Customer Reviews

Back With a Heart

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Olivia is definetly "Back With A Heart" with this cd that shows she is still as talented as ever. While radio and many fans have basically ignored this CD the final product is one of her best. The title track, "Love Is A Gift" and "Under My Skin" are among the highlights. While Livvy failed to score a radio hit both "IHLY" and "Precious Love" were CMT hits showing that country fans have a much wider mind than many country DJS. Olivia faces the problem of not exactly fitting any format. County fans(some)think she is too pop and pop fans(some) have failed to grow with Olivia and want Physical Part 2. Thankfully, Olivia has the good taste to simply sing from her heart and the results are a classy album. Pick up a copy today! Although not released in the U.S. GAIA also is a great look at this very talented lady today.

If you like ONJ's country music, this album is for you! This artistic triumph is overflowing with sparkling, feel-good music that will put some pep in your step and a smile on your face. Olivia Newton-John has rarely sounded better than she sounds on Back With A Heart. The title song says it all, and ONJ is not afraid to give us a little gusto along with the other sweet, satisfying songs featured here. Aside from the title song, the best cuts are "Closer to Me", "I Don't Wanna Say Goodnight", "Don't Say That", and the stunning re-interpretation of her signature song, "I Honestly Love You". I must admit that I am not a consumer of country music, so I won't presume to try to sell this album to hardcore country music enthusiasts. However, I do think it merits mentioning that a similar backlash against Olivia's country music transpired 25 years ago when she won a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal. She survived and prospered nonetheless. I have no doubts that this album will find its intended audience, not in country music fans, but in Olivia music fans. Bravo, Olivia!

'Back With A Heart' is an initial shock. Firstly, it is light years away from the sex kitten energy-filled pop Olivia was so fond of in the 80's, and doesn't even touch on the unique new-age pop she flirted with in the mid-nineties. Rather, the CD takes Olivia back to her roots ... simple, traditional, pop songs with a live band classed as 'country' by so many people (although arguably 'Back With A Heart' is no more country than the last Shania Twain release).

Secondly, Olivia's voice sounds rather ravaged on this release. Although her latest album, the duets album imaginatively titled (2), shows that recent touring has done her voice a world of good, in 1998 Olivia was still recovering from a throat problem and you can tell. Not that the sound is unpleasant - her voice is lower than usual and has an appealing huskiness to it which gives her otherwise thin but strong vocals more breadth - but it is startling coming from a woman who built her career on a crystal-like sound.

Luckily, after a couple of listens this initial shock wears off. What you are left with is a heartfelt rediscovery of life and all its joys, with startlingly honest lyrics from a woman who for so long was fiercely private. Even 1994's 'Gaia', an album borne out of Olivia's battle with breast cancer, can't manage to capture the emotional depth that 'Back With A Heart'. Yes, it is probably more likely to appeal to Olivia's older, more 'experienced' fans than the new generation of 'Grease' devotees, but 1998 did mark Olivia's entry into the *gasp* 50's. As much as some of us would like it, we can't expect her to be frolicking around in headbands and legwarmers getting physical anymore, can we?!

This record effortlessly segues Olivia's early beginnings with simple instrumentation and 'traditional' melodies with the pop sensibilities which began infiltrating her work from the late seventies onwards. The album has a very prominent 'sound' (a deliciously Americanised incarnation of country-pop) but the individual songs manage to touch on various styles Olivia flirted with throughout her career. 'Precious Love' is vintage Olivia-lite country with a pop hook, whilst 'Spinning His Wheels' plays on the acoustic emotion best expressed in the title track of her 1976 album 'Come On Over'. 'I Don't Wanna Say Goodnight' and 'Don't Say That' have a distinctly seventies Californian feel to them whilst 'Attention' is the classic Olivia torch ballad along the lines of 'I Honestly Love You', which, ironically, gets a 90's soul/R'n'B reworking as the record's closing track.

The two highlights, unsurprisingly, come via John Farrar's pen. For those unfamiliar with John, he has worked with Olivia since her very first record and has written some of her biggest hits - Magic, Have You Never Been Mellow, Hopelessly Devoted To You, You're The One That I Want, just to name a few. It's obvious he is well in tune with Olivia's capabilities, but isn't afraid to stretch them. 'Closer To Me' was screaming for a release, perfect mid-tempo pop, whilst 'Under My Skin' sees a slightly more subdued reincarnation of Rock-Tramp Olivia who emerged during the early 80's. With a driving beat, catchy chorus, and even some of Olivia's trademark crotch-shrinkingly high vocals, 'Under My Skin' is a definite winner even if it does sound slightly out of place on the album.

The only song which could perhaps have been left off is the slightly substandard 'Fight For Our Love', which is Tammy Wynette all over, except reinterpreted in a whiny voice which is very out of character for Olivia. The only other particuarly 'country' song is the title track, a rollicking ode to rekindling your own heart. Awww! Great melody and positive lyrics... who cares if it's a bit too Dolly Parton? Hey, Olivia DID cover Dolly's 'Jolene' all those many years ago...

The cover art, it has to be said, is not one of Olivia's more flattering photos. Why she chose this over some of the much nicer inlay photos and other shots from the accompanying shoots I'll never know. The cover doesn't even look like Olivia, and it's at the very least a little too 'old-looking'. Nevermind, the other photos are lovely and the whole CD is packaged very well. I love the back cover of Olivia shopping here in Sydney in the Rocks - cute and sexy!

'Back With A Heart' is a fantastic album, perhaps one not essential to those who fervently favour the 'sex kitten' years, but certainly a must-have in any more-than-casual fan's collection. I just hope this doesn't become Olivia's last 'great' album. After the major misstep that was (2) (despite rather phenomenal sales in Australia), let's hope Olivia gets her career back on track with a great pop record!

This underrated 1998 album really should have been given more of a chance. The then 50 year old Olivia found her face no longer fit at country radio and she was swiftly dropped by MCA. 8 years on, it's perhaps better than ever with the variety of material playing to all Olivia's strengths. Whatever kind of music you prefer Olivia singing, you'll find some of it here. She even co-wrote the majority of the material along with some of Nashville's finest.

There are no particular standouts, it's all good, from the rockin' title track and the sultry 'Under My Skin' to the Disney-esque (and award winning) 'Love Is A Gift' and the 'Hopelessly Devoted..' like 'Fight For Our Love'. 'I Don't Wanna Say Goodnight' is pure pop that wouldn't sound amiss on 'Totally Hot', while 'Attention' is one of her most affecting ballads of recent times. If this album had been released in Olivia's hey day it would have sold millions and been hailed as one of her best. However, it was released at the same time as the 20th anniversary reissue of 'Grease' and became rather lost in all the attention on the movie. A real shame.

Do check this one out. If you've ever had any kind of affection for Olivia, you'll fall in love with her all over again. Guaranteed.

After reading the variety of reviews here I decided to check this CD out before purchasing it. I went to Borders and listened to long clips of every song before making a decision. I was extremely disappointed. I don't know how to describe it except "blah." I found it very slow, very drawn out and very boring. It left me with a feeling of "I can't wait for this to be over." I couldn't bring myself to spend even $11.98 on it. I was hoping for a more upbeat CD in music and lyrics.

As an avid ONJ fan I was so excited to see Olivia had a new cd. Sadly this cd is very disappointing, as the songs on this cd are rather dull. This cd offers little. A reprisal of the already overplayed "I honestly love you" does not make a good cd. Olivia is very talented but this cd is mediorce at best.

Olivia returns to the genre that made her famous, and proves that she is a match for Trisha, Reba, Martina, or any other of country's celebrated female vocalists. Olivia brings a pop sensibility to the tracks on "Back With A Heart", while maintaining a true country feel, making the music accessible to both audiences. Possessing a voice that just gets better with time, Olivia has recorded an album which is perfect from start to finish. A MUST buy!

Returning to her country "roots" has proven easy and a sound career choice. Olivia's voice has deepened over the years and she's got that husky "country" voice now that goes well with the songs on this album. Also improved is her songwriting! (Though nothing can top her work on her last album, "Gaia") Once again Olivia proves herself a true talent and that she can stand the test of time. Best tracks: "Back With a Heart," "Precious Love," "Attention," and "Fight For Our Love" (though there's not a bad one here!)

In her new CD, ONJ sounds as if she has never left us. Her voice is as clear as a bell and as touching as it has ever been. Her last CD, "GAIA", was a chronicle of her thoughts and experiences through her scare with breast cancer. With this new release, she has relaxed into a newer, more comfortable mode, but her phrasing encompasses all of her most recent experinces. To have the opportunity to hear something as perfect as "Love Is A Gift", is itself, a very rare gift, indeed.

Olivia IS back! Too bad most of mainstream and country radio is ignoring this triumphant recording. Olivia's never sounded (or looked) better, and despite all her recent roubles - from bankrupcy and divorce to cancer and the loss of close friend s- she has never sounded so mature, so professional, so comfortable with her gift. Hers is a think voice - like an angels - and should not be underestimated. What is singing if not emotional connection to lyrics and trhe music itself. On songs like "Back with a Heart," "Spinning His Wheels" and "Precious Love" Olivia demonstrates why her pipes touch people the world over. Really a terrific album - I'd say her best in 20 years! Sadly, its being underappreciated by the mainstream charts and press. Call your CMT and VH1, call your local country, a/c and pop radio stations and ask that they play some cuts from this truly exciting album.