Country Sound Down Under
By Vernon Scott
HOLLYWOOD -(UPI)
Australia’s principal human export was once male tennis players. Now it appears to be willowy girl singers.
The no. 1 female vocalist on the maze of record charts today is Olivia Newton-John, an attractive young thing with enormous eyes and a distinctive voice.
Others of her tribe now leading the way in pop and country-western music are Helen Reddy, Lana Cantrell, Diana Trask and Kerr Bidell. The invasion, according to Olivia, is only just beginning. “Australia has finally developed a major recording in-dustry,” she said in an accent mindful of Rod Laver’s. “And most of the singers are doing western stuff.”
she said in an accent mindful of Rod Laver’s. “And most of the singers are doing western stuff.”
“Country music is easy to listen to, easy to sing and easy to understand. No other country than American has anything like it. Country-western is straight-forward music.”
For whatever reason, Olivia’s strong accent disappears when she ties into a song. She sounds as if she might be straight from Nashville.
“I visited there for the first time in my life a few weeks ago,” she said. “I’ve been so busy touring I have not had the time. But I did go by the homes of Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison.”
Actually, Olivia now makes her home in London six months a year. She spends the other six months in the United States.
“Of the girl singers from Australia I’m the only one who didn’t come straight to the United States. I went to England first because I thought I would have a better chance there.”
After so-so success in Blighty, Olivia made a record of “Let Me Be There.” It didn’t do anything for the home folks but became a smash on country-western stations in the United States.
“I was surprised by that,” Olivia said. “But it didn’t mean that I wanted to do only country music. I would like to appeal to all audiences singing a variety of music.”
She won the Grammy Award this year as best country female vocal performer for “Let Me Be There.” And Olivia has been awarded a gold record and a platinum record for her efforts.
Of her seven single records cut so far, four have been major hits on the charts. She has a long-term contract with MOA Records and a bright future.
So far she hasn’t chosen to share it with one particular man, although she was making great calf’s eyes in her dressing room a young Englishman who accompanies her on tour.
Earlier this year she appeared in Las Vegas with Charlie Rich and outshone the Silver Fox. She also starred with the Smothers Brothers at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles.
Currently her new single, “I Honestly Love You” is at the top.