Olivia emerges from shambles of Toomorrow
By Richard Green
“EXTRA! Extra! Read all about it! James Bond man launches new supergroup! Toomorrow tipped for the top!” Remember all that carry-on a few months ago when you couldn’t pick up a paper without reading about the latest non-exploits of the plastic pop group? And remember what happened in the end? As an unfortunate member of the quartet, Olivia Newton-John has good reason to, but all she considers it to have been was “good experience.”
While a lot of girls of her age might have been so upset by the whole fiasco that all they wanted to do was go back home, and forget about the pop business, Olivia determined to carry on and not admit defeat.
But then she has a few advantages over most other giris Peter Gormley for a manager, Bruce Welch for a fiance, and the sense of humour that comes from living in Australia.
Happily for her, just a rew months after the demise of the ill-fated group, Olivia has her own hit record. She has succeeded where Bob Dylan failed and taken “If Not For You” into the chart. In fact it is one of the week’s biggest jumpers, going up 11 places to No. 15.
“No, I haven’t always thought about going into show business professionally,” she told me when we met recently, “I wanted to be a vet. I got as far as my ‘O’ levels then left school and started singing again. I formed a duo with a friend from Australia were called Pat and Olivia but I think we were friendly rivals really. It wasn’t our original idea Athol Guy and Eddie Jarrett suggested it. We kept forgetting each other was on stage and the mike leads tangled up.”
After a couple of years of cabaret and odd TV appearances, Olivia landed a part in Toomorrow. Pat, not having been able to get a work permit again, had since returned to Australia.
“It was frustrating in that group,” Olivia confessed. “We had two records out and the second one, if it had been any group but ours, it would have been hit, people were fed up with us by then. The film died a death, it was all a bit of a shambles but it was good experience, it helps you to take a few knocks.”
“I’d never been a great success before but I hadn’t failed in anything before either. I didn’t pin too many hopes on the group, I was all ready to record on my own when it came along but I thought if I didn’t join I might regret it. If it had been a success it would have been a great launching pad for all of us later on to do solo work. It was frustrating sitting around for two years though.”
Olivia adopts a philosophical attitude towards the pop world, saying: “I like to try everything and see what goes.” She is content to leave the guidance of her career to Peter Gormley. Judging by the successful way in which he has handled people like Cliff Richard, the Shadows, Frank Ifield and John Rowles, she’s made the right decision.
Disciplined She had just completed a string of guest spots on Cliff’s TV series and is full of praise for the way in which the programme is conducted.
“It’s a very high high standard on the show,” she proclaimed. “And being on your own after four years you need a bit of discipline.”
Though she has been told of what is in store in the immediate future, Olivia is rather in the dark about long-term plans for her. Maybe because of her experience with “you know what,” she accepts the fact and says: “It’s better not to be told what you’re going to do and build up your hopes.”
Her hopes of achieving solo success have certainly had a boost this week. She’s right behind Clodagh Rodgers in the race towards the Top Ten, outstripping Dana and about to overtake Judy Collins. If only for old times’ sake, I know where I’m putting my money.