Customer Reviews

Love Songs: Collection

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This wonderful import from ONJ contains several chart topping love songs and strong album tracks that span over two decades. It contains both versions of her signature ballad, "I Honestly Love You," penned by Peter Allen. The 1998 version with vocals from r&b singer, songwriter, and record mogul, Babyface is an exquisite start to this album. Her original #1 1974 grammy award winning version of the classic tune consummately closes the fine collection of ballads.

In between these versions, are 14 landmark Olivia recordings. The early Olivia compositions are represented with "Long Live Love," a selection she performed at the 1974 Eurovision song contest in the UK (she placed #4 in the competition/the group ABBA won with "Waterloo"). From that album spawned the beautiful "Loving You Ain't Easy." Also included is the simplistic cover version of Bob Dylan's "If Not For You," which became her US debut in 1971.

The highlight on this collection is the undiscovered gem, "If We Only Have Love." This song sparkles with Olivia's signature soft and sweet melodies and reaches the ultimate climax at the end of the tune that leaves you begging for more.

The title track to her 1975 album "Clearly Love" is another welcomed edition to this collection. This marks the first time this simple and spare arrangement has found a home on CD. The song still holds up, even fifteen years later!

The album "Come On Over"(1976) is represented with the warm and inviting vocals of "Wrap Me In Your Arms." The classic top 5 hit,"If You Love Me (Let Me Know)", makes yet another appearance on this compilation of ballads. This is the title track of the original album that has been long out of print. This song is also featured on Olivia's "Back To Basics" collection from 1992.

The only selection from the 1978 "Totally Hot" import includes the sizzling "A Little More Love" which can be found on innumerable ONJ collections. Another uptempto track includes "Love Make Me Strong," from 1981 blockbuster album "Physical." The title track to her 1985 album "Soul Kiss," is a saucy, seductive, soulful tune that demonstrates her playfulness with her fluid vocal structure.

From 1988's "The Rumour," she shines on "Can't We Talk It Over In Bed," and the socially conscious rocker about AIDS, "Love And Let Live." In 1994, ONJ released a personal collection of songs called "Gaia-One Woman's Journey." She penned "No Matter What You Do," another highlight on this stunning set of love songs.

This album is a pleasant mix of hits and album tracks that highlight her enduring career. The only thing I would consider changing would be to omit some of the hits ("If You Love Me...," "If Not For You,") to include some other lesser known ballads (such as "Reach Out For Me," or the title track from 1989's overlooked "Warm And Tender"/"Walk Through Fire" from 1988's "The Rumour"/"The Right Moment" from 1985's "Soul Kiss"/"Shaking You" from 1983's "Two Of A Kind"/"Suspended In Time" from 1980's "Xanadu"/"Boats Against The Current" from 1978's "Totally Hot"/"If Love Is Real" from 1977's "Making A Good Thing Better" etc///There are too many slow classics album tracks to mention!

Nevertheless, there is a remarkable consistency in the collection that flows from track to track. The album contains a succinct written account that documents Olivia's remarkable 25 years in the music industry. For romantics and pop purists everywhere, this is a highly enjoyable listening experience I highly recommend.

This is a great 16-cut collection of some of OLIVIA'S best "love songs". Having a collectors edition 2-cd, 31-cut, tour souvenir of "back to basics" I pretty much thought as far as her greatest hits collections go I had it all. WRONG!This contains key recent release "precious love", both versions of "i honestly love you"(cool idea).It also mixes "soul kiss", "love and let live", "love make me strong" and "a little more love" with cuts I hadn't heard before like "loving you ain't easy", "if we only have love", & "clearly love" - all of which sound great many years later. It seems like there are cuts from most of her albums except "warm & tender" and the soundtracks - all in all a very wide representation of her work! This cd was a very pleasant surprise - can't wait for her "back with a heart" followup!