Deluxe Editions of these Greatest Hits in order to create currently-available versions of these classic albums that rationalise all the tracks that originally appeared on the various international editions. However, that does mean that bona fide hits like What Is Life (and, until they do a comprehensive GHV2 Deluxe) Summer Nights are left on the cutting room floor. There is a definite need for a COMPREHENSIVE Olivia Newton-John hits collection that captures all of her charted hits across all territories, along with significant 'niche' hit releases from the latter part of her career (like Instrument of Peace, which got to #30 on the AC charts).
I think they should've made room for "What is Life" and "Long Live Love" on the GH Deluxe. Here's what I would do from here on out if I was PW: Olivia's Greatest Hits Vol. 2 Deluxe Summer Nights Hopelessly Devoted to You You're the One That I Want A Little More Love Deeper Than the Night Totally Hot (Single Mix) Dancin' 'Round and 'Round The Key I Can't Help it Rest Your Love On Me Magic Suddenly Suspended in Time Xanadu Physical Make a Move On Me Landslide (edit) The Promise Heart Attack Tied Up (edit) Olivia's Greatest Hits Vol. 3 What is Life Long Live Love Twist of Fate Take a Chance Livin' in Desperate Times (Single Mix) Soul Kiss (edit) Toughen Up The Best of Me The Rumour (Single Mix) Can't We Talk it Over in Bed Reach Out For Me (edit) Grease Megamix Deeper Than a River Not Gonna Be the One I Need Love No Matter What You Do Don't Cut Me Down Trust Yourself Falling (with Raybon Bros.) I Honestly Love You (with Babyface) Then release a triple CD set of all three hits collections: Olivia's Greatest Hits (20th Century).
Whenever I see a duets album I always wonder why no one’s ever thought of adding a half karaoke track that allows a listener/fan to do their own duet with a performer. Now I can’t sing and wouldn’t attempt to but many folks do like to, especially after a beer or two.
I’m very much in brainstorming mode today for some reason! If the Duets collection is as expansive and thorough as we are hoping for, what else could be used to collect some stray song and knock out some reissues at the same time? Three ideas come to mind for me: The Complete Christmas Collection (Everything from her numerous Christmas albums, plus stray tracks like her guest appearances and television appearances) The Silver Screen Collection (everything from her film soundtracks and soundtrack appearances, including things like the tracks from her TV movies and soundtracks from movies she didn’t appear in, like “Richard’s Window”) The Live Collection (Love Performance, Ogden 82, Live Journey, and Sydney DVD)
I don't think the duets album will be released this year (considering it's already October and there's still no announcement), but I hope it comes out in 2023. I'm looking forward to it (considering there will be several Olivia duets). I hope the Kenny Rogers unreleased duet makes its way there. I'm also really looking forward to the duet Olivia did with Dolly!
Provisional schedules for BBC Two on Saturday 15th October showing an Olivia Newton-John night and an episode of Top Of The Pops: 10:15pm - Olivia Newton John At The BBC 11:15pm - Xandau 12:50am - Only Olivia 1am - Top Of The Pops The TOTP might be 04/01/79 with her performance of A Little More Love. Or maybe the one from September 1980 where she didn’t perform but co-hosted the show with Simon Bates. The Only Olivia segment is odd. It appears to run for 10 minutes whereas the original show lasted for 50! Hope that’s a misprint. Nice to see Xanadu get a rare TV screening.
Bobby said that someone on facebook said the physical future releases will follow her USA discography… Therefore Let Me Be There should be the next title if Primary Wave goes chronologically (nevermind the greatest hits)…
I can’t sing to save my life yet I don’t need a beer nor a karaoke track to belt like a hyena and to make my neighbors wishing they were deaf…