Back With a Heart
“Looking for something that would fill me up,” she sings “Precious Love”, the soaring country rock ballad co-written by Olivia with Annie Roboff and produced by Don Cook. And she finds it, with a maturity and confidence gained from surviving what she calls “the ups and downs”, including her successful well-publicized fight against breast cancer and some time away from the spotlight raising her 12-year-old daughter Chloe.
With her new album, “Back With A Heart” - her first in four years - Olivia Newton-John returns to a place where she experienced her first success in a career that’s included Grammys, CMA, AMA and People’s Choice Awards, five #1 pop hits, 15 Top 10 singles (eight of which have been certified gold and two platinum) and a starring role in “Grease”, the most successful movie musical soundtrack in history, recently re-released on its 20th anniversary to even more acclaim.
“I see “Back With A Heart” as a new start” says Olivia, who either wrote or co-wrote seven of the album’s eleven tracks. “Though, as far as the public is concerned, I guess it’s a comeback. I really had no intention of returning. But mentally and emotionally, I’m strong, more ready than I ever have been before.”
That strength can be heard on honky-tonk songs like “Fight For Our Love”, her tribute to 50s-style C&W, and the country blues of the title track as well as the folk-rocking “I Don’t Wanna Say Goodnight” and the sparkling pop-soul of her remake of her first chart-topping hit, “Honestly Love You”, produced by long-time friend David Foster, with background vocals by Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds.
The idea of re-recording “I Honestly Love You” came from her appearance on a ‘96 Lifetime special to raise funds for cancer awareness, where producer Ken Ehrlich suggested she perform the song with harmonic soul quartet All-4-One.
“We put it together in a single day,” says Olivia. “And it got an incredible reaction. So I filed it away in my mind thinking it would be wonderful to re-record it someday. I vowed, if I made another album I would do it, because I don’t want anybody else doing it first.” Mirroring the start of her career, when hits like “If You Love Me, Let Me Know” crossed over to both the pop and country charts, “I Honestly Love You” will be the first single.
Olivia took a step back from the public eye in 1992 after she released her “Greatest Hits” album “Back to Basics”. Then in 1994, showing her concern for the environment and her experience battling breast cancer, she released the Australian Gold album “Gaia”.
After taking some time off to raise her daughter and recuperate from her illness, Olivia Newton-John has come back stronger and more energized than ever with her return to Nashville, where she last recorded the album, “Don Stop Believin’, with John Farrar in 1976.
“I loved working with musicians in the studio” says Olivia about recording the new album in Music City. “The whole experience was great. Since I wrote quite a lot of the songs, I got to interact with the players and incorporate their ideas.” Songs like the aching acoustic lament, “Attention”, the torch ballads “Love Is A Gift” and “Don’t Say That”, and the country twang of “Fight For Our Love” and “Spinning His Wheels” show a new side of Olivia Newton-John.
I’ve noticed, every time I’ve recorded an album, there’s a different sound coming out of me” she says. “I think this album represents me as a woman. I’m not a girl anymore. And that’s empowering. I feel good about the music I’m doing now.”
“You always hope when you make an album you’ve put so much love and attention into that it will be accepted. I’ve been through enough in my life and understand enough about this business to understand there’s no knowing what will happen. I hope it does well, but the important thing is, I’ve loved the journey.”
“Back With A Heart” finds the world’s girl-next-door all grown up, with a girl of her own. “It’s such a different time in my life.” she says. “I’m a mother first now. I like the peace in my life. When you’re younger, you deal with all the crazy stuff. But I love where I am. And that’s an important thing to learn in life… to be happy where you are now and not wish you were somewhere else.”
Olivia’s album “Back With A Heart” is a stunning new rendition of her signature ballad “I Honestly Love You” and the announcement of a national tour alongside fellow icons John Farnham and Anthony Warlow. Along with her new column for national publication Woman’s Day, Olivia has been welcomed back with open arms into the hearts of Australians.
To celebrate the forthcoming national tour, Festival Records proudly release a double A side single of “Back With A Heart” and “Precious Love”.
“Back With A Heart” is an upbeat positive track that sees Olivia firmly back in the country genre that kick-started her career. Telling a tale of a failed relationship and then moving on, Olivia proudly declares “and I know when I’m all healed up, I’ll be back with a heart and ready to love!” “Precious Love”, a stirring ballad, reminds us all of those feelings and desires we all experience when falling in love -uncertainty, excitement and elation.
Both these tracks perhaps best illustrate what Olivia is best known for-singing songs of life, love,heartache and emotions that we can all relate to. It is this ability Olivia has to make us believe that she had experienced what she’s singing about, that has contributed to her endurance as both a “start” and as a role model for many.
Also due for release to coincide with the Main Event tour is the entire back catalogue collection, including titles never before available on CD, all digitally remastered. This catalogue re-release is a worldwide first.
Olivia’s back with a heart… but for many she never really left.
Please see music review on Olivia’s latest album on page 52.
Back with a Heart By Olivia Newton-John
This album from “Olivia” is arguably her best to date. As the album title suggests “Back with a heart”, these songs are far more connected to the heart than any of her previous works. The production, vocals, musicianship and arrangements are excellent and the overall feeling of the album is that of love peace and light. An excellent and inspiring album that can be played on your stereo at any time of the day or night. A great variety of sound and highly recommended to lovers of high quality music.
Distributed by Festival Records. Available at all good record stores, Australia and Worldwide.
Australian Tour Dates
November 25th-29th Brisbane
December 2nd-5th Adelaide
December 11th-12th Perth