Newton-John Maturity Evident on New Album
As I’ve gotten older and my influences on music have expanded, I’ve gotten attracted to different styles Olivia Newton-John
LOS ANGELES Since the release of Grease in l978. Olivia Newton-John has been an artist the midst of change. What were once album release comprised of predictable sweet love songs, a country song or two and occasional uptempo tune, have since been replace with adventurous forays into rock and other music forms that only a couple of years a few would have expected from the Australian-born singer.
Her new album, “Physical,” Newton-John’s 10th for MCA in as many years. reveals yet another dimension to the singer/actress’ talents. Although she’s compiled 11 top hits From l974- 80 starting with “Let Me Be There” and thus far ending with “Xanadu” it was the delicately delivered ballads such as “I Honestly Love You” “Have You Never Been Mellow” and “Please Mr. Please” that defined her former style.
Songs like “You’re The One That I Want”, “Magic”, “A Little More Love” and now “Physical” are more accurately definitive of her new found maturity. Newton-John will be the first to admit that her role in Grease turned out to be the turning point in her recording career not to mention the starting point of a mushrooming acting career. ‘Grease’ is the most important thing I’ve done she says. “Because I was playing a role. I was able to try something different (in terms of a more powerful singing style). I never would have dreamt of it if not for the part. It was an excuse to do it and it worked I thought ‘hey I was accepted that way. I wanted to do it and I could.’ It was a great release for me because I got put in a box and I got to step out as something else” she says.
“You might lose a few fans but you gain others. You have to do what’s comfortable.” Yet despite her maturing vocals style, Newton-John insists that it’s not a calculated move to attract a wider audience. “I’ve gotten the confidence to be more adventurous whereas in the past I didn’t think it was time. I guess you do everything when you’re ready for it. That style (her old one) was successful for me and I was comfortable singing it,” she says. “If these new song were offered to me a couple of years ago, maybe l couldn’t have attempted them and similarly some of the songs I sang a couple of years ago I wouldn’t be interested in doing now. It’s a matter of taste and changing. I still know my limitations and wouldn’t attempt songs I couldn’t do.”
“I’m not deliberately going after any audience. I’m doing what I like to do. I would have done a country song on ‘Physical’ if I found one I really liked, Newton-John says.
Because of schmaltzy material like “I Honestly Love You” and “Have You Never Been Mellow” as well as a clean girl-next-door image. Newton-John was trapped in that image. “It was a nice image,” she recalls. “It was a compliment used as a form of abuse: you’re too nice, too clean, too whatever. You had to be drunk or on drugs to be interesting so they (the press) didn’t find much to talk about,” the singer admits.
Her new album. “Physical,” which was also recorded in its entirety for release on videodisk contains a good dose of upbeat material including the title track, the initial single, with its sexually provocative lyrics. Other tracks include a Barry Gibb penned song called “Carried Away,” “Recovery”, a John Farrar/Tom Snow collaboration “Strangers Touch,” “Make A Move On Me” among others.
Olivia wrote one song, “The Promise” dealing with the killing of dolphins for commercial gain, a subject she feels strongly about. Newton-John’s acting experience came in useful during the video recording of the LP where she got the opportunity to p1ay a different role on each song.
Says Newton-John “I think this is the way albums will go in the future; visuals with the music. I got to be a different personality and play another side of myself.” If there is one person who has given Newton-John direction and career stability, it’s producer John Farrar who has produced every one of her albums. And she wouldn’t have it any other way.
There isn’t anyone else I’d want to work with,” she says of Farrar “He’s also changed and luckily we’ve changed together.” Newton-John has also changed management from the guidance of longtime manager Lee Kramer to Roger Davies, whom she’s known for a while. Despite increased demands for an Olivia Newton-John tour, one doesn’t figure prominently in her future, at least not for now. “Touring is the most draining on me,” she admits. After ‘Grease’ I was fortunate enough to be able to say ‘I want to stay at home.’ “ She will let the videodisk of “Physical” satisfy the desires of those who want to see her perform. “People are trying to encourage me to go on tour. If this album does really well, it might be exciting.”
She’s also dismissed the possibility of playing Las Vegas primarily because the hot and dry climate is not conducive to her voice. With a consistently successful recording career and an acting career that is gaining momentum (she is currently deliberating on future scripts), Newton-John is well aware of the dangers of over-exposure. She notes that she’s only done two films in four years and her album releases come at lengthy intervals.
While her role in Grease” was overwhelmingly successful she isn’t disappointed by the box-office failure of “Xanadu.” “I certainly wouldn’t die of over exposure in ‘Xanadu,’ “ she laughs. “Not enough people saw it. I don’t regret it or anything I’ve done I learned a lot and the music was successful. I would have been upset if the music flopped.” Newton-John is looking at another television special next year but dismisses any intention of having her own weekly series: “Talk about over-exposure. that’s the biggest way of killing record sales. Why should people buy your records when they can see you each week? Some people want to grab it all at once. But that doesn’t make for longevity. Right now I’m right where I want to be in my career. Grease was the climax and everything after is extra” Newton-John says confidently. The way she is going there appears to be a lot more “extras” coming her way.