Magic: The Very Best of Olivia Newton-John [Original recording remastered]

Olivia Newton-John

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 11, 2001)
• Original Release Date: September 11, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Utv Records
• ASIN: B00005NWMI
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (87 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,387 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

It's hard to have a more milquetoast image than Olivia Newton-John. Even when she was decked out in stretch pants and stiletto heels at the end of Grease, you never mistook her for a wild girl. Proudly carrying the torch once held high by Karen Carpenter, Newton-John embodied the safer and, yes, blander side of the '70s and early '80s. But just like Carpenter went on to be rehabilitated as a pop singer, Newton-John's career deserves a second look--and this compilation is a good way to start. Even if the singer's precise touch was audible as early as 1973 (on the countryish "Let Me Be There"), she reached her peak five years later with Grease and the torchy "Hopelessly Devoted to You." "Physical" may be the best-known episode of the singer's leg-warmer years, but the one to cherish forever remains "Xanadu." On it, Newton-John basically fronted Electric Light Orchestra and the result is one of the most underrated songs of the past 25 years. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another incomplete Olivia hits package, September 14, 2001

By	S. Paradoa (Miami, Florida United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It's hard to believe Universal delivers another incomplete domestic hits package after so many others have been released (both on vinyl and CD formats) in the past. This set includes 21 cuts from the 70s and 80s when Olivia was at her peak on the music charts. Missing is Olivia's first hit on the American pop charts (her version of Bob Dylan's "If Not For You") plus several other top 40 hits that were included in previous compilations like "Soul Kiss" and "Tied Up." The record company could have easily dropped the Grease Megamix and given us a more complete package, maybe even a two disc set. Olivia deserves better! If you already have "Back to Basics" and "Olivia's Greatest Hits Vol. 2" then don't waste your money.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure Magic, With Some Key Omissions and a Lousy Release Date, March 24, 2002

By	Jose R. Perez "Jose" (Yonkers, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"Magic" stands as the best collection of ONJ's illustrous career yet released, and therefore warrants its 5 star rating. That said, a combination of omissions and bad timing fail to make this a truly definitive set. The timing problem is obvious - with a release date of September 11th - a Tuesday that will go down in history as possibly the worst release date possible - this set never got the chance to make an impact on the charts. Like Barry Manilow's recent chart topper - "Ultimate Manilow" - fans are starved for legendary singers from the best era of pop music that ONJ and Manilow both represent. However, perhaps another release of ONJ material will include a more comprehensive mix of tracks. This year, she celebrates 30 years of Pop stardom, so let's hope the next Best of includes her first US hit - "If not For You" and other key tracks that are missing here - like "Something Better to Do" and "Let it Shine."
ONJ fans are craving a boxed set to commemorate her long wonderful career, and new material that will show new legions of fans why this singer ranks among the best female vocalists of our generation. Forget Brittney Spears and Christina Aguilera - Olivia is an artist that transcends generations! Still and all, for the best release to date of ONJ's chart hits, "Magic" is the collection worth owning!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's Absolutely Magical, August 5, 2002

By	k. lane "jester1436" (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

Olivia must be one of the most overlooked vocalists of modern pop music. Over a decade, she traversed the fields of country, easy listening, rock, and dance music, leaving her mark on all of them. Her voice is perfect, mellow and sweet, it covers the lyrics in longing, lust, love, and loneliness. All her most easily remembered classics are here - "I Honestly Love You", "Have You Never Been Mellow", "Hopelessly Devoted To You", "Magic", and "Physical". Even though these cuts are her most often remebered, she's had many other wonderful hits, including the ballads "Sam" and "Suddenly", the 'Grease' duets "You're The One That I Want" and "Summer Nights", the rockers "A Little More Love" and "Deeper Than The Night", and the dance tracks like "Xanadu" and "Make A Move On Me". My personal highlight of the collection is her last big smash hit, the electrifying pop number "Twist Of Fate". Truly a collection of her essential best, the only puzzler is the inclusion of the rather redundant "The Grease Megamix", which adds nothing to the already distinguished tracklisting. The Livvy collection to get.