(2): Duets [Import]

Olivia Newton-John | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 15, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Universal
• ASIN: B0002T20A2
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #800,679 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

2002 album from one of the world's most successful female artist features duets with some of the world's biggest names, including Darren Hayes of Savage Garden, pop star Tina Arena, aboriginal artist Jimmy Little, country star Keith Urban & many more. 12 tracks including the hidden 'Physical' (samba version). Festival Records. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Olivia goes the extra mile with "2", September 21, 2003

By 

Joseph P. Shea (Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: (2): Duets (Audio CD)

I was pleasantly surprised when I bought ONJ's latest endeavor. After releasing countless tired compilations of old material, this new CD is like a breath of fresh air.
The first track Sunburned Country with Keith Urban really caught my attention with its electric guitar opening. It's an empowering tune about the love of their homeland down under. It makes you want to visit!
Lift me Up with Darren Haynes is absolutely charming! The duo sound great together!
I'll come Runnin' with Tina Arena is another gem. The two singers have great harmony. I'm not familiar with Tina here in Canada, but she is a promising young talent.
Tenterfield Saddler with Peter Allen is a mournful ballad. Not being familiar with Australian history, this song is a bit lost on me, but I respect the artists' endeavor to sing it with heart.
I will be Right Here with David Campbell is a beautiful but predictable ballad, written by Diane Warren. Again I thank Olivia for exposing me to some of Australia's talent.
I Love you Crazy with Human Nature combines Olivia's vocals with the group's chorus.
Bad About You with Billy Thorpe is a stompin' country tune designed to get people off their feet and on the dance floor. I wish Olivia would sing more songs like this! This tune rivals anything you will hear on country stations.
I'm Counting on You with Johnny O'Keefe is a country ballad reminiscent of the 1950's sound. It's a real treat.
Never Far Away with Richard Marx is beautiful and poetic ballad. I haven't heard anything from Marx since the 80's I'm glad to hear that he is still around.
Happy Day with Jimmy Little is a cute ditty, but my least favourite song on the CD. Maybe it'll grow on me in time.
Act of Faith with Micheal McDonald is reminiscent of that famous Doobie sound. Who would have thought - Olivia with Micheal McDonald!! But it works! Another gem worthy of airplay.
The mambo version of Physical repackages an old hit from the 80's. Actually I kinda like this version better than the original.
I hope ONJ has great success with this release. Some of her previous CDs like Soul Kiss and Gaia failed to inspire. Hey if Cher can still have hit songs there is no reason why Olivia can't enjoy a resurgence of popularity.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Olivia Wows Us With Latest Offering!, December 15, 2002

By 

musicalskoda (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: (2): Duets (Audio CD)

Olivia Newton-John's latest album is easily among her best ever. The choice of songs and singing partners is diverse and she manages to blend with them all seemigly effortlessly. Olivia's voice used to always sound so young and innocent and it was a shock to me when it started developing qualities more associated with a fading talent. However, as another reviewer commented, the practise that she has had through lots of touring over the past few years has now paid due dividends and her voice has grown into it's maturer self with class. She sounds absolutely great on this collection of duets, which has been superbly produced over a variety of styles. There is a little country, a little pop, a country rocker and it effortlessly runs the gamut, displaying a versatility drawn from Olivia's career to date. Unless you are an Aussie music fan, some of the names may be unfamiliar but the US artists Richard Marx and Michael McDonald should be well known to most - unless you have been living in a cupboard for the last couple of decades. Personally, all the tracks I prefer are with the Oz gang (Darren Hayes, Tina Arena, Human Nature et al). The posthumous duets are superbly and respectfully carried off too.

In short, it entered my CD player a few weeks ago, entered my head a couple of days later and hasn't left either since!

My congratulations to Olivia and the team for a return to top, top form!

Now Livvy - get yourself over to the UK where the wealth of warmth for you must be experienced to be believed!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "2" is Too Excellent for Words..., December 30, 2002

By 

Rod Reviewer (VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: (2): Duets (Audio CD)

In these bleak days when pop radio is full of cheap, "sound du joir", bubble-gum, hip-hop, electronica, throw-away garbage, it is SO wonderfully refreshing to know that classy artists like ONJ continue NOT to follow that path, and continue to put out such high quality music as is evident on this latest disk.

I agree with most reviewers: Olivia's voice sounds stronger and clearer than ever. Definitely, her past couple of years of touring have improved and toned her vocal quality. Not that her voice was really in bad shape, but during the years in which she did not exercise it, there was a definite decline in quality--although even then, she could run circles around the likes of most other pop singers.

I also love the choices Olivia made as to whom to duet with on this CD. Most names are relatively unknown to American audiences--again, a refreshing change, since most "duets" albums are all with hugely popular artists. This CD provides the chance for lesser known singers to meld their voices with ONJ's--and a work of art has resulted.

If only some of these songs could make it to American radio, O might have a chance to hit the big time again. Still, sometimes I think she is better off doing her own thing, enjoying her own quiet and successful life away from the chaos and fickleness that IS the American music industry and music-buying public, in general.

Great job, Olivia. You are truly Australia's shining star--and you deserve to be America's as well!