Customer Reviews

Physical

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In October 1981, Olivia Newton-John released "Physical"

BEFORE:
The poster-girl of sweet wholesome pop music, Olivia began changing her image in Grease and the "Totally Hot" album which followed suit. She also had appeared in the movie Xanadu, which flopped but had a hit soundtrack. This was to be her first studio album in three years.

AFTER:
The title track was a #1 hit for ten weeks (making it the #1 song of the 1980's), the album went double platinum and peaked at #6. The album had another top five hit with "Make A Move On Me". Olivia was on top of the world at the moment. Hosting SNL, preparing to open Koala Blue, and embarking on a wildly successful 1982 tour. This was the peak of Olivia's popularity.


While Physical, the track, has been overplayed to the extent that the song is a caricature instead of an actual record, the album as a whole retains as the strongest album of Livvy's career.

1. Landslide (5/5) is the perfect leadoff single. The song is fast, dancy and sets the pace for the record.
2. Stranger's Touch (5/5) is even better (a shame it wound up on a b-side). The sexiest moment off the album.
3. Make A Move On Me (5/5) is a classic and is catchy as hell. The video was terrible but the song makes up for it.
4. Falling (5/5) is a beautiful acoustic haunting ballad about falling in love.
5. Love Make Me Strong (3.5/5) is a good song but probably the worst track.
6. Physical (5/5), what needs to be said about it? everyone knows this song.
7. Silvery Rain (5/5). Olivia was caring about the environment back when most of the "environmentalist" rock stars weren't even signed yet. The song rocks and is one of the best of the album. Starts out like a mellow 70's ONJ rock song and then becomes a rocker during the chorus. Even though Cliff Richard did the song a decade before Livvy, you can tell she deeply cares about the lyrics.
8. Carried Away (4.5/5). A pretty Gibb ballad that was originally written but then rejected for Barbra Streisand's "Guilty" album, and it probably wouldn't have fit there because it's structured a little too much like "Woman In Love". A soothing upbeat early 80's ballad you could listen to in the tub.
9. Recovery (4/5) kinda reminds me of "(Want You) Back In My Life" by The Carpenters. Kind of a tropical sounding sound with very audible John Farrar background vocals.
10. The Promise (4.5/5). Another environmentalist ballad. Very beautiful and Olivia sings about her love for dolphins (you can hear dolphins in the background). A beautiful song.

I would love Universal to remaster this (I know there's an import) and add some bonus tracks from the period... I heard Olivia recorded a demo of "I Paralyse" around this album, which ended up being recorded by Cher the next year (which was produced by Farrar too)

There's something intriging about PHYSICAL, that hasn't occured before or since. The music isn't as mellow or goregous as her early country records(1971-1975),nor is it as production heavy or deep as her mid seventies albums, but it is unbeatable. "Landslide" is fantastic, after hearing it the first tie, I had to play it again. "Straner's Touch" is good. "Make A Move On Me" is a classic, a terific dance number with fantastic vocals. "Falling" cools things down, but fits in with the rest of the music. "Love Make Me Strong" is breath-taking, bring the music back to uptempo. "Physical" Olivia's biggest single, spending 10 weeks at #1, is another classic. "Silvery Rain" is outstanding, you can almost hear the raindrops. Olivia's voice glides gracefully in the verses, but at the refrain she gives us her rock voice, and it's a delight. "Carried Away" is beautiful, with gorgeous vocal harmonies. "Recovery" is stunning. "The Promise" brings the album to a thoughtful and meaningful close. PHYSICAL is one of the best Olivia albums, in terms of consisitency, song selection and variety. She gives us the right amount of fast and slow songs, and goregous vocal harmonies, clever arrangements, and great songs. After buying PHYSICAL, I just had to hear TOTALLY HOT, but thanks to MCA, I had to buy an import copy. The two records blend together perfectly, it would be nice if TOTALY HOT was available just as easily. PHYSICAL is sure to please. Once I press play, I won't get up and hit stop until the last note of "The Promise". PHYSICAL is that good.

Having strutted her stuff to an adoring public in Grease and survived the horror that was the film Xanadu, Olivia Newton-John released Physical and basically took over the world of music for a period of many months in 1981. The title track was simply huge, to a degree I have seen no other song come close to equaling in the 20+ years since its release; if my memory serves me correctly, the song was number one at least ten consecutive weeks, which is really quite mind-boggling. To some degree, the other many merits of this album are overshadowed by the title song's accomplishments. Not only is this Olivia's best-selling album ever, though, it is also arguably her very best from top to bottom. Make a Move on Me was a pretty big hit in and of itself, with its energy and the kind of lustful innocence only Olivia could deliver. Another great song many listeners may remember is Landslide, the energy and catchiness of which set the tone for the entire album. Of course, no Olivia album would be complete without a touching ballad or two. Fallen is a slow and moving song, but the truly special and vintage Olivia love song on this album is Carried Away. This Olivia is strong and sure of herself, though, as she more than proves in the very next track Recovery. Actually, Love Make Me Strong, with its strong beat and passionate delivery, proves to be an even more forceful song than Recovery. My favorite song on the album, though, is Strangers Touch due to its sizzling delivery brimming with even more passion and sultriness than the suggestive mega-hit Physical.

Olivia's earnest environmentalist feelings are expressed well in a couple of tracks. Silvery Rain, an unusual but impressive track which is basically an anti-crop dusting song at heart, features an unusual sound and style which creates a strong and lasting impression on the ears of the listener. Its somewhat subdued verses floating above assorted mystical synthesizer sounds are transformed on a dime to energetic choruses full of emotion. Finally, there is The Promise (The Dolphin Song). Olivia wrote this song herself in an effort to inform people about the plight of dolphins at the hands of man, and it truly is a beautiful song, especially with its background sounds of real dolphins at work and play.

In my opinion, there's not a bad song to be found on this album, and strangely enough the title track now seems to be overshadowed a bit by all of the impressive music surrounding it. If you are an Olivia fan, this is definitely the album to own.

Landslide- Great way to open an album with a bang! Awesome rock song...love the "heaven" bridge in the middle...beautiful harmonies! Too bad this song was single #3 off the "Physical" album...I feel the melody was too complicated for the commercial audiences to appreciate at the time...hence, the poor chart placing...not to mention possible radio overkill of her two previous singles and maybe everyone was too "physical-ed" out to give this song a chance!

Stranger's Touch- ooh yeah! The slinky verses have ONJ oozing with seduction and the chorus packs a punch! This should have definately been a single! Very commercial, pop appeal...

Make A Move On Me- a solid pop song for single #2 off the album...possible over-kill with the synthesisers though! But it was the 80s so I'll give this song a break! This sounds like something off Madonna's debut album...even though this album came out before that! ONJ truly was a torchbearer for strong, female solo artists...songs like this give her credit

Falling- hmm...I think I lost count of the times the word "falling" is mentioned in this song?! Every single line of this song seems to end with the word "falling"!? I think this ballad is just OK...a bit too theatrical...sounds like some Broadway musical ballad...not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing, yet...

Love Make Me Strong- um....the beat is awesome! I'm trying to find nice things to say about this song...it is decent filler for an 80s album...

Physical- this video of this song infamous for spawning 80s fashion-fitness trends like legwarmers and headbands...I actually skip this song a lot...not because it is a bad song...but it has been played to death so much...it is definately catchy though...

Silvery Rain- it took me a while to get into this song...which is quite unique! With sweet acoustic verses that then burst into an angry, loud chorus...this song makes reference to that nursery rhyme "Fly away Peter, Fly away Paul" and is actually an anti-crop dusting song...has to be heard to be believed...I think the last note ONJ holds on this song is the longest note she has ever held in tune! Impressive...

Carried Away- this song is a typical, BeeGees, paint-by-numbers song...and I mean that in a good way! You can tell it was written by The BeeGees...it has the type of melodies and hooks they write...probably the best ballad on the album...a very dreamy song with lush arrangements that ONJ pulls off well

Recovery- such an overlooked song! This has to be one of my favourite ONJ songs ever! A beautiful, long intro with a Spanish/Tropical feel...even though the song sounds quite peppy, the lyrics are quite nihilistic which is a great juxtaposition...the chorus is basically a duet with John Farrar because his voice is featured heavily kind of "duelling" with ONJ's...the final chorus is just incredible! The way ONJ harmonises...with herself! This is such a layered song...I can listen to it over and over...you hear different things every time you listen! The album highlight!

The Promise (The Dolphin Song)- I think it is very cute how the dolphins and the Miami ocean are given instrumental credit on the linear notes to this song! This sounds like a "New Age" song with all the water sounds and dolphin squeaks...I only wish the chorus was featured more...it seems to go verse, verse, chorus, verse...and that's it?! The chorus where ONJ sings "Then I'll have done what I promised you" is extremely soothing and beautiful...a very classy song

"Physical" is a solid state of the art pop album that found Newton-John at the pinnacle of her commerical stride. The collection contains an even mix of ballads and uptempto songs that appeal to the masses (it sold over 2 million copies.) The title track muscled it's way to #1 and with incredible stamina remained there an outstanding 10 weeks. It remains one of the most popular pop tunes of all time and the top single of the 1980's!

Produced by John Farrar (who wrote the majority of Livvy's hits), this collection opens with the pulsating beats of the electric track "Landslide," glides into "Stranger's Touch" which highlights Olivia's beguiling vocals. "Make A Move On Me" is a formulac, tongue in cheek, upbeat dance number that also ignited the pop charts(#5). This is followed by a ballad done in the classic Newton-John vein, "Falling." This segues beautifully into the upbeat and inspirational "Love Make Me Strong," in which the singer elicits a confident and self assured delivery. The title track simply rocks, with attitude! "Silvery Rain" serves as an environmental plea in which Olivia addresses the issues of pollution. It's a uptempto number with a message. "Carried Away" contains some lovely harmonies inspired by its writer, Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees. "Recovery" is the consummate breakup song. The album quietly concludes with Olivia's self-penned, heartfelt composition, "The Promise {The Dolphin Song},"

The album is accompanied with a full length collection of music videos that cover the entire album and includes several bonus tracks: ("A Little More Love," "Magic," "Hopelessly Devoted To You"). Olivia was the first recipient of a Grammy award for Best Video Performance in 1981. Filled with colorful sets and elaborate costumes, the video is the ultimate visual companion to the album.

The subject line of this review may be a little ambiguous, but bear with me. The comparison I'm trying to make is an important one, as it sets the entire tone for this album. Olivia Newton-John is one of the world's sweethearts, collectively owned by her birthplace (UK), her home (Australia) and where she now lives (US). Her crystalline voice, emotive intonation, and wholesome image captivated the music scene during the early seventies, but ten years later a decade of being a 'good girl' had taken its toll. 'Physical' is to Olivia what 'Broken English' was to Marianne Faithful: intimate, adventurous, sexually suggestive, and positively stunning. To call this record Olivia's opus is not doing it enough justice.

Ideally, I would love to review this album with the accompanying video. Olivia is unfortunately uncredited with being, I believe, the forerunner to the entire MTV phenomenon; someone must agree with me, as her 'Physical' long-form video won her a Grammy in 1982. Olivia filmed video clips for every song on this record, a couple are simple performance videos, but eight of the songs are small-screen masterpieces of narrative and mood. From the camp-as-hell 'Landslide' and 'Physical', to the creepy 'Silvery Rain', to the beautiful austerity of 'Falling'... sound good? And I'm not even talking about the music yet.

'Physical' saw Olivia Newton-John, former good-girl-gone-bad (see the last ten minutes of her 1978 film 'Grease' and the sleeve of her album 'Totally Hot' from the same year) experience some form of sexual / adult revolution. Embracing what she was - a young woman in her early thirties - Olivia produced what remains one of the best albums of the 1980's. She says that the record reflected where she was in her life, wanting 'peppy' songs. The album is, for the most part, a confectionary of delicious rock/pop songs served up in a shimmering 1980's atmosphere of synthesisers, squealing guitars, and tight, tight drumbeats. The first single 'Physical' has been overplayed and is by comparison one of the weaker songs on the album, but the fact that it was the biggest selling single of the 1980's in the US (10 weeks spent at #1) certainly indicates something. 'Landslide' is an absolute gem with powerful vocals from Olivia over a combination of rocking beats and violin-esque synthesisers; one of the videos which perfectly captured the essence of the song, seeing Olivia cast as an underworld seductress who seduces a semi-clothed hunk in a display of early 1980's feminism. 'Stranger's Touch' is the hit-that-never-was with great lyrics and a booming chorus (featuring, like most of the songs on this album, a barrage of overdubbed John Farrar backing vocals - superb!), whilst 'Make A Move On Me' was a nightime eighties club romp which reached #3 in the US.

On the flipside of things, Olivia does manage to deliver a handful of stunning ballads. It should come as no surprise that all three are moments of pop genius, considering ballads and heart-wrenching mid-tempos seem to be Olivia's forte. 'Falling' is an acoustic ode to the euphoria of falling in love after you've been bruised, with Olivia singing in a high register throughout the entire song. 'Carried Away' is a Bee-Gees penned song which sees Olivia's silky voice glide in and out of the captivating melody, whilst 'The Promise' is a gorgeous tune about dolphins. Alright, so perhaps Olivia wasn't quite channelling her environmental concerns effectively in 1981 (she is noted for her abundant charity work these days), but this is a glorious reminder of the days when artists truly believed their music could change the world.

Ahhh, 1980. What more could you possibly need? Well throw in 'Recovery', one of this record's most underrated songs (see the rather disconcerting video clip and you'll realise just how dark this song actually is) featuring a trademark John Farrar male chorus and unusual but sublime melody ... and you've got $12 very well spent.

I may indeed sound like a biased fan, which of course I am guilty as charged. That doesn't change the fact that this record is almost completely flawless. I am more-than-willing to admit Olivia's mistakes, for example the rather insipid duets album she released in 2002 named, originally, (2). If only Olivia would leave the dreary adult/contemporary MOR stuff and try something a little bit edgy and exciting like 'Physical' again. Following the release of the poptastic 'Gaia' album in 1994, Olivia's almost 20-year-reign as the queen of musical innovation died. What she has released since may very well be indicative of her age (she IS a woman in her fifties, despite the fact she doesn't look it), but it would be nice to see Olivia do a really strong pop album again.

Until that day arrives, we can console ourselves with this 10-track collection which proves that Olivia was, at least at one point, the world's greatest female vocalist.

It's one of those 80's album I had fun listening (or bouncing) to. It still holds up way above any of the current pop trash acts. The only thing that's missing on this cd are the liner photos or lyrics. Other than that, it's going to be on my home and car stereo. Nice album Olivia!

I still remember the day I bought this LP, rushing back to my dorm to listen to it, and immediately knowing it was destined to become ONJ's biggest seller (after "Grease.") As much as I adore her other back catalog - who can resist "The Rumour" or "Let Me Be There?" or "Gaia" - "Physical" offered us a fresh sound that was perfectly in tune with the times. The title track, as everyone knows, became an anthem for exercise, and most recently was named the best workout song of all time by VH1. It shot to number one in just 4 weeks and stayed there for ten weeks in total, making it the Number One song of the Eighties, and still ranking in the top 20 songs of the rock and roll era. It's a fitting tribute to the pop goddess of the 70s and 80s that she single-handedly started a workout revolution, not to mention more than a few fashion trends. After the unparalleled success of "Grease" this collection offered exactly the right mix of moods, beats and glowing production, earning ONJ multiple Grammy nominations as well as the first ever Grammy for best short form video.

But the pleasures of the album do not stop with the legendary song itself - there are gems here right and left. "Stranger's Touch" is a searing number that rocks, while "Landslide" is one of her finest cuts to date - a pulse-quickening percolating number that deserved far greater attention. Also included is the top 5 hit "Make a Move On Me" and the passionate "Promise" which showcased the artists talent as a songwriter and lyricist.

If you're interested in adding ONJ's ESSENTIAL albums to your collection, start with "Physical" and then follow up with "Rumour", "Gaia", "Clearly Love", the Grease soundtrack. A terrific set from an incredible talent!

Somethings just improve with age. I must have been in the second grade when "Physical" first came out. I can still remember playing the 45 single nearly everyday and watching her tv special. It's amazing that there were only 2 top ten hits from this album (the title track and "Make a Move on Me"), "Falling" is such a beautiful ballad and ranks up there with some of her 1970s materials. One of my favourites is "Stranger's Touch," I also had that on 45, it was the B-side to "Heart Attack" off of Greatest Hits Volume Two. Also, "Silvery Rain" should have been a big hit as well. From start to finish, this is a great pop album which still is a pleasure to listen to today. I can only hope that ONJ's box set that I keep hearing so much about will be more of a definitive collection than other greatest hits packages. Most seem to only concentrate on one era of her career and usually just the singles that made it on the charts.

One of my all-time favorites of the 80s. I can still remember buying the LP and running home as fast as I could to get it on the turntable. A couple years ago my seven year relationship ended and finding the CD available, I snatched it up and took it home. I played Recovery over and over...along with Shaking You from the Two of a Kind soundtrack. Olivia, you are the best.