Fretplay.com Olivia Newton-John CD reviews Olivia Newton-John guitar tabs Olivia Newton-John CD reviews Olivia Newton-John tabs Don't Stop Believin'


Olivia Newton-John - Don't Stop Believin' Audio CD

A fair review of the Olivia Newton-John "Don't Stop Believin'" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Olivia Newton-John reviews here, or go back to the Olivia Newton-John tabs.

Olivia Newton-John Band: Olivia Newton-John
Title: Don't Stop Believin'
Rating:
Release Date: 1995-10-05
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Don't Stop Believin' 2: Thousand Conversations 3: Compassionate Man 4: New Born Babe 5: Hey Mr. Dreammaker 6: Every Face Tells a Story 7: Sam 8: Love You Hold the Key 9: I'll Bet You a Kangaroo 10: Last Time You Loved

Her first album in Nashville.
Her incredible US debut with 2 #1 albums, the last of these only a year and a half ago, showed how an artist could burn out and suffer overkill in the '70's. By the time this album was released in September 1976, Olivia Newton-John had begun to suffer a career dip.

I wish I could say that 'Don't Stop Believin' reversed this slide but that wasn't to happen for a couple of years yet. DSB only continued her fall from grace, sales wise. It really shouldn't have been so. The title track peaked at #33 in the Billboard charts, which was a real shame as it was her strongest lead single since 'Have You Never Been Mellow', IMO.

Second single 'Sam' made #20 the following year. It was a bigger European hit than in the States, which was a rare thing. The final single, 'Every Face Tells A Story' only made ther mid 50's, a pity as it was one of Olivia's most unusual singles to date.

Although this album was recorded in Nashville, it was perhaps the least country album of her US releases thus far. Sure, 'I'll Bet You A Kangaroo' has a certain twang but the rest of it is either quite poppy ('Hey Mr Dream Maker', the excellent 'Compassionate Man') or heavy on lush balladry ('New Born Babe', 'The Last Time You Loved', 'A Thousand Conversations')

Although this is perhaps an album only ONJ diehards will possess or remember with fondness, it has to be said it's a strong and diverse collection by a singer at the peak of her vocal powers. It's preferable to the preceding 'Come On Over' and succeeding 'Making A Good Thing Better' albums and should have opened new doors for O. Still, never mind. In a couple of years she would be the darling of the silver screen and end the year 'Totally Hot' once more!

This 1998 Festival remaster sounds OK and they've managed not to clip any of the songs this time, but the lovely sleeve artwork is so poorly replicated it looks like a bootleg. I'm not expecting a Beatles-esque stereo/mono box set but I wish someone would give Olivia's the respect and care it deserves. For now, this will have to suffice.
.


What's up with the packaging?
However, the packaging was a great disappointment not only for this CD, but all the Olivia Remastered CDs. First, I loved this album growing up, and I am glad to finally have the remastered import CD version. Sure it comes with a booklet of lyrics and pictures from the original albums, but EVERY photo is so grainy that it looks absolutely amatueristic. This includes the front and back covers and the photos inside the booklet. I would have sworn they were booklet copies if I hadn't purchased them from Amazon directly. .


Lots of Great original tracks by Olivia


My favorite song is A Thousand Conversations. This was the first Olivia Remaster I got, as I suffered for years of only having this album on Cassette (went through two of them actually) Not only was I completely grateful I had this on cd, I was BLOWN AWAY by the sound quality of this particular release in comparison to my MCA Cds. The Kangaroo song is Corny, but makes me smile. I also love Every Face Tells A Story, an underrated single. And of course, Sam and the title track are just wonderful. A Really really great record. You also get the priviledge of hearing her sing accapella on the intro to Last Time You loved. Great Idea for Olivia. .


Olivia's Best Ever Album By Far
The title cut is breathtaking and is oh, so very true. ONJ went to Hollywood from London, but stopped on her way in Nashville to record the best album she's ever made. I love A Thousand Conversations, Compassionate Man, and Hey Mr Dreammaker. As a 2 sided album, the weakest song on side one was New Born Babe, but it's still a beautiful song. Side 2 brought probably her last country hit, Every Face Tells a Story, and, of course, Sam. The two songs after that are the weakest points, if I had to choose one. But she makes up for it with The Last Time You Loved. It is simply one of the most beautiful songs she's ever done, and with a minimum of vocal overdubbing. John Farrar didn't let many songs go without 2 or 3 Olivia's singing together. On this one, he did. The lack of overdubs shows that she was/is a really good singer and not just a beauty, which many thought that's all she was. Sometimes, Mr. Farrar forgot that. This album should have been her comeback, before Grease. Her sales were beginning to slack, and continued to do so until Grease, but this one should have put Livvy back on top.


This is the best record of Olivia Newton-John's career
Awesome, one of a kind. I got to meet Olivia one time, and this CD (wish I'd brought the LP) was the only item of the hundreds of momentos I own, I asked her to autograph. Furthermore, it's structure (song selection and order) remind me a lot of the long deleted If You Love Me, Let Me Know, the album that made her a star, but with all original songs instead of covers.
She should have recorded all her albums in Nashville. Simply the best work she has ever done. The title cut should have been a huge hit, especially considering the time of release.


You can see a complete list of all Olivia Newton-John discography, or go back to the Olivia Newton-John tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

Search guitar tabs

#ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
[ Search tabs | Guitar tabs | Bass tabs |
Easy guitar tabs | Guitar solo tabs |
Acoustic guitar tabs | Guitar chords |
How to read guitar tabs ]
Forum topics
Music forums
- Bands and artists - Songwriting and lyrics - Tablature talk - Promote your band
Instrument forums
- Guitar basics - Gear & accessories - Bass guitar
Community
- The pit - Site Feedback - Reviews
[ User survey | About us | Privacy statement ]