Olivia Newton-John, A Retrospective: 1971-1992

Olivia Newton-John A Retrospective: 1971-1992

Overview: The country/pop singer was born 9/26/1948 in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England. She died on 8/8/2022. Her family moved to Australia in 1953. At age 16, won talent contest to England. Granddaughter of Nobel Prize-winning German physicist Max Born. She was in the Pat & Olivia duo and group Tomorrow before going solo. She won the CMA Award for Female Vocalist of the Year in 1974. In movies Grease, Xanadu, and Two of a Kind. Married actor Matt Lattanzi in 1984, divorced in 1995. Opened own chain of clothing boutiques (Koala Blue) in 1984. Her daughter Chloe was born in 1986. She battled breast cancer in 1992, was diagnosed with cancer again in 2013, and a third time in 2017. Married John Easterling in 2008. She sold more than 100 million records in her career. On the Web: OliviaNewton-John.com (official site) Facebook Wikipedia Lists: Top 50 Songs

Awards:

The Studio Albums: Hover over an album cover to see its title and year of release. Click on the album to go to its dedicated DMDB page. Compilations: IL If You Love Me Let Me Know (1972-74, released 1974) G1 Greatest Hits (1971-77, released 1977) G2 Olivia’s Greatest Hits Vol. 2 (1978-82, released 1982) BB Back to Basics (1971-92, released 1992) MV Magic: The Very Best of (1973-90, released 2001) DC The Definitive Collection (1971-92, released 2004) GD Gold (1970-98, released 2005) HD Hopelessly Devoted: The Hits (1971-82, released 2018) Under each album snapshot, songs featured on the anthologies are noted. If the song charted, the date of the song’s release or first chart appearance and its chart peaks are noted in parentheses. Click for codes to singles charts.

If Not for You

Rating: 4.110 out of 5.00 (average of 4 ratings)

Released: November 1, 1971 Peak: 158 US, 14 AU Sales (in millions): -- Tracks: Me and Bobby McGee If Banks of the Ohio (10/16/71, 94 US, 34 AC, 6 UK, 66 CN, 1 AU) BB, DC, GD, HD In a Station Love Song Help Me Make It Through the Night If Not for You (3/20/71, 25 US, 23 CB, 24 HR, 1 AC, 7 UK, 3 CN, 7 AU, 5 DF) G1, BB, DC, GD, HD Where Are You Going to My Love Lullaby If I Gotta Leave No Regrets Total Running Time: 35:54

Olivia

Rating: 3.977 out of 5.00 (average of 3 ratings)

Released: August 11, 1972 Peak: -- Sales (in millions): -- Tracks: Angel of the Morning Just a Little Too Much (1972 single) If We Only Have Love Winterwood My Old Man’s Got a Gun Changes (8/72, --) L1, G1 I’m a Small and Lonely Light Why Don’t You Write Me Mary Skeffington IL Behind That Locked Door What Is Life (3/4/72, 34 AC, 16 UK, 34 DF) BB, DC Everything I Own Living in Harmony I Will Touch You Total Running Time: 40:38

Let Me Be There (aka “Music Makes My Day”)

Rating: 3.440 out of 5.00 (average of 8 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Released: November 1973 Peak: 54 US, 37 UK, 39 CN Sales (in millions): 0.5 US Tracks: Take Me Home, Country Roads (1/73, 15 UK, 36 DF) BB, DC Armoureuse Brotherly Love Heartbreaker Rosewater You Ain’t Got the Right IL Feeling Best Being on the Losing End Let Me Be There (8/25/73, 6 US, 4 CB, 6 HR, 7 RR, 3 AC, 7 CW, 2 CN, 11 AU, 9 DF) G1, BB, MV, GD, HD Music Makes My Day Leaving If We Try Total Running Time: 42:09

Long Live Love

Rating: 3.750 out of 5.00 (average of 4 ratings)

Released: June 24, 1974 Peak: -- US, 40 UK, -- CN, 19 AU Sales (in millions): -- Tracks: Free the People IL Angel Eyes Country Girl IL Someday God Only Knows IL Loving You Ain’t Easy Home Ain’t Home Anymore IL Have Love, Will Travel I Honestly Love You (8/3/74, 12 US, 12 CB, 12 HR, 16 RR, 1 3 AC, 6 CW, 22 UK, 11 CN, 14 AU, 1 DF) IL, G1, BB, MV, DC, GD, HD Hands Across the Sea The River’s Too Wide IL Long Live Love (3/31/74, 11 UK, 11 AU) DF Total Running Time: 36:46

If You Love Me Let Me Know

Rating: 3.517 out of 5.00 (average of 9 ratings) Notes: This album was a compilation of material from 1972’s Olivia (2 cuts), 1973’s Let Me Be There (1 cut), and 1974’s Long Live Love (6 cuts) + the single “If You Love Me Let Me Know.”

Released: May 28, 1974 Peak: 11 US, 18 CW, -- UK, 11 CN, -- AU Sales (in millions): 0.5 US Tracks: If You Love Me Let Me Know (4/6/74, 5 US, 6 CB, 5 HR, 7 RR, 2 AC, 2 CW, 56 UK, 3 CN, 2 AU, 9 DF) G1, BB, MV, HD Mary Skeffington Country Girl I Honestly Love You (8/3/74, 12 US, 12 CB, 12 HR, 16 RR, 1 3 AC, 6 CW, 22 UK, 11 CN, 14 AU, 1 DF) IL, G1, BB, MV, DC, GD, HD Free the People The River’s Too Wide Home Ain’t Home Anymore God Only Knows Changes You Ain’t Got the Right Total Running Time: 31:08

Have You Never Been Mellow

Rating: 3.018 out of 5.00 (average of 9 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Released: February 12, 1975 Peak: 11 US, 11 CW, 37 UK, 3 CN, 13 AU Sales (in millions): 0.5 US Tracks: Have You Never Been Mellow (1/21/75, 11 US, 11 CB, 11 HR, 15 RR, 11 AC, 3 CW, 13 CN, 10 AU, 9 DF) G1, BB, MV, DC, GD, HD Loving Arms Lifestream Goodbye Again Water Under the Bridge I Never Did Sing You a Love Song It’s So Easy The Air That I Breathe Follow Me And in the Morning Please Mr. Please (5/30/75, 3 US, 11 CB, 5 HR, 6 RR, 13 AC, 5 CW, 11 CN, 35 AU, 9 DF) G1, BB, MV, GD, HD Total Running Time: 39:29

Clearly Love

Rating: 2.478 out of 5.00 (average of 7 ratings)

Released: September 30, 1975 Peak: 12 US, -- UK, 39 CN, 56 AU Sales (in millions): 0.5 US Tracks: Something Better to Do (9/20/75, 13 US, 15 CB, 30 HR, 28 RR, 13 AC, 19 CW, 26 CN, 60 AU, 22 DF) G1, GD, HD Lovers Slow Down Jackson He’s My Rock Sail into Tomorrow Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying Clearly Love Let It Shine (12/6/75, 30 US, 12 AC, 5 CW, 17 CN) G1, GD Summertime Blues Just a Lot of Folk (The Marshmallow Song) He Ain’t Heavy…He’s My Brother Total Running Time: 31:13

Come on Over

Rating: 3.755 out of 5.00 (average of 4 ratings)

Released: February 29, 1976 Peak: 13 US, 49 UK, 30 CN, 29 AU Sales (in millions): 0.5 US Tracks: Jolene (8/5/76, 29 AU, 33 DF) Pony Ride Come on Over (3/13/76, 23 US, 30 CB, 30 HR, 30 RR, 11 AC, 5 CW, 22 CN, 55 AU) G1, MV, GD It’ll Be Me Greensleeves Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain Don’t Throw It All Away Who Are You Now? Smile for Me Small Talk and Pride Wrap Me in Your Arms The Long and Winding Road Total Running Time: 41:10

Don’t Stop Believin’

Rating: 2.458 out of 5.00 (average of 7 ratings)

Released: October 30, 1976 Peak: 33 US, -- UK, 56 CN, 88 AU Sales (in millions): 0.5 US Tracks: Don’t Stop Believin’ (8/7/76, 33 US, 11 AC, 37 CN, 93 AU, 34 DF) G1, BB, MV, GD A Thousand Conversations Compassionate Man New-Born Babe Hey Mr. Dreammaker Every Face Tells a Story (10/30/76, 55 US, 6 AC, 58 CN) GD Sam (1/29/77, 20 US, 12 AC, 40 CW, 6 UK, 24 CN, 56 AU, 10 DF) G1, BB, MV, DC, GD, HD Love You Hold the Key I’ll Bet You a Kangaroo The Last Time You Loved Total Running Time: 34:19

Making a Good Thing Better

Rating: 3.363 out of 5.00 (average of 4 ratings)

Released: November 3, 1977 Peak: 33 US, 60 UK, 33 CN, 71 AU Sales (in millions): -- Tracks: Making a Good Thing Better (6/18/77, 87 US, 20 AC) GD, HD Slow Dancing Ring of Fire Coolin’ Down Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina (1977 single) Sad Songs You Won’t See My Cry So Easy to Begin I Think I’ll Say Goodbye Don’t Ask a Friend If Love Is Real Total Running Time: 42:22

Greatest Hits

Rating: 4.207 out of 5.00 (average of 10 ratings)

Charted: November 12, 1977 Covers: 1971-1977 Peak: 13 US, 19 UK, 11 CN, 18 AU, 6 DF Sales (in millions): 2.0 US, 0.3 UK Tracks: If Not for You (3/20/71, 25 US, 23 CB, 24 HR, 1 AC, 7 UK, 3 CN, 7 AU, 5 DF) Changes (8/72, --) Let Me Be There (8/25/73, 6 US, 4 CB, 6 HR, 7 RR, 3 AC, 7 CW, 2 CN, 11 AU, 9 DF) If You Love Me Let Me Know (4/6/74, 5 US, 6 CB, 5 HR, 7 RR, 2 AC, 2 CW, 56 UK, 3 CN, 2 AU, 9 DF) I Honestly Love You (8/3/74, 12 US, 12 CB, 12 HR, 16 RR, 1 3 AC, 6 CW, 22 UK, 11 CN, 14 AU, 1 DF) Have You Never Been Mellow (1/21/75, 11 US, 11 CB, 11 HR, 15 RR, 11 AC, 3 CW, 13 CN, 10 AU, 9 DF) Please Mr. Please (5/30/75, 3 US, 11 CB, 5 HR, 6 RR, 13 AC, 5 CW, 11 CN, 35 AU, 9 DF) Something Better to Do (9/20/75, 13 US, 15 CB, 30 HR, 28 RR, 13 AC, 19 CW, 26 CN, 60 AU, 22 DF) Let It Shine (12/6/75, 30 US, 12 AC, 5 CW, 17 CN) Come on Over (3/13/76, 23 US, 30 CB, 30 HR, 30 RR, 11 AC, 5 CW, 22 CN, 55 AU) Don’t Stop Believin’ (8/7/76, 33 US, 11 AC, 37 CN, 93 AU, 34 DF) Sam (1/29/77, 20 US, 12 AC, 40 CW, 6 UK, 24 CN, 56 AU, 10 DF)

Grease Soundtrack

Rating: 4.337 out of 5.00 (average of 22 ratings) Notes: See the DMDB page for Grease here.

Released: April 14, 1978 Peak: 112 US, 113 UK, 1u CN, 114 AU, 16 DF Sales (in millions): 14.0 US, 2.37 UK, 40.4 world (includes US and UK) Tracks (just those featuring Olivia Newton-John): You’re the One That I Want (with John Travolta) (4/1/78, 11 US, 3 CB, 11 HR, 3 RR, 23 AC, 19 UK, 2 CN, 19 AU, 2 DF) G2, BB, MV, DC, GD, HD Hopelessly Devoted to You (7/8/78, 3 US, 4 HR, 3 RR, 7 AC, 20 CW, 2 UK, 11 CN, 2 AU, 4 DF) G2, BB, MV, DC, GD, HD Summer Nights (with John Travolta and Cast) (8/5/78, 5 US, 3 CB, 4 HR, 10 RR, 21 AC, 17 UK, 4 CN, 6 AU, 3 DF) BB, MV, DC, GD, HD Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee We Go Together (with John Travolta)

Totally Hot

Rating: 3.697 out of 5.00 (average of 11 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Released: November 21, 1978 Peak: 7 US, 30 UK, 5 CN, 7 AU, 14 DF Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, 0.1 UK, 1.25 world (includes US and UK) Tracks: Please Don’t Keep Me Waiting Dancin’ ‘Round and ‘Round (7/28/79, 82 US, 25 AC, 29 CW, 37 DF) GD Talk to Me Deeper Than the Night (4/14/79, 11 US, 19 CB, 17 HR, 14 RR, 4 AC, 87 CW, 64 UK, 18 CN, 74 AU, 11 DF) BB, MV, DC, GD Borrowed Time A Little More Love (11/25/78, 3 US, 4 CB, 4 HR, 3 RR, 4 AC, 94 CW, 4 UK, 2 CN, 9 AU, 8 DF) G2, BB, MV, DC, GD, HD Never Enough Totally Hot (7/28/79, 52 US, 92 CN, 20 DF) GD Boats Against the Current Gimme Some Lovin’ Total Running Time: 39:19

Xanadu Soundtrack

Rating: 3.765 out of 5.00 (average of 17 ratings) Notes: See the DMDB page for Xanadu here.

Released: June 27, 1980 Peak: 4 US, 2 UK, 2 CN, 16 AU, 18 DF Sales (in millions): 2.0 US, 0.1 UK, 3.07 world (includes US and UK) Tracks (just those featuring Olivia Newton-John): Magic (5/23/80, 14 US, 13 CB, 13 HR, 12 RR, 15 AC, 32 UK, 12 CN, 4 AU, 1 DF) G2, BB, MV, DC, GD, HD Xanadu (with Electric Light Orchestra) (6/6/80, 8 US, 9 CB, 4 HR, 2 RR, 2 AC, 11 UK, 6 CN, 2 AU, 2 DF) G2, BB, MV, DC, GD, HD Suddenly (with Cliff Richard) (10/10/80, 20 US, 19 CB, 19 HR, 12 RR, 4 AC, 15 UK, 6 CN, 37 AU, 6 DF) G2, BB, MV, DC, GD Dancin’ (with the Tubes) Suspended in Time Whenever You’re Away from Me (with Gene Kelly)

Physical

Rating: 3.954 out of 5.00 (average of 12 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Released: October 13, 1981 Peak: 6 US, 11 UK, 3 CN, 3 AU, 15 DF Sales (in millions): 2.0 US, 0.1 UK, 2.86 world (includes US and UK) Tracks: Landslide (1/16/82, 52 US, 18 UK, 8 DF) DC, GD Stranger’s Touch Make a Move on Me (2/12/82, 5 US, 5 CB, 4 HR, 11 RR, 6 AC, 43 UK, 4 CN, 8 AU, 4 DF) G2, BB, MV, DC, GD, HD Falling Love Make Me Strong Physical (9/28/81, 110 US, 18 CB, 19 HR, 2 RR, 29 AC, 28 RB, 7 UK, 16 CN, 15 AU, 1 DF) G2, BB, MV, DC, GD, HD Silvery Rain Carried Away Recovery The Promise (The Dolphin Song) (9/28/81, 6 DF) Total Running Time: 38:23

Olivia’s Greatest Hits Vol. 2

Rating: 4.408 out of 5.00 (average of 11 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Released: September 3, 1982 Peak: 16 US, 8 UK, 6 CN, 12 AU, 17 DF Sales (in millions): 2.0 US, 0.3 UK Tracks: Heart Attack (9/4/82, 3 US, 2 CB, 5 RR, 46 UK, 2 CN, 22 AU, 1 DF) G2, MV, DC, GD, HD Magic (5/23/80, 14 US, 13 CB, 13 HR, 12 RR, 15 AC, 32 UK, 12 CN, 4 AU, 1 DF) Physical (9/28/81, 110 US, 18 CB, 19 HR, 2 RR, 29 AC, 28 RB, 7 UK, 16 CN, 15 AU, 1 DF) Hopelessly Devoted to You (7/8/78, 3 US, 4 HR, 3 RR, 7 AC, 20 CW, 2 UK, 11 CN, 2 AU, 4 DF) Make a Move on Me (2/12/82, 5 US, 5 CB, 4 HR, 11 RR, 6 AC, 43 UK, 4 CN, 8 AU, 4 DF) A Little More Love (11/25/78, 3 US, 4 CB, 4 HR, 3 RR, 4 AC, 94 CW, 4 UK, 2 CN, 9 AU, 8 DF) You’re the One That I Want (with John Travolta) (4/1/78, 11 US, 3 CB, 11 HR, 3 RR, 23 AC, 19 UK, 2 CN, 19 AU, 2 DF) Tied Up (1/15/83, 38 US, 43 CN, 54 AU, 9 DF) G2, GD, HD Suddenly (with Cliff Richard) (10/10/80, 20 US, 19 CB, 19 HR, 12 RR, 4 AC, 15 UK, 6 CN, 37 AU, 6 DF) Xanadu (with Electric Light Orchestra) (6/6/80, 8 US, 9 CB, 4 HR, 2 RR, 2 AC, 11 UK, 6 CN, 2 AU, 2 DF) Total Running Time: 35:54

Resources and Related Links: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Olivia Newton-John Dave’s Music Database: Acts’ Profile Pages and Best-of Lists First posted 8/9/2022; last updated 8/10/2022.