Middle Of The Road music special
OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN - ENGLAND NEEDS LIVVY BUT LIVVY DOESN'T NEED ENGLAND!
LIVVY isn’t pleased! The Sunday Express, of all things, has blown it! There aren’t many people who are in the girl’s bad books but a certain reporter on that journal, who shall remain nameless (for fear of reprisals) has well and truly made an impression on Olivia Newton-John.
For the past number of months, Olivia has been working in the States, where she is considered the greatest thing to hit the plains since baked beans. She got fed up with living in a suitcase so the decision was made to rent a house in Los Angeles. And that was where the Express made the booboo. “Did you see the Sunday Express the other week?” she enquired. “They carried this silly story about my house. Among other things, they said that there were patrol guards all over the place. It was so stupid. I don’t know which reporter wrote it but, If you see him. tell him thanks.”
Apart from that sad encounter, things have been going nicely for our girl in America. Perhaps we shouldn’t claim anymore that she is British though. As they say, there’s no me shutting the gate after the horse has bolted.
Britain had first crack at Olivia Newton-John, was hesitant and America was only too glad to pick up the pieces. There’s no use in saying she had a hit here and there. Not when you consider that, at the moment, she has a number one album and single in the States.
The States is also giving Olivia as much work as she can handle as well. Apparently, she just can’t put a foot wrong. In colleges, she’s a rave, in cabaret, she guarantees sell-outs and, in the biggest of concert halls, tickets are like gold-dust. There’s no answer to that.
While still regarding Britain as “home”, she hasn’t been here since November and that was only a short visit. She’ll be back again in a few weeks, again Just for a matter of days to do some work on the next album.
“I’ve never really done any concert work in England,” she said. “The only things I’ve done are a bit of television and nichtclubs. But over here, I’ve been doing everything. The best thing about it is that the audiences range from kids to old people. That didn’t happen in England.”
And who in England ever considered Olivia country singer? as Olivia doesn’t consider herself country, never has “It just happened that I recorded a few country flavoured songs. It wasn’t an intentional thing. I just liked the songs. I suppose it started with things like Country Roads and If Not For You. Anyway, I’ve never realised that there was a difference. In England. there is just one chart but here there ary three: rhythm and blues, country, and pop and my songs started getting into the country and pop charts. My songs aren’t considered strict country. There is a term here called cross-country which applies to both types of songs.”
“My songs also appeal to pop people. I’ve been lucky that I’ve been able to record the sort of songs that ar liked by both. In my act. I do things that are considered pop and are not pop but they still get into the country charts.”
In Olivia’s eyes, America also has another advantage, they have many, many more radio stations than we have, although the glut of commercial stalions throughout England could allevate somewhat the problem.
“I think England has only got about two or three stations and even they are a bit limited in what they play. Over here (America), there are about 20 stations. They are all different types and play a wide range of music. In England, records that aren’t instantly recognisable don’t get the opportunity to break through. Here they do and that’s why I think there is a higher quality of records in the charts. A lot of records are held back in England because they just don’t get the chance they deserve. I’m not just referring to my records but to everybody’s”
England is given yet another Livvy album, “Have You Ever Been Mellow”. Will it grasp the opportunity.
Bear two things in mind when making up your mind: England needs Olivia, Olivia doesn’t need England.
By Harry Doherty
Miidle of the road music is that timeless brand of listening that remains constant in the charts despite the general trends in what’s selling. What is in? Hard to describe but it lies between the Pink Floyd and light opera. Lots of room there. Sometimes it borders on country music, sometimes it’s a novelty number. Whatever happens, MOR will always be with us.