STOP PRESS: Chloe Lattanzi releases debut video

This is the moment I've been waiting for since 2003 - the year Chloe first started work on her album. Olivia Newton-John's breathtakingly talented and gorgeous daughter has finally got around to releasing her first video! And it was well and truly worth the wait. While "Play With Me" doesn't quite reach the heady heights of her upbeat anorexia anthem "Delicious" or ode to being clinically depressed "Make It Stop", the video is everything we've come to expect from Chloe and more. You know you're in for something special when a clip opens with a man sitting on the toilet. From there on it just gets more and more classy. Australia's gift to music spends the rest of the clip trying to kill herself, crying blood and snorting copious amounts of cocaine. Could your fave? I particularly love the future Grammy winner's stunning facial expressions and glamorous outfit. How annoying that this was released a couple of days after the MTV Video Music Award nominations were announced. It would have swept the pool! Now when is this masterpiece hitting iTunes? It must be mine. Brace yourself for the wild ride that is Chloe Lattanzi.

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STOP PRESS: Chloe Lattanzi Releases Debut Single!

I'm hyperventilating! I just logged into Facebook and read the most glorious update of 2010. Pop trash icon Chloe Lattanzi has finally released her debut single. In Japan! 8 years after signing her first record deal! Seriously, I couldn't be more excited if La Toya actually started over. Olivia Newton-John's troubled daughter has been a staple of this blog from the very beginning. Her catchy, anorexia anthem "Delicious" remains a firm favourite of mine and I even crowned her the Pop Trash Queen of 2008. Though my faith in Chloe's unparalleled talent never wavered, I was starting to think she might be too edgy for the pop world but I'm so glad I was wrong. Her debut single is called "Wings And A Gun" and sounds like a stunning emo-pop masterpiece from the 50 second preview (below). The song is released in Japan today to coincide with her mother's Japanese tour. Marketing genius! Surely, it's Australia's turn next?

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A Short Break

Just a quick note to let you all know that I'll be away from the computer for a while. I'm having an operation tomorrow and will be spending the next week in hospital. Trying to pick up a hot doctor. In the meantime, I thought I'd leave you with something bright, fun and pop trashtastic. I've been in an Olivia Newton-John kind of mood lately, so I thought I'd dust off one of the campest tunes in my collection. If you have a gay bone in your body, chances are you're already familiar with Olivia's 1975 #1 hit "Have You Never Been Mellow". That golden oldie never fails to put a smile on my face but it's a very different version of the song that I'm writing about today. Japanese Hi-NRG DJ Willie2400 remixed "Have You Never Been Mellow" a couple of years ago, transforming it into a gloriously cheesy dance anthem. It shouldn't work, and most people would argue that it doesn't, but I absolutely love it and think more of Olivia classics should be butchered for the dancefloor. Until later!

Have You Never Been Mellow (Willie 2400 Remix)
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Olivia's Unforgettable Twist Of Fate

The first thing that went through my head when I woke up this morning, well the second after how on earth am I going to piss with this hard on?, was the overwhelming compulsion to play some Olivia Newton-John. I'd like to think that other people are haunted by gay icons in their sleep but I suspect this kind of shit only happens to me. As usual, my first inclination was to give 1978's "Totally Hot" a spin (probably my favourite album of all time) but I decided to go with an 80s theme instead - starting with "Xanadu" and working my way through her 80s discography all the way to "The Rumour" (I like to pretend that "Warm And Tender" never happened). Almost four hours later my thirst for ONJ was finally quenched but I haven't been able to get one song out of my mind.

1983's "Twist Of Fate" is something of a forgotten classic largely due to the fact that it had the misfortune of featuring on the "Two Of A Kind" soundtrack. That film was supposed to revive Olivia's movie career in the aftermath of "Xanadu" but it turned out to be an even bigger box office flop despite her much anticipated screen reunion with John Travolta. I'll write more about "Two Of A Kind" and its poorly neglected soundtrack another time (the latter really is quite amazing) but it's suffice to say that the project's only saving grace was the success of "Twist Of Fate". Written by Peter Beckett and Steve Kipner (the man behind "Physical", "Heart Attack" and "I Need Love"), the track became Olivia's 15th and final US top 10 hit. No surprise really given the insanely catchy chorus and perky melody. However, much of the credit must go to producer David Foster, who surrounds Livvy's lovely voice with layered synthesizers, driving percussion and crunchy guitars. Olivia thrives on the new edgy sound and brings an unexpected aggression to her vocal delivery. The song is very much of its time but given the current synth revival, "Twist Of Fate" still sounds astoundingly fresh. 80s pop music doesn't get much better.

Make sure you check out the wonderful video clip (below) in which Olivia dubiously teams black leather gloves with a pearl necklace while singing on some kind of floating pontoon. If only "Two Of A Kind" were half as entertaining! There is also plenty of footage from the film which mercifully saves you from sitting through it. As a final bonus, a very fine looking John Travolta (mullet and all) makes a cameo towards the end. Watching this gem, I can't help but hope that Olivia gives up on her new age chanting and makes a completely age inappropriate pop album. As Kylie once sang, it's never too late to change your mind!


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Chloe Lattanzi Rocks The Cradle

I'm a huge fan of Olivia Newton-John's slightly demented daughter. I can't get enough of Chloe Lattanzi's crazy antics in the tabloids and I ache for the bizarre video blogs that occasionally pop up on her Myspace. Most of all, I love her music. Chloe's catchy anorexia anthem "Delicious" came in at number 11 on my best of 2007 countdown and it probably should have placed even higher, given that it's still burning up my Ipod all these months later. Chloe has been threatening to release her debut album for almost 5 years but the wait could finally be over thanks to an American talent show.


MTV's Rock The Cradle is kind of like American Idol for celebrity offspring. Basically, Chloe is battling the likes of MC Hammer's daughter and Bobby Brown's son for a recording contract. I wish the show was broadcast in Australia - this trash has my name written all over it! Unfortunately, Chloe's first performance was panned by all the judges except the lovely Belinda Carlisle and she placed second last in the phone poll. I was interested to see the clip for myself and I'm completely mystified by the negative reaction. Chloe's interpretation of the INXS classic "Never Tear Us Apart" is spectacular. I love her scary man voice, crazy eyes and theatrical phrasing. Sure, she's a little rough around the edges but there's no denying that Chloe has something very unique about her. Check out her stunning performance for yourself:


Never Tear Us Apart

After narrowly avoiding elimination, Chloe switched into rock chick mode for the "parent's choice" show in round two. I think Olivia must be really sick of sitting in the audience because she selected a complete stinker in an obvious attempt to get Chloe booted. The judges were relatively impressed but I agree with Belinda's comment that it was a poor song choice. The performance itself, however, is fucking fabulous and typically demented. I thought Chloe was going to burst an implant when she started writhing on the floor like Linda Blair in The Exorcist! I really hope she makes it through to the next round - I'm dying to see what this crazy broad comes up with next. Watch Chloe throw it down:
I Hate Everything About You
I'm not sure of the show's format but I hope the contestants are eventually allowed to perform original material. Chloe is yet to post a song on a her myspace that hasn't completely blown me away. I love her dark electro sound and the depressing yet strangely catchy lyrics. I didn't think Chloe would ever surpass the brilliance of "Delicious" but her latest offering does just that. "Make It Stop" is one of the best songs I've heard all year. The crashing synths and driving beats provide an epic backdrop for Chloe's pleading voice and bittersweet lyrics. Think of this exquisite anthem as the bleak and bitter sister of Robyn's "Be Mine". Chloe had better win Rock The Cradle so I can finally get my hands on her fucking album!

A low quality unmixed demo of "Make It Stop" was made available on Chloe's Myspace and I don't think anyone from her camp would mind me posting it. The sound is a bit rough but it gives you a good idea of the track's unlimited potential.

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A Place Where Nobody Dared To Go

The star of this year's 30th annual gay & lesbian mardi gras was undoubtedly Olivia Newton-John. Few who witnessed lovely Livvy's stunning rendition of "Xanadu" will ever forget it. Commanding the stage in red and gold sequins, Olivia looked positively regal surrounded by her small army of scantily clad gay dancers. The original queen of Australian pop was back on home soil, performing her signature tune to the very fans who have kept it alive for all these years. I've been lucky enough to see Kylie and Dannii grace the mardi gras stage in the past but even the fabulous Minogue sisters weren't greeted with the electric anticipation and genuine emotion that filled the RHI on Saturday night. As a life long fan, I've heard Olivia perform "Xanadu" in concert many times. Each of those occasions was special but nothing compares to hearing the song in its original disco context, complete with bright lights, camp costumes and sweaty bodies.

If I had to make a list of my favourite songs, I'm sure "Xanadu" would feature somewhere near the top. I've been in love with Olivia's collaboration with ELO since first seeing the film as a child. One critic famously gave the film a stinging one line review "In a word, Xana-don't" but I Xana-did. Again and again. "Xanadu" was one of those films that was always on tv when I was growing up, usually as a double bill with "Grease". I'm sure I never missed a screening. You can moan about the complete lack of plot and the indignity of a 68 year old (but still disturbingly sexy) Gene Kelly strutting his stuff at a rollerdisco but I defy anyone to say that "Xanadu" isn't a one of a kind viewing experience. There's Olivia at the height of her loveliness playing a supernatural muse whose job is to "inspire men", Gene Kelly's last truly great movie moment in the adorable "Whenever You're Away From Me" sequence, Don Bluth's beautifully animated interlude where Olivia and Michael Beck randomly turn into fish and not to forget possibly the best film soundtrack of all time. While every song featured in "Xanadu" is a winner, my personal favourite has always been the title track.



"Xanadu" was even turned into a highly collectible Marvel comic




"Xanadu" is quite simply pop perfection. ELO's mix of synths and strings provide sublime backing for one of Olivia's most iconic vocal performances. I'm constantly amazed how a completely non-sensical tune about an alternate universe can be so stirring and uplifting. Nothing brightens my mood quite like "Xanadu". The brilliance of the track hasn't gone unnoticed over the years. Olivia's anthem has been remixed several times and covered more often than I care to think about. My favourite cover of "Xanadu" is by German pop diva Ireen Sheer. Back in the days before the internet and instant musical gratification via downloading, it was common for local stars to cover international hits in their own language. Germany was renowned for the practice and Ireen's version of "Xanadu" is an exemplary example. Ireen is probably best known outside of Germany for her Eurovision appearances but, in my opinion, this cover version from 1980 is her finest moment.



Australia's current queen of pop, Dannii Minogue, comes a very close second with her stunning 2007 cover version. Featured on her fabulous "Club Disco" compilation, Dannii transforms "Xanadu" into an atmospheric chill out classic. Dannii's version was only released last year and can be easily purchased from some international iTunes stores or from 7digital, so I'm not going to post it. Dannii needs that dollar for her next holiday! I'm rather fond of this fan made clip which combines Dannii's vocals with images from the film. This is by far the most experimental and original interpretation of Olivia's classic.



"Xanadu" experienced an unexpected revival in the mid-90s thanks to a trashy club mix credited to Olivia featuring Paula. I have no idea who the fuck Paula is or what Olivia's involvement was, if any, but I found the track on an old mardi gras compilation and thought I would post it. This is not to be confused with a white label remix of "Xanadu" featuring Olivia's vocals, which was released at almost exactly the same time. I've included that as well.

I couldn't write a post about "Xanadu" and not mention Bob Downe's amazing version. Bob's talent is truly unique and he outdoes himself with this camp classic. Bob's rendition appears on his greatest hits compilation, which you could be lucky enough to find on Ebay or in Oxford St bargain bin. A final rendition of "Xanadu" comes to you courtesy of Captain Smartypants. Originating from Seattle, this vocal group specialise in cover versions and sound something like a barbershop quartet. I think their interpretation is genius. You can purchase their album from CD Baby.

As good as all these versions are, nothing compares to the original. If you haven't seen the film for a while, take this three minute trip down memory lane. They certainly don't make 'em like this anymore!



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The Aussie Diva Round Up - Jan 2008

After writing about Ricki-Lee's recent UK signing, I was inspired to find out what my other favourite Aussie divas have been up to in January. I could probably write a ten thousand word essay about Kylie's hectic schedule (when does that woman sleep?) but everything seems to change on a daily basis, so I'll be brief.

1. "Wow" is a great choice for the second single in Australia, Japan and the UK. The countries that have embraced Kylie from the beginning get a glorious dose of nostalgia, while the rest of Europe gets something more contemporary in the guise of "In My Arms". Also, as a Kylie collecting nerd, the prospect of so many different covers and formats makes me giddy!

2. I'm completely ambivalent to "2 Hearts" being selected as the lead US single. No offence to Kylie's small band of loyal American fans but I think a stateside campaign is a complete waste of time. Surely it makes more sense to concentrate on markets where she will actually be played on the radio and taken somewhat seriously.

3. The various "Wow" formats in the UK are fucking AMAZING:

CD1

Wow
Cherry Bomb

CD2

Wow
Do It Again
Carried Away
Wow (Death Metal Disco Scene Mix)

12" Picture Disc

Wow
Wow (CSS Remix)
Wow (Fuck Me I'm Famous Remix By David Guetta + Joachim Garraud)
Wow (MSTRKRFT Remix)

In addition to those three formats there will be two digital bundles with all the remixes from the 12" picture disc as well as Mark Brown's Pacha Ibiza Upper Terrace Mix of "2 Hearts" as an iTunes exclusive! The "Wow" remixes have already leaked and I'm particularly taken with the Death Metal Disco Scene Mix, which transforms "Wow" into the twisted sister of "2 Hearts" with an even darker edge. It shouldn't work but it does - unlike David Guetta's disappointing effort. I can take or leave the CSS and MSTRKRFT remixes but I'm gagging to hear the 3 B-sides! "Carried Away" and "Do It Again" are credited to Greg Kurstin, Kylie and Karen Poole (the same team behind "Wow"), while "Cherry Bomb" is apparently the handiwork of Bloodshy & Avant ("Speakerphone" and "Nu-Di-Ty").

Speaking of Minogues, the more talented and beautiful sister is releasing a new single in Australia this week - not that anyone appears to have noticed. "Touch Me Like That" looks set to suffer the same floptastic fate as it did in the UK. Dannii's brilliant anthem is receiving no airplay and is yet to dent iTunes' top 100. The physical single includes 12 (yes, 12!) remixes, so hopefully fans are stocking up on that instead. Order your copy from Chaos today. Your Dannii needs you!

Yet another diva with a Minogue connection is Kate Alexa. Australian pop fans may remember her top 10 hit "All I Hear" but Kate is probably better remembered for the flack she copped as the daughter of Mushroom Records founder Michael Gudinski - the man who first gave Kylie a recording contract back in 1987. I couldn't care less about the claims of nepotism. Kate's album was a lot of fun and she managed to score 4 top 30 hits, no easy feat regardless of her father's connections. It is something of an understatement to say that Kate's sound and image has had a complete overhaul. Pimped and preened by Kylie's right hand man, William Baker, Kate returns to the pop scene with a scorching cover of Womack & Womack's "Teardrops" featuring US rapper Baby Bash! I can't wait for the video clip!

Another Australian diva spending January hard at work is the legendary Olivia Newton-John, who released a live album in the US this week. If you overlook the hideously cheap cover (above), the album is rather lovely. Recorded at the Opera House with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, "Olivia's Live Hits" boasts stunning renditions of classics like "Xanadu", "Physical" and "Magic". There's still no word on an Australian release but you can order the American version and the accompanying DVD from Amazon. In addition to "Live Hits", Olivia also features on Anne Murray's latest album and is in the middle of filming a television series based on her 1999 film "Sordid Lives". Olivia reprises her role as beer swilling bar singer Bitsy Mae and contributes 5 new songs to the TV soundtrack.

In news that will no doubt rock the gay community to its very core, local legend Melissa Tkautz has been signed to Central Station Records and is threatening to release a new single in early 2008. Mel is performing at Australia Day celebrations in Parramatta this weekend (alongside the equally lovely Brielle Davis) before returning to her gay stomping ground with a show at this year's Fair Day on the 17th of February. Queensland poofs can bask in the glory of Melissa when she catches the bus up to Brisbane for the Big Gay Day on the 9th of March. I'm still trying to get details about the album but it appears to be a mix of tracks from her amazing scrapped opus "The Glamorous Life" together with new material. I'm beside myself!

While Melissa returns to music, the divine Deni Hines (above left) has announced a break from touring to film an Eco-tv series in the Northern Territory! Deni isn't the only diva turning to TV in 2008. Jade Macrae has been announced in the line up for the latest series of channel 7's It Takes Two, which should provide a nice boost for the upcoming release of her second album, "Get Me Home". Jade will be joined on the show by ex-Australian Idol fag Anthony Callea (who is appearing in the Australian production of "Wicked" - as a munchkin!) and the omnipresent Ricki-Lee. Paulini must be spitting chips over losing her spot to a former Young Diva!

Yet another Idol alumni gracing tv screens in 2008 is the fabulous Courtney Act, who will no doubt raise eyebrows as the first tranny to compete on Dancing With The Stars. I really hope she wins! In another exciting development, Robyn Loau is providing the soundtrack to this year's season of The Biggest Loser with her lovely ballad "Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime", which is available to download from iTunes now. Robyn's classy cameo appearance on Neighbours will grace UK tv screens in January, while her collaboration with Josh Abrahams, "Hard", is about to hit Australian clubs. Expect "Hard" to garner a certain amount controversy - it's a dance tune about the Columbine shootings! The song is streaming on Robyn's Myspace, so have a listen. I think it's brilliant. Robyn has come a LONG way since the days of Girlfriend!

Last and least is British nobody turned "Australian" pop princess Amy Pearson. I still can't decide if I moderately like her or hate her but I'm leaning toward the latter if her new "inspirational" anthem for the Beijing Olympics is any indication. "Ready To Fly" is dreary rubbish of the worst kind but I'll reserve my opinion on Amy until I have time to process her debut album, "Who I Am", scheduled for release on the 24th of March.

Phew!Source URL: https://popmusicrecords.blogspot.com/search/label/Olivia
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Olivia's Lost Classic - Best Of My Love

The incredible global success of Cher's "Believe" inspired a small army of gay icons to jump on the dance bandwagon. Diana Ross released the exquisite "Not Over You Yet", while Tina Turner dusted off her dancing shoes for the delicious "When The Heartache Is Over". Even Engelbert Humperdinck got in on the act, raising the bar for popular music with his amazing Dance Album! As undeniably fabulous as those offerings are, my favourite slice of middle-aged diva dance pop is undoubtedly Olivia Newton-John's unreleased masterpiece, "Best Of My Love".

Recorded in 2001 with her nephew Brett Goldsmith, "Best Of My Love" was supposed to herald Olivia's return to pop charts courtesy of a contemporary dance sound. At one point an entire album was planned but Olivia feared for her dignity and pulled the plug on the project. I respect Olivia's decision but I can't help but think she overreacted and robbed herself of a huge hit. Even as a work in progress, "Best Of My Love" stands out as the best thing the grande dame of Australian pop has done in over a decade. I love Olivia's new age chanting, drippy ballads and covers albums as much as the next fan but it's such a joy to hear her sing something as bright and catchy as "Best Of My Love". It would be amazing to hear a cleaned up version of this in a club - the adorable lyrics and shiny chorus positively force you to wave your arms in the air.

I really hope Olivia reconsiders her stance on dance in the future. Lovely Livvy still has the voice, stunning good looks and huge gay following to get away with it. There's nothing ridiculous about making your fans happy. Many thanks to Peibols for the fabulous mock cover!Source URL: https://popmusicrecords.blogspot.com/search/label/Olivia
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Grease Remixed

I stumbled home early this morning and faced the usual post-party dilemma of not being able to sleep. I cleaned the bathroom, did some ironing and then settled down to watch Grease for probably the 5000th time. Some people have comfort food, I have 1978's highest grossing movie musical! I still remember being completely transfixed the first time I watched Grease on TV. In a disturbing sign of things to come, I identified with Rizzo and thought Sandy was a bit of a bore until that magical movie moment when Olivia unleashes her inner slut and pussy whips Danny with her tight, black spandex pants and dashing new perm. No matter how many times I see the film, I never get sick of that moment or the magnificent song that accompanies it. "You're The One That I Want" was written by Olivia's long-time collaborator John Farrar and became a world wide smash hit, reaching #1 in the US and spending 9 weeks at the top of the UK charts. The song has been covered numerous times but I'm not really interested in hearing the song performed by other voices. I'm much less averse to tragic remixes of the original and "You're The One That I Want" has been butchered by some of the trashiest DJs in the business. The masterminds behind Almighty need no introduction and their interpretation is as fabulous as you would expect. However, the prize for the best remix belongs to Dr Dre & Snoop Dogg Vs Grease! I'm not sure which demented mind created this unholy mix but they are clearly some kind of evil genius. Enjoy!

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Chloe's Lattanzi = Delicious

As Olivia Newton-John's only child, Chloe Lattanzi has been in the media spotlight since birth. Initially held up as the epitome of well-adjusted celebrity offspring, Chloe is now the poster girl for anorexia. Following Olivia's daughter over the past few years has been like watching a car crash in slow motion. I want to stop looking but I can't help myself. I don't want to focus too heavily on Chloe's many issues. They get enough coverage. I'm more interested in her fabulous and increasingly disturbing musical output. Chloe really needs to get her shit together because she has almost unlimited potential as a pop star.

Chloe's problems first came to the surface when she announced that she was going to follow in Olivia's footsteps by releasing an album. She was snapped up by Warner Australia in 2003 and soon generated a lot of buzz with her debut album, tentatively titled "Lonely Nights In Paradise". The album was completed and even promoted before Chloe pulled the plug and bought herself out of the contract, claiming she wanted greater artistic control. Since then, Chloe has been in one long tailspin - garnering more attention for her battle with anorexia and her alleged plastic surgery addiction than for her music. I think Chloe has simply buckled under the weight of expectation. I feel sorry for her. She knows she will be compared with her mother and judged more severely than other fledgling pop divas.

The great irony is that all the tracks leaked from "Lonely Nights In Paradise" have been fantastic. I'm sure the album would have been well received. Chloe has a great voice and more importantly, has something to say. Thankfully, she has continued to work on the album and it is scheduled to be released later this year with the new title, "No Pain". The first taste of her new material has caused quite a stir in Australia. "Delicious" is dark, disturbing and insanely catchy. The lyrics are genuinely confronting. Chloe sings about wasting away and pleads for help to survive. It feels perverse to say it but "Delicious" is actually a hugely enjoyable listen. The beats are hypnotic and the chorus has been stuck in my head for days. If this is any indication, "No Pain" should be an absolute winner.

"Delicious" was put up on Chloe's Myspace and is obviously a work in progress. Make sure you check out her other songs - particularly, "Magic", which samples her mother's #1 hit of the same name. Get well, girlfriend.

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Olivia Newton John - The Rumour

I recently spent some time writing an article about Olivia Newton-John's magnificent career for a website and had the chance to reflect on some of my favourite albums. I've already dedicated a post to the trash epic that is "Soul Kiss" and waxed lyrical about the pure brilliance of "Totally Hot" but I'm yet to write about "The Rumour", which I believe is a completely unique pop album. Pop music is almost exclusively aimed at teenagers and young adults. Madonna is old enough to be a grandmother but she still writes songs for 20 year old fags. It seems that divas either continue to cater for the young or turn into Celine Dion and start releasing concept albums for the post-menopausal crowd. Olivia's "The Rumour" is one of the few straightforward pop albums that straddles the great divide between youth driven music and granny pop. "The Rumour" was released in 1988 after Olivia had taken a 3 year hiatus to raise her daughter, Chloe.

Like any good diva, Olivia made an explosive return to the pop scene with a fabulous new mutton-dressed-as-lamb image and a brilliant new album. "The Rumour" was Olivia's last traditional pop album and stands up as one of her best. Unlike her later recordings which sometimes slide into granny pop territory, "The Rumour" was an attempt to make a contemporary pop album directed at adults. The idea of tackling issues like AIDS, single parenting and ageing within the context of trashy pop album is really quite revolutionary. Olivia's touching AIDS anthem, "Love And Let Live", inspired fans well before AIDS advocacy became trendy, while "It's Not Heaven" is an unusually frank commentary on single parenthood. The album might sound heavy but its not. The title track boasts one of the trashiest videos of Olivia's fabulous career and the closing track, "Tutta La Vita" is one of the defining pop trash moments of the 1980s. The video, which depicts Olivia doing the conga on a Navy ship, has to be seen to be believed. Sadly, the album was a failure everywhere except Australia. The general view was that Olivia was too old to compete with the new generation of pop tarts. All I can say is: Bitch, please!

Here is a review of "The Rumour" I wrote for Amazon:

"The Rumour" was Olivia's last real "pop" album before changing her focus to the adult contemporary market. That might have had something to do with the album's scathing reviews and commercial failure. Then again, maybe Olivia just felt the urge to move in a new direction. I really hope the reason was the latter because "The Rumour" is a great pop album, which was simply too eclectic for mainstream tastes at the time.

My favourite aspect of "The Rumour" is that Olivia finally has something to say. Olivia has since devoted entire albums to environmental issues and women's causes, but at the time the choice of subject matter was eye-opening. The fact that Olivia manages to cover topics such as AIDS, the environment, single parenting and working women without ever being overbearing or preachy, is a minor miracle.

The album begins with the Elton John penned title track. The song is rock-lite at its best but also sounds more like something Elton would have recorded in the 1970s than an 80s pop song. As a result and despite its quality, "The Rumour" is the only song that doesn't quite seem to fit with the others. The next song "Love And Let Live" must have been one of the first songs to deal with AIDS in the 1980s. Happily, this is not a maudlin ballad but an insanely catchy pop song complete with synth keyboards and is one of the album's highlights. This is followed by Olivia's restrained cover of "Can't We Talk It Over In Bed" and her environmental awareness song "Let's Talk About Tomorrow".


"It's Not Heaven" is one of the best songs Olivia has written. It is an unusual mid-tempo ballad about being a single mother, performed with real emotion. "It's Always Australia For Me" is a lovely nod to Australia's then bicentennial year, while "Get Out" is a funky anthem for the working woman. This is followed by "Big And Strong", which is one of the strangest songs Olivia has recorded. I'm not sure if it has an anti-war message or just unfortunate lyrics. Anyway, it sounds pleasant enough.

"Car Games" is a great 80s song about the dangers of love and another example of Olivia's gift for unusual lyrics. "Walk Through Fire" is a beautifully performed ballad and perhaps my favourite song on the album. The final song, "Tutta La Vita" closes the set on an upbeat note with an enjoyable piece of pop fluff about the important things in life.

"The Rumour" is an underappreciated 80s gem. Olivia's vocals are superb and the album shows her significant development as a songwriter. This album is highly recommended.

One of the many great things about "The Rumour" was the accompanying video album, which provides film clips for each song - usually with some kind of narrative. The video clips for "Tutta La Vita" and "Love And Let Live" below both originate from the video album:

Love And Let Live

Tutta La Vita - Possibly my favourite video ever!



"The Rumour" can be purchased from Chaos, Sanity and iTunes. International readers can buy the album from Amazon.Source URL: https://popmusicrecords.blogspot.com/search/label/Olivia
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Soul Kiss - Olivia's Scandal Album

It's time to devote another post to one of my all-time favourite singers, the divine Olivia Newton-John (see the November archive for more Olivia). In the early 1980s, Olivia Newton-John was arguably the most famous female singer in the world. Olivia was riding high on the massive success of her "Physical" album and even a string of floptastic movies could not dent the popularity of her music, with the soundtracks of "Xanadu" and "Two Of A Kind" churning out hit after hit. Olivia seemed destined to be THE pop queen of the 80s - that is, until the release of "Soul Kiss".




I'm not sure if anyone has managed to sabotage their own career as spectacularly as Olivia did with "Soul Kiss". In the space of one album, 15 years of international superstardom and chart domination came to a screeching halt. So, what went wrong? The album itself is a rather glorious concoction of 1980s pop-rock and tender balladry. In fact, "Soul Kiss" contains some of Olivia's most spectacular offerings. The problem was Olivia's skanktastic new image, which included a semi-nude album cover (complete with nasty 80s perm and black riding trousers!) and a selection of songs that attempted to "out-sex" the, then emerging, Madonna. While acting like a slut came naturally to Madonna, fans did not expect a classy diva like Olivia to be singing songs about oral sex, threesomes and most bizarrely, female taxi-drivers! All of a sudden, Sandy had become Rizzo, and Olivia's fans were having none of it!


Despite the hugely underwhelming response to "Soul Kiss", the album has since become a fan favourite and something of a cult classic. While I have some trouble reconciling old school Olivia with the fabulous tramp on "Soul Kiss", I still can't recommend this album highly enough. Olivia herself has bemoaned the tacky styling, which her record company insisted on, but the music itself is more quirky and experimental than any mainstream 80s pop album has the right to be. "Soul Kiss" is something of a concept album about working women. At least, that has always been my interpretation. For example, Olivia sings songs from the perspective of a journalist, a taxi driver (LOL), a pilot and a ho. "Soul Kiss" is a lot of things - but it's never boring!

The album spawned two singles - the title track, which actually made the US top 20, and "Toughen Up", an independence anthem. Both choices were bizarre because there are far better songs on the album. Thankfully, the video of "Soul Kiss" is 80s trash at its best with Olivia rolling around on red satin sheets. The video for "Toughen Up" is even better, with Olivia wielding a riding crop!


The first song I'm going to share is possibly my favourite from the album. "Queen Of The Publication" gives you some indication of what a weird and wonderful record this is. From the opening click of typewriters to the killer chorus, this ode to journalism is a winner in every respect. I love the idea of Olivia stalking celebrities!

Next up is one of the scandal songs, which still manages to raise eyebrows 20 years later. "Culture Shock" is the story of a woman who falls in love with two men and comes up with the nifty solution of suggesting they live as a threesome! I've grown to love this one, I smile every time I hear Olivia plead, "I know, it's unconventional - radical but practical!"

I'm not overly fond of "Soul Kiss", but it is one of those songs that manages to be insidiously catchy without having anything resembling a chorus. Apparently the term "soul kiss" was slang for a blow job. It becomes pretty obvious with the "get down on my knees" lyric! Get up off the floor, Olivia. Slut!

If you like what you hear you can order Soul Kiss from Sanity.

The glorious pics come from the amazing Olivia fansite - Only Olivia


Source URL: https://popmusicrecords.blogspot.com/search/label/Olivia
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Olivia Is Totally Hot

Olivia Newton-John is one of my very favourite artists and it was only a matter of time before I devoted a post to this fabulous woman. I'm constantly dismayed at the amount of people who only seem to know Olivia as Sandy from "Grease" or maybe as the leotard wearing tart who sang "Physical". It's almost as if that film and song are so iconic that everything before and after has been overshadowed. The tragedy is that Olivia has a back catalogue so jam-packed with pop gems that it would make most other divas blush with embarrassment. Most artists are considered legendary if they produce 5 great albums in a career. I can think of 15 Olivia Newton-John albums that I would rather sever a limb than go without!


As a result, a tawdry "Greatest Hits" compilation just wont do. Particularly given the fact that many of the true gems remained album tracks for reasons only known to Olivia. Today, I have decided to revisit what would definitely be one of Olivia's finest moments and one of the best pop albums of the 1970s - the divine "Totally Hot"!


Never has an album title so accurately reflected the content and the artist (well apart from Beyonce naming her latest album after a toilet - which is also an apt description of where those songs belong). These 10 songs are truly scorching. I would recommend "Totally Hot" as a starting place for any serious Olivia exploration. The album is varied, experimental and exquisitely produced by John Farrar. This is one of those albums that flows effortlessly from the melancholy disco sound of the brilliant opening track, "Please Don't Keep Me Waiting", to Olivia's rock orientated cover of "Gimme Some Lovin" that closes the album. Everything in between is equally exquisite. The album was re-mastered a couple of years ago and you can buy it from just about any online retailer. "Totally Hot" is a keeper, just be warned that this album is more addictive than heroin!


One of the joys of "Totally Hot" is the title track, which is an unusually upbeat, almost R'n'B influenced number. This is about the only Olivia song that I could imagine the likes of Tina Turner covering.

You can watch the hilarious video on youtube here. This is seriously funny stuff. I have no idea what Olivia mincing around a shopping mall has to do with the lyrics, while the amazing dirty dancing sequence in jeans THAT high-waisted must have surely caused Olivia and her partner internal injuries! I worship youtube for creating a forum that allows this kind of genius to be shared and re-discovered.


"Deeper Than The Night" was one of the biggest hits from the album and as an insanely catchy slice of guitar pop, it still holds up wonderfully well today. John Farrar's production is heavenly, the vocal layering was years ahead of its time.

You can also watch the video here. Once again, Olivia strikes music video gold.

The final song I'm sharing is my second favourite on the album behind "Please Don't Keep Me Waiting". Australia's biggest Olivia fan, Chris, tells me that "Boats Against The Current" is a cover version. I've never heard the original but I seriously doubt it could top the majesty of this bittersweet ballad about a dysfunctional relationship. It takes serious genius to incorporate "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" into a pop song without sounding completely ridiculous!

The images of the beautiful picture disc vinyls come from Only Olivia, a spectacular Olivia Newton-John fansite. I hope they don't mind me sharing them here. Check out their galleries for pages and pages of beautiful Olivia imagery.

Source URL: https://popmusicrecords.blogspot.com/search/label/Olivia
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