Magic: The Very Best of Olivia Newton-John by Olivia Newton-John Utv Records

Product Description: 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

4 stars The marvelous Olivia!
As soon as GREASE was released, it screamed Instant Classic and sealed Olivia's legend status. But she is a whole lot more, as this collection shows.

In today's pop era of female singers battling for a shopworn "diva" crown and muscular, over-dramatic vocal acrobatics plastered over insipid, nu-soul stylings, it's good to remember a whisper can ring louder than a shout.

Olivia's voice was always a beguiling instrument, crafty in its facility to blend shimmering, understated innocence with a subtle allure. Her character Sandy in Grease, seems in fact a metaphor for this transformative gift -- comparing her ingenue 70's persona with the glorious coming-out which would soon follow.

While I was not so inspired by the countrified vanilla of some of her early Nashville leanings, it had its simple charm. And I've frankly never liked "Physical", a throw away as dated as her video's work out duds and sadly one of her biggest hits.

One star downgrade for leaving off her cover of Dylan's "If Not For You" (and which George Harrison also did so wonderfully on All Things Must Pass), and some of her later 80's material maybe didn't age so well. (OK, "Make A Move on Me" is pretty damn catchy - gotta admit.)

BUT....that leaves a small bevy of killer songs, the likes of which any singer worth her salt would have cheerfully given her right vocal cord to have a shot at...and ample reason to buy this cd: the fun, unforgettable numbers from Grease; the lilting "Sam"; "Suddenly", with Cliff Richard (one of the greatest duets ever IMHO); the bewitching "Magic" and "A Little More Love"; and ELO's spectacular "Xanadu", a luscious pop confection with a finale which gives goose bumps (those incredible notes!)

Olivia hit more homeruns in a decade than most recording artists will have in a lifetime. I'm so glad I finally got this!

5 stars Magic of Hits and Favorites
Getting my hands on this cd has been a long search that finally paid off. Olivia Newton John a actress, singer who I have always loved watching her in movies and loved hearing her music . This cd has 21 tracks Let Me Be There, I Honestly Love You, all the way to A Little More Love from Make A Move On Me to Twist Of Fate + a bonus track with John Travolta. If you have her greatest hits then you have most of the favorites but if you like to collect everything the artist puts out like me then this is something to own and to enjoy. So own the Magic of Olivia from a true fan.

5 stars good
i love this cd i love the music of olivia newton john it has all the music that she had on all her albums

5 stars Outstanding
What a voice and what a woman, so gracious and grateful for her abilities and her ability to help others, to perform for us all. A major mark in out musical history.

4 stars Great collection
Have You Never Been Mellow is the first pop hit I remember loving and playing over and over again on a crappy 45 record player (it only played 45s). I was all of 8 years old and I wanted to be Olivia Newton John. I haven't heard that song in over 30 years and I have to say it is as beautiful as I remember, and the lyrics now mean something to me as an adult which makes it even more appreciated.

Olivia Newton John has a beautiful voice and has a significant repertoire of hits. I was so happy to have purchased this disc.

If the page does not return any products or product details please click here or refresh the page.
If only page numbers are returned on the page please choose a sub category (left side of this message).