Olivia Newton-John's Greatest Hits

by Olivia Newton-John

Overview

Olivia Newton-John has had many greatest-hits compilations over the years. Since she is due for a renaissance, it will be valuable to distinguish between the ones available. Olivia Newton-John's Greatest Hits was first released in 1982 to capitalize on her newfound mainstream success. The album was released the same year as Olivia's Greatest Hits, Vol. 2. The first volume represented nine songs from Newton-John's early country material while the second can be described by the words Xanadu, Physical, and Grease. So in 1982 buyers had two choices, and obviously would pick the pop collection of songs they heard on the radio. The problem with Olivia Newton-John's Greatest Hits is that MCA had released a similar album called Greatest Hits in 1977 with four songs not on the 1982 version: "Let Me Be There," "If You Love Me (Let Me Know)," "Banks of the Ohio," and a cover of John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads." So to sensitive music critics (and Olivia Newton-John fans) Olivia Newton-John's Greatest Hits is a disappointing and poor album, not because the material is bad, but because of misguided judgment by the label. This is somewhat moot. On September 11, 2001, Universal released Magic: The Very Best of Olivia Newton-John which basically combines the two volumes into one double-CD package, making it perhaps the definitive collection. But Olivia's Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 was the best of the bunch for a long time (including the years when Newton-John was most popular). And it remains the best choice for casual fans who only want the roller-rink hits. However, all of these compilations are in print (except the 1977 collection) and (budget notwithstanding) lacking -- if quantity of quality music is one's highest value. (With respect to the rating of this disc, how can one approve of a re-release of a compilation with four good songs removed?) ~ JT Griffith

Product Details

Release Date:	10/21/2022
Label:	Mca / Primary Wave
UPC:	0792755903025

Tracks

1. If Not for You
2. Banks of the Ohio
3. Love Song
4. Take Me Home Country Roads
5. Changes
6. Let Me Be There
7. If You Love Me (Let Me Know)
8. I Honestly Love You
9. Have You Never Been Mellow
10. Please Mr. Please
11. The Air That I Breathe
12. Something Better to Do
13. Let It Shine
14. Every Face Tells a Story
15. Jolene
16. Come on Over
17. Don't Stop Believin'
18. Sam
19. Don't Cry for Me Argentina
20. Making a Good Thing Better

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Olivia Newton-John   Primary Artist,Vocals

Technical Credits

Michael Allison   Composer
Claude Mougin   Photography
Jos Leene   Design,Artwork
Jeff Rostill   Composer
Paul Taliaferro   Research Assistant
Peter Sills   Composer
Peter Paphides   Liner Notes
Bob Denver   Composer
Bruce Welch   Producer,Composer
Mike Hazlewood   Composer
Hank Marvin   Composer
Albert Hammond   Composer
Robin Gibb   Composer
Linda Hargrove   Composer
Jeff Barry   Composer
John Denver   Composer
Bill Danoff   Composer
Barry Gibb   Composer
Mike Haynes   Mastering
Albert Hamilton   Composer
Olivia Newton-John   Composer
Tim Rice   Composer
John Barry   Composer
Pete Wingfield   Composer
Peter Allen   Composer
Andrew Lloyd Webber   Composer
Taffy Nivert   Composer
Traditional   Composer
Bob Dylan   Composer
Don Black   Composer
Dolly Parton   Composer
John Farrar   Composer,Producer
John Rostill   Composer
Lesley Duncan   Composer