Olivia

[drakula63]

Going to the Union Chapel in Islington tomorrow (or should that be Toomorrow?) to see Olivia Newton-John, Amy Sky and Beth Nielsen Chapman. Greatly looking forward to it as I was actually born in Islington and I've always loved the film 'Who Dares Wins' that was filmed (partly) at the UC. I shall be doing my best Lewis Collins impression!

Seriously, this is only the 2nd time in almost forty years that ON-J has performed here in the UK and at that rate this may be my first and last chance to see her. I wonder if Bruce, Brian or any of the other Shads will be there? Anyway, if anyone from here is going and sees an idiot trying to look like an undercover SAS man, it'll be me, as they say. Meanwhile...

Here's a bit of a 1978 piece from Rolling Stone...



The next year, at age seventeen, she went to London; the trip was the prize from the TV talent contest. Olivia hooked up with an Australian girlfriend and worked up a song-and-dance act in London. After that folded, she auditioned and won a job as part of Toomorrow, Don Kirshner's attempt to create a combination Monkees/Mod Squad for films.
"We went to America, and huge things were going to happen to us. Then we sat around for ages and did some recording, and the songs were pretty average, I must admit, and then we did the film [called Double O] and the film was pretty average. So it started with the huge bang and went Sssss..."
Olivia met the people–Bruce Welch and John Rostill of the Shadows, along with manager Peter Gormley and partner Mike Sloman–who accounted for her first hit records, the Dylan tune "If Not for You," the Rostill compositions "Let Me Be There" and "If You Love Me" and the country flavorings of those first records. Gormley, who became her manager, was a fan of country music. And Bruce Welch, to whom Olivia was engaged, and coproducer John Farrar "thought my voice was suited to that sort of music," said Olivia.

[George Geddes]

Same lineup also appearing in Glasgow as part of Celtic Connections.

George

[Iain Purdon]

Ah, Olivia Newton-Mearns. Braw.

My biggest interview *fail*. I walked straight past her to interview Brian Bennett. Only realised much later.

[drakula63]

Ah, Olivia Newton-Mearns. Braw.

My biggest interview *fail*. I walked straight past her to interview Brian Bennett. Only realised much later.

Not exactly a fail then...

[Iain Purdon]

Not exactly a fail then...

Sure, at the time I was chuffed to get BB and, later, Cliff. ON-J at the time was on the bill with CR but had not yet become famous, so I could have had an early interview with her and probably quite a long one! Oh well...

[drakula63]

Great gig. Olivia still has the voice - clear, pure, sincere and un-showy. The songs were good, great venue and, might I say, the longest queue I have ever seen! Olivia saved 'I Honestly Love You' until near the end and it sounded amazing - she can still sing it to perfection. Needless to say, perhaps, the applause that followed this song was by far the most enthusiastic of the night. I was up in the balcony to the left of and right above the stage - great view. I should really give a special mention to singer and multi-instrumentalist Ruth Trimble, who opened the show and acted as their back-up on keyboards, bass, percussion and backing vocals. Very, very talented.

A really good evening and well worth the price of admission. Probably my first and last chance to see her and kind of nice that it was in such a special place with such a great atmosphere. If you get the chance to see her elsewhere, go. You won't regret it.

Thanks Livvy (and Co).

[drakula63]

From 1974, ON-J and John Farrar singing one of the two songs by John Rostill that became so big in the USA. So sad that he never lived to see it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qtrLr5T0-Y

[alewis41]

Good for you, Chris. I have seen Olivia Live in California several times and she always puts on a great show. It's not always appreciated what a huge star she was in the U.S. in the 70's and 80's.

I was fortunate to spend some time with Olivia and Steve and Lizzie Kipner (Steve wrote Physical and many other hits) at John Farrar's house in Malibu. They are all huge friends who have lived in LA for 40 years, and they are all nice people!

Malibu.jpg

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Andrew

[Moderne]

Not wishing to detract from Livvy's performance there of John Rostill's great song - I don't think I've ever seen John Farrar playing his Telecaster with palm benders before! Thank you.

(And great photo of you, Olivia and John Farrar, Andrew. Thanks!)

[drakula63]

And how about this for a bizarre coincidence...

Last night I switched on the TV at about 1 in the morning and who should I see? Olivia Newton-John! She was in a film called 'A Few Best Men'. I only saw about 20 mins of it but it seemed pretty funny - Olivia played the slightly 'conservative' mother of the bride who, after imbibing some 'substances' comes out of her shell and starts to PAAAAAARRRRTY!!! She was pretty good in it and came across well. The closing song, 'Weightless', was sung by Olivia and written by John Farrar and his son Max. All in all, a strange but apt surprise.

Olivia and John are two of the only people I would love to meet but have yet to do so. To be honest (and with the exception of Hank and Cliff) I have now met just about everyone I would want to. You're a lucky guy, I'll admit to being somewhat envious!