thanks to Kay
Collection of short reviews 1971-1977
8 May 1971 Billboard
OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN-If Not For You (2:57) (Prod. Bruce Welch & John Farrar) (Writer: Dylan) (Big Sky, ASCAP)-The Bob Dylan material along with an exceptional performance by the artist, No. 1 in Italy, makes this a hot contender for programming and sales action here as well. Uni 55281
30 Oct 1971 Record World
IF NOT FOR YOU, OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN-Uni 73117.
Former Toomorrow member Olivia Newton-John has found a brighter tomorrow as a soloist. It’s probably a tricky maneuver to make it as a girl singer who doesn’t write these days, but luscious Olivia, whose material is tasty and tasteful, looks as if she’s done the difficult.
6 Nov 1971 Billboard
POP
OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN- If Not for You. Uni 73117
The title tune took this young stylist high on the charts both in the U.S. and Europe and more of her fine sound is found in this LP. She shines on some very beautiful ballads including “If,” “Love Song,” “Where Are You Going to My Love” and “No Re-grets.” Especially pretty is her rendition of “Lullaby.” Also included is her single “Banks of the Ohio,” currently climbing the charts.
13 Nov 1971 Cashbox
IF NOT FOR YOU-Olivia Newton-John-Uni 73117
Olivia made an impressive debut via her single of the Bob Dylan piece, “If Not For You.” Now she has come up with a superb album which includes that song and eleven others. She has a lovely unforgettable texture to her voice - listen to “If I Could Read Your Mind,” “Help Me Make It Through The Night,” “In A Station” and “Where Are You Going To My Love” and see if you don’t agree. It’s a safe prediction but we’re going to make it anyhow - Olivia will become a major star.
23 Nov 1971 San Bernardino Sun
IF NOT FOR YOU by Oli-via Newton-John (Uni, 73117) Just because a girl is pretty, that doesn’t mean she can sing. But it doesn’t mean she can’t, either.
Lovely Olivia Newton-John should be heard from again.
She uses a soft delicate whisper of a voice to gently touch some fine songs with her own style on this album. And as she does them each takes on a whole, new character.
Bob Dylan’s title song is an excellent example. “Love Song,” “If,” “Where Are You Going To My Love” and “If I Could Read Your Mind” are others.
She doesn’t do everything right though. A couple of country and western cuts seem out of place on this album. She sings them nicely but they are treated too gently in her soft style.
As if there weren’t enough of them around already, she’s yet another fine female singer. A pretty face and a pretty voice.
19 Feb 1972 Billboard
*OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN-What Is Life (3:22) (Prod: Bruce Welch & John Farrar) (Writer: Harrison) (Harrisongs, BMI)-The George Harrison rhythm ballad is updated in a fine reading by the “If Not For You” gal with much play and sales potential. Uni 55317 (MCA)
19 Feb 1972 Cashbox
OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN (Uni 55317)
What Is Life (3:22) (Harrisongs, BMI-G. Harrison) Continuing her Harrison song cycle, English lovely tackles another hefty hunk quite successfully for the MOR/Top 40 market. Flip: “I’m A Small And Lonely Light” (2:50) (Blue Gum, ASCAP-Farrar & Best)
19 Feb 1972 Record World
OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN-Uni 55317 (MCA)
WHAT IS LIFE (Harrisongs. BMI)
I’M A SMALL AND LONELY LIGHT (Blue Gum, ASCAP)
Pretty British lass, who hit with Dylan’s “If Not For You,” comes back with a faithful rendition of the George Harrison beauty.
7 Oct 1972 Billboard
Also Recommended
CANDI STATON-Lovin’ You, Lovin’ Me (3:00) (prod: Rick Hall) (writer: Wyrick) (Fame, BMI) FAME 91005 (United Artists)
TIM HARDIN-Do the Do (2:50) (prod: Tony Meehan) (writer: Dixon) (Arc, BMI) COLUMBIA 4-45695
JUDY COLLINS-Sunny Goodge Street (prod: Mark Abramson) (writer: Donovan) (Southern, ASCAP) ELEKTRA 45813
OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN-My Old Man’s Got a Gun (2:50) (prod: Bruce Welch & John Farrar) (Blue Gum, ASCAP) UNI 55348 (MCA)
7 Oct 1972 Cashbox
OLIVIA NEWTON JOHN (Uni 55348)
My Old Man’s Got A Gun (2:50) (Blue Gum, ASCAP-Farrar)
It’s only a matter of time before the masses discover one of the most talented female songstresses around today. Well, that time has come as Olivia Newton-John delivers what is destined to become a solid chart item. This outing will please both pop and MOR formats. Flip: “Just A Little Too Much” (2:05) (Hilliard, BMI-J. Burnette)
5 May 1973 Cashbox
OLIVIA NEWTON JOHN (MCA 40043)
Take Me Home, Country Roads (3:16) (Cherry Lane, ASCAP-Danoff, Nivert, Denver)
John Denver classic is redone beautifully by Olivia in what will become her first major hit in some time. Record mantains its pretty poetic form and will capture wide top 40 appeal. Flip: No info. available.
15 Dec 1973 Billboard
OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN-Let Me Be There, MCA 389. Mixture of cuts from previous LP’s of this versatile Australian song-stress who serves up a pleasing set of country, rock and ballads including her current hit, “Let Me Be There.”
15 Dec 1973 Record World
LET ME BE THERE, OUVIA NEWTON-JOHN-MCA 389 15.981
Australian thrush has a pop/country smash on the title tune, and the lovely lady’s album is filled with wonderful versions of other great songs in the same genre. Good production by Bruce Welch and John Farrar enriches songs like “Take Me Home Country Roads,” “Angel of the Morning,” “If Not For You” and “Love Song.”
10 Aug 1975 Santa Cruz Sentinel
Aussie Singer Coming To Reno
RENO, Nev.-The pretty Aussie with the mellow voice. Olivia Newton-John, opens Monday in the Headliner Room at Harrah’s Reno.
Sharing the spotlight twice nightly through Aug. 20 is comedian Norm Crosby. The John Carleton orchestra provides the musical accompaniment.
Less than a decade ago Olivia was a singer in Australian cof-fee shops. Her first single. “If Not For You”, became a worldwide hit. She followed with “Let Me Be There”, “Have. You Never Been Mellow” and Grammy Award winner, “1 Honestly Love You”.
Johnny Ray opens Tuesday in the Casino Cabaret and Clint Holmes and the Bacchanal Thursday night. Breck Wall’s revue “Bottoms Up ‘75” is also on the bill.
19 Oct 1975 Santa Cruz Sentinel - Lovely Olivia coming to Tahoe
Lovely Olivia Coming To Tahoe
STATELINE Nev.–Olivia Newton-John opens a two-week engagement at Harrah’s Tahoe Friday night.
The lovely Aussie will perform twice nightly in The South Shore Room with comedian Norm Crosby and the Brian Farnon orchestra. Showtimes are 8:15 p.m. and midnight, except for early Sunday per-formances at 6 and 10 p.m. Pauul Revere & The Raiders are the featured group in the Stateline Cabaret. Also appear-ing are The Train and Larry and Lorrie Collins.
One Plus One continue their engagement in the Summit Restaurant.
12 Nov 1975 Desert Sun - Such a relief to see a clean show at Vegas - Olivia sang superbly
By NANCY ANDERSON Copley News Service
It’s such HOLLYWOOD a relief to see a clean show in Vegas, and it was not only a relief but a double-barreled treat to see two clean and thoroughly entertaining shows on the night that Olivia Newton-John (with the Hudson Brothers) and Ernie Ford (with Life) opened at the Riviera and Sahara Hotels respectively.
Miss Newton-John is so pretty in the fresh, Doris Day fashion that she’d be worth seeing even if she didn’t sing. However, on her opening night at the Riviera, she sang superbly, especially a medley of “Nevertheless, I’m in Love With You” and “As Time Goes By.”
She’s been offered a starring role in an important picture, but, until she signs the deal, she’d rather not say what it is. However, she does say that, given her choice, she’d pick James Caan as her leading man. “Not long ago,” she adds cryptically, “I would have chosen Robert Redford. Oh, you can say that James Caan, Robert Redford, Paul Newman or Steve McQueen - any one of those four would be fine.”
6 May 1976 Desert Sun
-OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN Come On Over (MCA) - A lot of fans go to gorgeous Olivia’s concerts just to look at her, but the gal also can sing. You wouldn’t think that soft voice could do justice to “Jolene,” but she comes up with a raspy whine that’s just right. Also some dreamy ballads and a couple of up-tempo.
23 Oct 1977 San Bernardino Sun
Olivia Newton-John said she hasn’t decided what to do about her next album.
Word is she might come back to Nashville to record another. Her last LP, recorded on the West Coast, reportedly hasn’t done too well in sales.
The blue-eyed Olivia looked tired in a recent visit. “I am tired,” she said. “I just finished filming a movie. It’s ‘Grease’ with John Travolta.