The Rumour [IMPORT] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Olivia Newton-John

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 12, 1998)
• Original Release Date: 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: Festival Records
• ASIN: B00000I2E8
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #107,486 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Track Listings

1. Rumor

2. Love and Let Live

3. Can't We Talk It Over in Bed

4. Let's Talk About Tomorrow

5. It's Not Heaven

6. It's Always Australia for Me

7. Get Out

8. Big and Strong

9. Car Games

10. Walk Through Fire

11. Tutta la Vita

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Digitally remastered reissue of Olivia's 1988 album for MCA featuring the hit title song. 11 tracks total. 1998 FestivalRecords release.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Olivia: One Of The Best, January 27, 2006

By	Steven Haarala (Mandeville, LA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

Once Olivia Newton-John became well established in American pop music in the mid-70's, she entered the exclusive circle of the top female singers of our time, right up there with Linda Ronstadt, Diana Ross, Bette Midler and Dionne Warwick. Once you reach these heights, a new album doesn't prompt the question "Is she a good singer?" but rather "Is the material good, and was the vision for the recording successfully realized?" For me, the answer for this collection is "Yes". "The Rumour" is like a slightly subdued sequel to 1985's "Soul Kiss". Both have top-notch 80's pop-rock production, both continue Olivia's sexy image, and both were largely ignored by the American public. There is a new direction, however, on "The Rumour". Sex is still a force, but now it is blended with themes of fidelity, lasting relationships and the future of our planet. In "Get Out", Olivia sends a message of self-reliance, just in case the relationship doesn't work out. "Let's Talk About Tomorrow" manages to sound like both a rock and disco recording, and the lyrics are about environmental concerns. "Tutta La Vita" reminds me of Sheena Easton's "Strut" musically, but the discussion is on the philosophy of life and love. Two other songs about love differ in subject matter and in expression: "Car Games" comes to a slow boil and stays there, while "Walk Through Fire" reaches the peaks of a power ballad. Olivia's versatile voice is excellent, as always, and she continues to seem totally involved in the songs she is singing - there is no cool detachment. So, I find this album to be another example of a very good recording that just doesn't sell, simply because the artist has passed his or her prime period of commercial appeal. Oh, and did I mention that IT ROCKS??

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars There Was A Rumour That Olivia Was Back, October 22, 2000

By	DP (Pompano Beach, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Rumour (Audio CD)

This album was released in 1988 at a time when the singer was at a personal crossroads. She previously was coming off a series of "failed" projects...her album "Soul Kiss" trying to be too MTV started out as a hit but went dead upon arrival...her movie career faltered with "Two Of A Kind" as she unsuccessfully reunited with John Travolta...she even had a very moderate hit with producer and record mogul David Foster called "The Best Of Me," that stalled at #80 on the charts!

On a personal front, Newton-John was more focused on motherhood and in the process began becoming more personally aware of her environment and her surroundings. This resulted in what was to become her comeback album called "The Rumour." She penned 4 of the 10 songs on this album, that reflects her new found awareness and for the first time her art reflected a social substance first and foremost, over the imaging and packaging that seemed to be evident in her professional singing career of the 1970's and early 1980's.

The album's title track was a bouncy, uplifting track written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. It's fun, livvy, most reminiscent of her early 80's hits like "Physical" and "Twist of Fate." The album and the title track stalled in the 60's on the charts mainly because the pop culture was embracing a new formula of dance music (Janet Jackson, Jody Watley, Paula Abdul). New teenage superstars like (Tiffany and Debbie Gibson) were beginning to flourish and Olivia was simply placed in the bargin bin because pop culture labeled her as "too old."

This is not to say that this is not an excellent album. It is a thoroughly enjoyable listening experience throughout. (It just didn't coincide with where popular music was at during this time.)

The songs on the collection address many social issues: AIDS ("Love And Let Live") in which Newton-John espouses the importance of getting to know your partner longer before having sex. It is almost the antithesis to her megahit "Physical." It has a great beat with a hard rock edge.

She also embraces the joy of approaching middle age (She turned 40 years old that year), with "Tutta La Vita." This sense of optimism is a wonderful way for the diva to close the album.

"It's Not Heaven," is a poignant ballad concerning children's attitudes concerning divorce and the challenges of becoming a single parent. This song is highly reminiscent of "Changes" which appeared on her 1974 album ("If You Love Me...Let Me Know.")

"Let's Talk About Tomorrow" is an upbeat tune reflecting social conscience and a foreshadowing of Olivia's responsiblity to make this planet a better place for herself and her newborn daughter, Chloe. There is a significant sense of urgency in her vocal intonation as she addresses her plea to combat pollution and social corruption.

"Can't We Talk It Over In Bed" is a saccharine ballad in which she is more vocally expressive involving the importance of communication with her partner.

"Car Games" is a fun jazzy romp, very different from other Olivia tunes from the past.

"Get Out" is a newfound personal expression of freedom and marked the first time Olivia had recorded a folk/country tinged song. It works well with the diversity within this collection.

"Walk Thru Fire" is the best ballad on the album. Written by hitmakers David and David and showcases Olivia's pristine voice quite well.

"Big And Strong" finds Olivia belting out some of the highest and longest notes in her 17 year career at that time. It is apparent that her voice (along with her songwritting abilities) are beginning to evolve.

At the time of release, Olivia made a videotape of the album titled "Down Under," which tied into Austrlia's bicentenial celebration. The video was extremely entertaining and contained bonus tracks that never made it to the album, ("Winter Angel"/"Old Fashioned Man/"Click Go The Shears.") The special was aired on HBO and the videotape was released.

Overall, this is a very strong album that marked a crossroads in which Olivia began to move from the pop culture market towards experimenting with different styles and different producers with excellent results. Buy this album and you will find yourself singing and humming along with many of the tracks.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Olivia's Finest Moment., February 26, 2000

By	"erictodd" (Toluca Lake, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Rumour (Audio CD)

The most overlooked album during its release and the most overlooked of Olivia Newton-John's career. Critics praised The Rumour, but listeners stayed away. Why?

This is a near perfect album and is my favorite Olivia release. It still holds up today. Olivia's voice has never sounded better and the song selection is mature and appropriate. I say this because her previous album tried desperately to be sexy and too MTV. Highlights include the title tune, Let's Talk About Tomorrow and Walk Through Fire. Get it.