Magic: The Very Best of Olivia Newton-John 1973-1983: Olivia Newton-John: Amazon.ca: Music

1. Let Me Be There
2. If You Love Me (Let Me Know)
3. I Honestly Love You
4. Have You Never Been Mellow
5. Please Mr. Please
6. Come On Over
7. Don't Stop Believin'
8. Sam
9. You're The One That I Want
10. Hopelessly Devoted To You
11. Summer Nights
12. A Little More Love
13. Deeper Than The Night
14. Magic
15. Xanadu
16. Suddenly
17. Physical
18. Make A Move On Me
19. Heart Attack
20. Twist Of Fate
See all 21 tracks on this disc

Product Description

From 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

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58 Reviews

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4.6 out of 5 stars (58 customer reviews)

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars MUCH more than just "Grease" and "Physical", Mar 16 2004

By

Christopher Bubb "Proud to be ME" (Saline, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Magic: The Very Best of Olivia Newton-John 1973-1983 (Audio CD)

Livvy's real fans though, know that she is so much more than Sandy from "Grease" or the singer of the ultimate '80s double-entendre workout anthem, and this excellent hits collection helps to illustrate that point. Livvy has a beautiful, pristine and clear singing voice to match her stunning physical beauty, and she's also musically diverse - her roster of hits includes country, rock and roll, easy listening ballads, show tunes, and unadulterated, pure pop. Few vocalists have achieved as much success in so many different genres of music as she has.
This CD is more complete than the previous best of, 1992's "Back To Basics," as we get some essential hits that were omitted the first time around, including "Let Me Be There," "Heart Attack," "Don't Stop Believing" and the movie title song "Xanadu." There are still some missing songs to irk completists, most namely "Something Better To Do" and her first U.S. chart single, "If Not For You" (which was released on Uni and not MCA, which might explain its exclusion), but overall this CD is a good introduction to the essence of ONJ and her music. There's a lot of variety here, which underscores what a versatile singer she truly is.
Here's a quick track-by-track description:
LET ME BE THERE - Her first million-seller, and a #2 country hit Grammy winner to boot. Pure country gold.
IF YOU LOVE ME (LET ME KNOW) - 1974 album title song; a "Let Me Be There" soundalike which solidified her country success.
I HONESTLY LOVE YOU - Pure, aching beauty. Her first #1 pop hit, and the 1974 Record of the Year Grammy winner.
HAVE YOU NEVER BEEN MELLOW - Her second straight #1 single. A sweet soft-rock ballad, easy but not sleepy.
PLEASE MR. PLEASE - Perhaps the most "country"-ish song she ever did, at least lyrics-wise. #3 pop, #1 AC and top 10 country.
COME ON OVER - A Bee Gees cover. Not a huge hit (#23) but a song on which she tries a stronger, less breathy singing style.

DON'T STOP BELIEVIN' - Pure '70s MOR/easy listening pop perfection. Appropriately, a #1 AC but only #33 pop hit.
YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I WANT - Not one of my favorite songs despite its #1 hit status, probably because of John Travolta.
SUMMER NIGHTS - Ditto comment for "You're The One..." but this one at least has that "ensemble show tune" charm.
HOPELESSLY DEVOTED TO YOU - Her best ballad since "I Honestly Love You" - pure and achingly beautiful torch-singing.
A LITTLE MORE LOVE - Livvy rocks out on this #3 hit from her 1979 album "Totally Hot." Sultry, sexy, strong vocal performance.
DEEPER THAN THE NIGHT - In a similar vein to "A Little More Love" but a bit softer. I don't like it as much.
MAGIC - "Xanadu" the movie bombed but "Xanadu" the soundtrack album was a hit, spawning this, her first hit of the '80s. Ethereal-sounding soft-rock - one of my favorites.
XANADU - Movie title song with Electric Light Orchestra. The song itself is corny, but Livvy's performance makes it special.
SUDDENLY - ONJ's third hit from Xanadu, a sweet, AC-friendly duet with Cliff Richard which hit the top 20.
PHYSICAL - Come on, you know you like it. The groove will get your feet tapping and the double entendres will make you smile.
MAKE A MOVE ON ME - A top five-charting follow-up to "Physical" with a soft-new-wave sound that is quintessentially 1982.
HEART ATTACK - A #3 hit from her '82 greatest-hits LP. I was two years old when this song was a hit, and I loved it back then.
TWIST OF FATE - The perfect synthesized '80s dance-rocker. My favorite ONJ song from the '80s. It didn't make the AC chart, but its B-side (another duet with John Travolta, "Take A Chance") did, at #3.
Way to go Livvy! No matter what critics have said, your fans always have and always will love you for what you were and who you are.
- Chris

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Still Missing Songs, July 10 2004

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David (KCMO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Magic: The Very Best of Olivia Newton-John 1973-1983 (Audio CD)

This is a nice complilation with some songs that are normally forgotten by the masses like "Little more love" and "Deeper that the night" that were well suited during her Ronstadtesque era. Still when are they going to add some great but forgotten hits like the sexy "Soul Kiss", the Elton John produced "Rumours", her John Travolta duet "Take a chance", as well as the quirky but fun "Landslide". These are songs people might have missed or forgotten but helped make her own style. Speaking of style, we can't forget J Farrar and the incredible work that went into making O N-J well, O N-J. That is the person behind the talent and maybe a commplilation with just his work with O N-J would be a good tribute. You know, since they're making all these greatest hits cds. I'd buy it.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent! My girl Olivia knows how to do it!, May 24 2004

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Preston L. Moreaux (North Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Magic: The Very Best of Olivia Newton-John 1973-1983 (Audio CD)

Olivia Newton John was one of my favorite singers in the late '70s and '80s. I still remember when she had like 7 to 8 hits in a row from 1978 to 1980, just a nonstop run of hits like her competition Donna Summer, Barry Manilow, the Bee Gees and others. This album justifies that. Her country songs of 1973 and 1974 are still fabulous. "Physical" still sounds funky today! "Heart Attack" just gets you dancing! "Deeper Than The Night" I still love! "Twist Of Fate" still sounds good with its aerobic sound 21 years later! "Magic" opened the music of the '80s quite well when it came out in 1980. "Xanadu" still sounds weird, but I'll take it. Her duet with Cliff Richard, "Suddenly", still sounds smooth. The "Grease" movie songs with John Travolta clash the '50s and 1978 so very well within the same songs! Her willingness to take chances were what made her a good singer. I still like the fact that she overcame her battle with cancer and is still performing and touring today. Her still remaining active just brings everything full circle with this album! Excellent career compilation!!!!! My girl Olivia knows how to do it!!!!!

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best of Olivia Newton John
A wonderful selection of Olivia's best songs. Makes a wonderful playlist for insertion into Window's Media Player. Completely satisfied with this album.

Published on Dec 10 2009 by A. Loeffler

3.0 out of 5 stars Olivia Is Ok
I checked out some of her CDs, because she does some good songs, and this is the best collection of hers you can get. Read more

Published on July 17 2004 by David Brown