Customer Reviews

Olivia

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"Olivia" - ONJ's second UK release should not be confused with the artist's breathrough US album which spawned her first top 10 smash "Let me Be There" and which won 1973's Grammy Award for Best Country Female Vocalist. The two albums share cover art - this startlingly crisp B&W closeup - and a couple of tracks, but the song "Let Me Be There" is not included.

That said, there are other, more important songs here that speak to the artist's personal and musical growth which in turn make this release truly special and unique. The mix of tracks - even without the ultimate paean to unconditional love - is fresh and well-arranged, with sweeping ballads and country flavored tempo's that will inspire and entertain even the most jaded ONJ listener. The songs that would make her famous reflect little of the emotional depths the singer can convey in songs like "Changes" and "My Old Mans Got a Gun." "Changes," which Olivia wrote, testifies to the difficulties of divorce, and is delivered with a sorrow and sadness that would make any couple think twice before severing their marriage vows. "What Is Life" and "Mary Skeffington" were hits in Europe and highlight Olivia's vocal range - which run from whispers to undeniably pitch-perfect heights. "Angel of the Morning" is passionate and forceful, more gutteral than Juice Newtown's hit version, and earthy. "I'm a Small and Lonely Light" is a gospel-ish declaration of hope, and "If We Only Have Love" - the Jacques Brel classic - builds to a sweeping close that makes it stand alongside any of today's pleas for peace, love, food and hope. It's this aspect of the album that resonates for me still today both as an early classic of Olivia's but also as a testament to the hopeful, even spiritual convictions of the early Seventies. In these songs, Olivia captures an era on the precipice of Watergate, disco and AIDS being chased by the ghosts of Vietnam, Dylan, and the decade that preceeded it.

"Olivia" and in particular, this stunningly remastered version, is a MUST for any Newton-John fan, casual or committed. Remember - don't expect the US release (or the hit single "Let Me Be There" for that matter) but sit back and embrace this wonderful album. If it were a precious stone, this collection would be a ruby...inspiring, heartwarming, and glowing.

Hands down this is my favorite album by Olivia Newton-John's. She has the most beautiful singing voices I've ever heard and it is put on flattering display here on the incredible 14 songs which constitute this album. Songs like "My Old Man's Got A Gun" and "I'm A Small And Lonely Light" have such intricate musicianship and provide vital and strong backing behind ONJ's glorious vocals. Her one composition on this album, "Changes," is a great song, tenderly and intelligently talking about the emotions a parent experiences when going through a divorce. While the song was never a radio staple for her, it showcases Olivia's talent as a songwriter. The covers on this album are interesting and diverse Juice Newton to Paul Simon to George Harrison and she does well with each. The country rocker "Just A Little Too Much" is the most fun song on the record and you can picture Olivia smiling as she sings the song. The touching closing ballad "I Will Touch You" has the perfect early 70s feel. Throughout the 14 songs ONJ displays an impressive emotive vocal range. While "If We Only Had Love" may seem a little treacly to some, ONJ's delivery of the lyric is not. It's spot on perfect. ONJ's 70s albums are her best and, in my opinion, OLIVIA (her 2nd) is the best of them all.

There is one song here that perhaps may very well be one of the best things she's ever done. It's her rendition of the Jacques Brel "If We Only Have Love." The words alone capture the absolutely essential persona of Olivia Newton-John. It is a deeply affecting, poignant song which implores for world peace, and end to hatred, an end to cultural strife, an end to the fearful barriers which afflict human nature. Olivia begins the piece very quietly, gravely. The voice is conversely tender, imploring, sincere, and overlaid with a tragically "aware," sweet irony imparted to its words; the implicit belief in what she is singing carries itself over to the listener in a magically communicative way. Midway, she opens the voice up in an impassioned pouring-out of the tone on "Oh, if we only have love, with our arms open wide." Olivia builds the urgency up to a mighty wallop of a climax on "We will drink from a dram," giving out so much, the voice is just a hair from cracking with feverish emotion, but sustaining its magisterial power beautifully. She follows with her glowing intoning of "To be born, once again," which brilliantly suggests the promise of enlightenment, of having reached the ultimate state-of-being. She finishes off with the tenderest, most forlorn plea, using the most bittersweet of tones as she repeats "If we only have...love." Recorded as it was, in the early Seventies, it is redolent of its time, during Vietnam, tumultuous world changes, and the continued clashes between cultures. Olivia, the activist, environmentalist, ambassador for good will, is encapsulated in the message of this song, and her approach defines her exactly as she is, then, and as now. "If We Only Have Love" represents the definitive Olivia Newton-John. It is worth the price for it alone in a fascinating collection.

Even for all the success Olivia Newton-John has had I feel that she is extremely underrated as an artist. The country community at times had a hard time accepting her as a true country artist and tried to discredit her status in this genre even though she continued to win award after award. I honestly believe a huge part of this was that not only did she possess a true sincerity in her vocal delivery but the pure angelic beauty of her vocal quality often made people think pop. Granted by the 7th or 8th album she was more country pop but early on, as here with her second Import release, we have Olivia doing pur country. And she shines. Her vocals are top notch. The total standout here is the ballad IF WE ONLY HAVE LOVE. This song is honestly one of the best from her entire career. Then we have the downhome country of JUST A LITTLE TOO MUCH, I'M A SMALL AND LONELY LIGHT and WHY DON'T YOU WRITE ME. The story song MY OLD MAN'S GOT A GUN is explosive and stunning. The set opens with the plaintive ANGEL OF THE MORNING and we have the haunting EVERYTHING I OWN.

Bottom line, this is country Olivia and pure Olivia. She has sung many styles and genres but this is where her roots are and it shows. Highly recommended.

If you are a big fan of Olivia Newton-John and is looking to have all of her alumbs on cd's well here is her first one on cd and she still looks great after all this time and all i got to say is you go girl.

Rondall

The follow-up to Olivia's debut, If not for you, is in a similar style. It opens with the classic Angel of the morning, a sixties song that became a huge hit for Juice Newton many years after Olivia recorded it, and contains several other fine covers, including Just a little too much (Johnny Burnette), If we only have love (Jacques Brel), Winterwood (Don MacLean), Mary Skeffington (Gerry Rafferty), Everything I own (Bread) and What is life (George Harrison).

Even more interesting are some of the original songs. My old man's got a gun suggests an extreme reaction to the problem of stalking, but it's a lot of fun as long as you don't take it seriously. Changes is about the consequences of divorce.

With the exception of Behind a locked door and I will touch you. all these tracks were included on the British compilation 48 original tracks, although you may want this CD anyway for the even better sound quality.

I was very disappointed in this album. It is a collection of mostly non-descript songs from early in her career and was not what I expected. I should have paid more attention to the song content. I like Olivia but this is an album to forget.