Customer Reviews

Have You Never Been Mellow

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was a huge fan of Olivia as a kid, and this album literally has been in my collection in one form or another since its release. Producer/arranger John Farrar just outdoes himself, and Olivia has never sounded better. Lots of interesting covers, including great versions of John Denver's "Follow Me" (longtime ONJ fans will remember she did a LOT of his songs) and Rick Nelson's "Lifestream." The absolute best track on this album in my opinion, however, is her cover of the Hollies' "The Air That I Breathe." Starting as a quiet, minor acoustic ballad, the last chorus suddenly gets chillingly bombastic. I was eight years old when my parents took me to see Olivia's tour for this album, and she did this song, and the place just went insane. Olivia was at her peak with this album, so if you can only own one ONJ record, this is it, look no further.

This album contains three big American hits - the title track, Please Mr Please and If you love me let me know - but this album is of a high quality throughout. In style, it is very typical of Olivia's early music, with a nice mix of ballads and upbeat songs. The general mood of the album is upbeat.

There are covers of two John Denver songs (Follow me and Goodbye again), The air that I breathe (originally recorded by Phil Everly but made famous by the Hollies), Lifestream (Rick Nelson). Loving arms is a song that has been covered frequently, including by Elvis Presley and, more recently, the Dixie Chicks.

There are some great originals apart from the hits already mentioned. It's so easy sounds very upbeat, but the music belies the lyrics. Water under the bridge, And in the morning and I never did sing you a love song are all lovely ballads.

If you like pop-country music of the seventies, this is definitely worth listening to.

If you've ever wondered why longtime fans of Olivia Newton-John are so passionate about her, give "Have You Never Been Mellow" a spin. Here, the artist truly comes into her own with an eclectic mix of pop that defines the word mellow, country-rock, and standards. Long before "Grease" and "Physical" made her an international icon, this #1 album contains some of her best performances. The title track - her second US #1 (after the Record of The Year Grammy Winning "I Honestly Love You" from the equally enchanting album "If You Love Me Let Me Know") - is perhaps the least effetive song on the entire record and yet remains an essential recording. "Please Mr. Please" - a gold-selling #3 classic has worn well through the years as one of the best jukebox songs of all time. But the highlights don't stop with those best-known songs. In fact, the rest of the recordings are equally exceptional, from the classic John Denver track "Follow Me" to the cover of the Hollies' "The Air that I Breathe" which stands as one of her best interpretations on record. I especially recommend two lesser known songs - "Lifestream" and "Lovin' Arms" both of which resonate with an emotional prowess today's female vocalists can only hope to achieve. All in all, this album is a must-own for any serious Olivia fan, and anyone who fondly remembers coming of age in the 70's. A well deserved platinum seller!

I don't think my buddies ever knew about my crush on ONJ back in High School, but in the art department where I took classes and tutored most of the day, everyone knew that I demanded silence when ONJ would come on the radio (the kids would all giggle and say shhhhh! the "Newt" is on!.

Really, when I listened to this even then, I knew she was never going to be an other Linda Ronstadt, her vocals while pretty, are just a bit breathy, but like Ronstadt's "Don't Cry Now" was an album that my parents and I could agree on for dinner music. However, listening to this CD this week, I have reconsidered even that a bit, and I think the vocals still stand up as pretty good soft country, and soft pop, still making for good (as the title song suggest) "Mellow" mood music. "Please Mr. Please" has always been one of my favorite country songs, and her cover of "Air that I breathe", has always been my favorite version. One different hook she had in those early days was her great Bass back up vocalist singing counter to her angelic notes, makes for a fun sing-a-long for this old middle aged man now.

So here's the deal, if you only know the ONJ of the '80s this may be a pleasant surprise for you, however if you have a vague recollection of this great classic, you might enjoy this trip down memory lane like I do.

'Have You Never Been Mellow', in my eyes, marks the beginning of Olivia's US music career. Her first four albums had been primarily British-based, with only one or two moderate American successes to her name. However by 1975 it seemed America couldn't resist the Newton-John charm and openly embraced both her and her music, giving Olivia two #1 hits in the form of the title track and this album itself.

A lot of the output from here on in up until Olivia's change of image in 1978 is a little patchy. Trying to bridge the gap between pop, Barbra-lite easy listening and country-folk, one gets the impression that she was almost trying too hard with a rate of two new studio albums a year. Luckily, 'Have You Never Been Mellow' manages to successfully merge the dreamy British feel of her first four records with the more commercial, FM-radio based feel of Olivia's American career.

The album is a joy from start to finish. It opens with 'Have You Never Been Mellow', still a pleasure all these years later and seemingly a favourite with Olivia too as she always seems to perform it live. Lovely lyrics and a gorgeous sentiment all wrapped up into a dreamy little package. 'Loving Arms', 'Lifestream' and 'I Never Did Sing You A Lovesong' are inoffensive radio fodder of the mid-seventies with Olivia's lamenting vocals and pleasant instrumentation. The record also includes two John Denver covers, an ingenious idea, combining Olivia's remarkable vocal strength with John's heartwrenching lyrics and melodies. 'Goodbye Again' and 'Follow Me' are definite highlights.

Olivia also tries her hand at a couple of uptempos, not uptempos by 'Physical' standards but certainly along the lines of the light and peppy pop tunes she was recording back in Britain. 'Water Under The Bridge' is 'Banks Of The Ohio' with less twang, faster pace, and better lyrics, and 'It's So Easy' is similarly pleasing. (I love the footage of Olivia singing this at a televised New Years' Eve party in 1975; she gets to the end of the song, walks up some stairs, trips, and squeals into the microphone. Ahhh, bless!)

A couple of songs of particular note include the beautiful 'Please Mr Please' which has become an Olivia standard, her breathtaking cover of the Everly Brothers' 'The Air That I Breathe' (I would go as far to say that this may be the quintessential recording of this tune) as well as a rather dark little song about one-night stands called 'And In The Morning'. Reminds me quite a bit of 'Amoureuse' from the 'Let Me Be There' (aka 'Music Makes My Day') record.

Add to that, of course, the 'Let Me Be There' copycat 'If You Love Me (Let Me Know)' which is infinitely better than its predecessor, and you have a very enjoyable summary of Olivia's early career. The album is cohesive, sharp, and lovingly warm. A definite must-have in any fan's collection.

Ok, die-hard fans, don't hate me, but this really is just an average album for me. Most of the songs, I can do without, especially that "Water Under The Bridge". I just think Olivia's voice is so much 'better' than that song. But, there are really nice, tender moments too. My absolute favourite would have to be "And In The Morning". This song just breaks your heart and Olivia is very good at that. She is the ultimate balladeer and she uses her instrument in such a way that you can get lost in that beautiful voice. At the end of this song, she gives a really heartfelt adlib and hits all those high notes so achingly beautiful, you don't know what hit you. Next, would be "The Air That I Breathe". It is better than the original. She puts a big, fat stamp on it and makes it all her own. Awesome. Besides these two biggies, I also like the title track "Have You Never Been Mellow". Boy, can John Farrar write! Although this song was such a big hit for Olivia and you know how big hits can go...you lose that freshness as the years go by...and you kinda don't want to listen to it because it's been "listened" to death already, but HYNBM is just one of those songs that you can never get fed up with no matter how many times you have listened to it. Sheer brilliance. And of course, there's "Please, Mister, Please. A pleasant enough melody to sing along to and I have heard Olivia sing this "Live" and I have to say that the "Live" version of this song is so much better than the recording.

A last word...if you don't like any of the songs in it, just buy the cd for the cover pic. Olivia is gorgeous. Look at those eyes...if I were a guy...oh, well...

I wore this LP out back in the 70's but wasn't expecting it to have held up over time. It does! The title tune and "Please Mr Please" are classics, but there are other treasures within: the much-covered "Loving Arms", the sexy "And in the Morning", and Olivia's great covers of John Denver's "Goodbye Again" and especially "Follow Me." Soon to be deleted from the Australian catalogue...

I love, love, love this album. I had this as a record when I was little and I used to play it over and over. It's a good thing LPs didn't wear out because this one certainly would have. My all-time favorite Olivia song "Loving Arms" is on this CD. I bought the CD just for that song because I haven't been able to find it on any other of her collections. But as I listened to it I remembered how happy the music made me, especially the upbeat "Lifestream" and "Water Under the Bridge". I also love her rendition of John Denver's "Goodbye Again". It's just such a great album overall. I highly recommend this CD to anyone who loves Olivia.

One of her best from the early days. She does two super John Denver covers with "Follow Me" and "Goodbye Again." "It's So Easy" is bouncy fun and "Please Mr. Please" is a country classic. Still, nothing beats the wonderful title track.

Good demonstration of Olivia's tenderness and timeless temperament.

Some very good songs here ("Have You Never Been Mellow," "Please Mr. Please").

At times Newton-John is so quavering that you wonder if somebody has a gun to her head. Hard to believe that this is the same singer who holds the High C at the end of "When You Wish Upon a Star" (from the WARM AND TENDER album) with such precision and stability.