Olivia Newton-John Appreciation Thread.

More Olivia from 1978.

 

Is that outfit "Good night" or "Good morning"?

EG.

 

She’d never say.

 

Wonderful photos, @Bobby Morrow! Olivia looks great in every decade, but 1978-1980 was just gobsmackingly beautiful!


x

 

It’s such a shame it’s taken 42 years for me to find all these promo shots from the Olivia TV special. There’s a lot more too.

 

Olivia was breathtakingly beautiful when I saw her in concert on her outstanding Physical Tour in 1982 at Irvine Meadows Amphitheater, but what surprised me the most was her fantastic live vocals. Olivia's voice is her most underrated asset in my opinion. Music critic Paul Grein has talked about her nearly perfect vocal pitch as well as her surprising power when singing live on stage. Her voice is such a contradiction and a beautiful one at that too. At times she sounds like she is almost singing at a whisper, and the next thing you know, she is belting it out like a diva. One of the most gifted female vocalists that I have ever heard in concert out of the dozens and dozens of singers I have seen live in person, including singers as gifted as Adele, Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill, Dolly Parton, Shania Twain, Crystal Gayle, and Dottie West.

 

Olivia was never given much credit as a vocalist in her day. Although she did have some stiff competition admittedly. Interestingly, when young people do those ‘reaction’ videos on YouTube these days, they mostly point out what a great singer she is.

 

Olivia may not have the strongest voice, but there´s lots of warmth and vibrancy in that voice of hers. Which makes me like her vocals better than many technically more sophisticated singers. When in doubt, I go for the voices that interest me. Olivia´s does, especially the 1975-1982 version.

Which may explain why I like that other underrated British singer. He does not have the power of Tom Jones or the phrasing of Frank Sinatra, but he gets me (almost) every time. Now, what was his name again...?

 

Matt Monro?

 

He, he... Close, but no cigar.

Well, he´s an excellent singer, too. "My guy" covered his "Softly As I Leave You". A great song, IMO.

 

Cliff Richard?

 

Could be, could be... Yes, that´s "my guy". As you can tell from my avatar.

 

This what I get for not wearing my reading glasses while viewing this thread. That is a newer avatar for you, is it not?

 

Well, I did have the Janis Ian "STARS" album cover for a year or two, then I changed it to the more suitable "I´M NO HERO" album by Cliff. And that´s very apposite - I am no hero. Not that anybody would suggest such a thing.

And I also like the album and its cover.

 

Australia has given the US so many wonderful musical treasures. I remember the TV promo special ONJ did for the release of 'Let's Get Physical' album. She was on a long white sandy beach with her beauty in full flight. And she was playing with a glass pyramid of some kind while waves lapped up around her. My five old mind was like, "this show biz thing is verrrry cool."

 

Listening to Totally Hot last night Bobby

 

The vinyl, as opposed to one of the OOP, hard to find CD versions?

This is probably my favourite album by her.

 

Yes, the old US Allen Zentz cut. I've never run into her older albums on compact disc, don't even remember seeing them in the early 90's at retail.

 

I think you had to be there in the mid to late 80’s. By the 90’s a lot of them were gone.

 

Think you're right. 80's I was full blown cassette

 

Those MCA CDs are worth picking up if you can find them at a reasonable price. But you probably know that already.

 

Every few months I scan ebay, hoping someone doesn't realize what they have

 

It’s all about the wait. @David Campbell picked up the If You Love Me, Let Me Know CD recently after searching for it at the right price for years.