Olivia Newton-John, the #36 Artist of the Rock Era, Part One

Olivia Newton-John, The #36 Artist of the Rock Era

"Olivia was such a beautiful person, a great talent and warm heart."

"You were a classy, talented and dignified woman who will never be forgotten. Known not only for your singing talent but your support of animal rights, breast cancer research and many other humanitarian causes. RIP sweetheart."

"Rest In Peace Olivia! You are one huge reason why my childhood in the 80's was amazing. I will always listen to your songs. They will live on forever."

"She was a shining light always. Fly high, Olivia. We honestly love you. ️"

"Beautiful Lady with an Angelic Voice."

"Her Spirit is so big. Wonderful to listen and be still for 4 minutes and take in all the Love and honesty in her voice."

"I've been in love with Olivia since I was 10 years old in 1973 when I saw her sing Let Me Be There on tv. She is a complete beauty both inside and out and has a voice of gold."

"Voice of an angel and now she is one... RIP Olivia Newton-John."

"Exquisite voice, seems she had an incredible heart and impact on those who got to know and love her."

"We all honestly love you. Your beautiful voice will echo in our hearts forever."

"Such a beautiful and talented woman. I'm so glad I got to see her perform early on in her career. I'll always listen to her beautiful voice. She will continue to delight her fans forever."

"One of the most beautiful woman who has ever lived in my honest opinion. And couple that with a sweet sincere girl next door look. There was nothing arrogant or pretentious about this woman ever. She exerted kindness, simplicity and down-to-earth likability. And immense and phenomenal talents."

"An angelic voice and beautiful face in one unforgettable being."

Olivia Newton-John was born on September 26, 1948 in Cambridge, England.  Her maternal grandfater, Max Born, was a Nobel Prize-winning physicist who fled Nazi Germany to Britain.  Olivia's father was an M15 office who took Rudolf Hess into custody during World War II.  

In 1954, Olivia and her family migrated to Australia, and she attended Christ Church Grammar School near Melbourne and University High School.  She began her singing career at the age of 14 when she formed an all-girl group (Sol Four) with three friends, performing in a coffee shop owned by her brother-in-law.  

Soon, Olivia performed on local radio and television shows, including HSV-7's The Happy Show.  She also appeared on The Go!! Show, where she met singer Pat Carroll and John Farrar.  Both would become lifetime friends.

Newton-John landed her first break when she won a talent contest on the TV show Sing, Sing, Sing, performing "Anyone Who Had A Heart" and "Everything's Coming Up Roses".  Olivia was reluctant at first to take advantage of the prize, a trip to Great Britain, but finally did a year later at her mother's insistence.  

Olivia recorded her first single, "Till You Say You'll Be Mine" for Decca Records in 1966.  She missed her boyfriend, however, and booked several trips to Australia that her mother canceled.  Things brightened considerably when Carroll moved to Great Britain as well.  The pair formed a duo known as Pat and Olivia and toured nightclubs in Europe.  When Carroll's visa expired, forcing her to return to Australia, Olivia began aiming at a solo career.  

Producer Don Kirshner recruited Newton-John for the group Toomorrow (correct spelling), which starred in a science fiction musical movie and recorded the accompanying soundtrack on RCA Records.  However, two singles failed to attract an audience and the group split up.

 

In 1971, Olivia signed with MCA Records and released her debut solo album, If Not for You (self-titled in the U.K.).  A Bob Dylan-penned tune, the title track gave Newton-John her first big hit, a #1 on the Easy Listening chart.

Newton-John was immediately popular in her native U.K., voted Best British Female Vocalist by the magazine Record Mirror.  She regularly appeared on Cliff Richard's weekly television show, It's Cliff Richard, and also starred alongside him in the TV movie The Case.

Olivia's second album, Olivia, was never released in the U.S., and singles from the album barely made a dent.  She rebounded in 1973 with the album Let Me Be There (titled as Music Makes My Day in the U.K.).  John Rostill of the Shadows wrote the title song as well as "If You Love Me, Let Me Know" and "Please Mr. Please".  

 

"Let Me Be There" features great bass vocals from Mike Sammes, whose group the Mike Sammes Singers sang backing vocals on several hits including "I Am The Walrus" by the Beatles and Tom Jones' "Delilah".  The title song was a multi-format smash and hit #6 Popular and #3 on the Easy Listening chart.

In 1974, Newton-John represented the U.K. in the annual Eurovision Song Contest, singing "Long Live Love".  She finished fourth in the competition, famously won by ABBA with "Waterloo".  Olivia recorded all six of the songs considered for the Eurovision entry she would ultimately sing and included them on her album Long Live Love, but those songs were replaced in the U.S. and Canada by earlier recordings on the album titled  If You Love Me, Let Me Know.

 

The title song from If You Love Me, Let Me Know was the first single and reached #5 Popular and #2 Easy Listening.

When Newton-John bested Tammy Wynette and Dottie West for Best Female Country Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards and "If You Love Me (Let Me Know)" was nominated for Best Country Song at the Country Music Association Awards, some members of the CMA left the group, upset that Olivia was better than they were.

 

Jeff Barry ("Sugar, Sugar", "Be My Baby") and Peter Allen teamed up to write this song.  Allen was working on his album Continental American and asked Barry to help him write.  They wrote "I Honestly Love You" and Allen recorded the demo, which found its way to Farrar, who played it for Olivia.  Newton-John released the single, which became one of her biggest career hits--many radio stations and charts had it as the #1 song of 1974.

The smash hit #1 on both the Popular and Easy Listening charts and captured the prestigious Grammy Award for Record of the Year as well as Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female.  Olivia won four American Music Awards, including Favorite Female Artist and Favorite Single Pop/Rock (of course Rock has been the most "Pop"ular format over the last 65 years.  She won a Billboard Music Award for Top Pop Singles Artist (Female).  For the first time in her career, Olivia also scored a #1 album.

Newton-John moved to the U.S. and notched her second consecutive #1 album with Have You Never Been Mellow.  Farrar wrote the title track, a multi-format smash (#1 Popular, #1 Easy Listening, and #3 Country).

 

Rostill and Bruce Welch, both bandmates of Farrar in the Shadows, wrote this one for Newton-John.  Olivia released "Please Mr. Please" as the next single, another across-the-board winner--Top 10 Adult (#1 for three weeks), Top 10 Popular (#3) and Top 10 Country (#5). 

Newton-John won Favorite Female Artist in the Pop/Rock category for the second consecutive year at the American Music Awards and also won a trophy for Favorite Album--Pop/Rock.  She won a Billboard Music Award for Top pop Albums Artist (Female).

 

The album Clearly Love was not as well received by teenagers, although the single "Something Better To Do" (which showcases Olivia's amazingly beautiful and pure voice) gave Newton-John her fourth straight adult #1 and the album did go Gold.

 

Olivia scored another #1 on the Easy Listening chart with "Let It Shine".

 

John Denver, another of Rock's all-time Top 100 Artists*, invited Olivia to sing on his hit "Fly Away", one of the top collaborations in the last 50 years.  It peaked at #13 but also rose to #1 on the Adult chart, one of The Top Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*.

Newton-John won Favorite Female Artist for the third straight year at the American Music Awards, one of a select few in history to achieve that feat, and took home a Billboard Music Award for Top Adult Contemporary Artist.

 

In 1976, she released the album Come on Over, written for her by Barry and Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees.  The group included the title song for their 1975 album Main Course.  Olivia heard the album on her tour bus and the Gibb's were happy to give permission for her to record it as well.  "Come On Over" made it an incredible six straight #1 songs on the Adult chart.

Much more to come from Olivia as The Top 100 Artists of the Rock Era* continues with Part Two!