Olivia bewildered (by US success of IHLY)
A BEWILDERED Olivia Newton-John has just returned home for a few days to celebrate her birthday and to promote her newie here, I Honestly Love You. Olivia is in the strange position where the single is already a massive hit in America, a country, foreign to her, which has taken the lass to its heart.
“I can’t explain why I’ve been so successful in the States,” she said, “It’s still very new to me but it is fantastic. I’ve just returned from doing a tour there which was quite enjoyable.”
Olivia has been spending the last number of weeks touring there. Apart from doing gigs at colleges, she played at State fairs. The fairs take place in each State and Olivia performed in front of 100,000 people in one night. Charlie Rich was also on the bill.
“I’m pleased that people like the records there The singles and albums have gone fantastically well. It’s all happened at once in the States while it took three years over here. I’ve had hits in England but in America I’ve had three biggies in a row.”
The girl’s success in America has been achieved with very little personal promotion. She had two chart successes with Let Me Be There and If You Love Me before putting a foot in the country. I Honestly Love You shot to number one within five weeks of its release.
“I couldn’t go over to pro-mote the other singles because I was tied up here with the Eurovision and other things. Luckily, I didn’t need to go.”
She added: “I’m not worried by not having as much success here as in America. I’m pleased to have hits anywhere. The markets in the two countries are so different. Records take off there and don’t here, different tastes I suppose. There’s so much more exposure in the States.”
What about the talk of Olivia quitting Britain to live in America? “Well, I’m going to work there a lot so I’m going to have to find a place to live, but I’ll still keep a flat in England. I’ll be in America for the next six months and I don’t want to be living in a flat all the time. I haven’t made any decisions about living in America simply because after six months, I might not like it there. But I do enjoy the work and success there.”
By Harry Doherty
