Dazzling Olivia shows her talent, Tucson, AZ concert Jan 22 1975
By Larry Fleischman, Citizen Staff Writer
When Olivia Newton-John recorded Bob Dylan’s “If Not For You” a few years ago, she began a trend that she continues today. She has the ability to find songs like “Honey Pie” and “The Air That I Breathe” and turn them into very personal statements.
She dazzled a packed Community Center Music Hall last night. Some would say that all Olivia has to do is walk onstage, and she wins the affection of most of the audience, but that would be unfair to her and to her repertoire. Like most good country singers, she has the talent to pick material that suits her perfectly. She is as times spellbinding.
She began last night with “Let Me Be There,” one of her many country-flavored hits. She gradually manoeuvred into a well-balanced collection of R&H tunes, foot-tappers, old standards like “Nevertheless,” and torchy ballads that took some time to recover from.
It is on love songs, predictably, that Olivia shines her brightest. Her renditions of Elton John’s “Love Song,” the Hollies’ “Air That I Breathe,’ and “I Honestly Love You” were the highlights of the evening.
Olivia has been kicked around somewhat in the rock press, some critics calling her too Top 40. When you hear her on the radio it is sometimes difficult to disagree with them, since Olivia Newton-John at the moment is very hot and consequently played almost to death.
But last night people from 10 years old to 70 were standing to applaud her. There aren’t many performers today who get that kind of reception.
Tucson’s own Dusty Chaps began things last night, and somewhat unbelievably, they too succeeded in capturing the attention of the diverse audience. It’s about time people recognized that the Chaps are as good as anyone in country hoe-down rock.
Their performance last night, although not as loose and easy as in the bars, was nevertheless outstanding. It won’t be too long before Tucson becomes the place where they came from.