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Olivia

Olivia Newton-John - Olivia Audio CD

A fair review of the Olivia Newton-John "Olivia" 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.

Band: Olivia Newton-John
Title: Olivia
Rating:

Release Date: 1995-10-05
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Angel of the Morning 2: Just a Little Too Much 3: If We Only Have Love 4: Winterwood 5: My Old Man's Got a Gun 6: Changes 7: I'm a Small and Lonely Light 8: Why Don't You Write Me 9: Mary Skeffington 10: Behind That Locked Door 11: What Is Life 12: Everything I Own 13: Living in Harmony 14: I Will Touch You

Just Love Her Music

Rondall. 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.

One song worth price of entire CD
It's her rendition of the Jacques Brel "If We Only Have Love. There is one song here that perhaps may very well be one of the best things she's ever done. " 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.

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Second Australian album continues folk pop sound
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). The follow-up to Olivia's debut, If not for you, is in a similar style.

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.

Classic ONJ
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. Hands down this is my favorite album by Olivia Newton-John's. 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.

Early Olivia - Sweet Vocals, Bold Lyrics - A GEM
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. "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.

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.

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.