Have You Never Been Mellow review
Olivia Newton John follows her success with another
Following her number one success, “If You Love Me, Let Me Know,” comes Olivia Newton-John with another album Have You Never Been Mellow. This lady, the current “Queen of Top Forty” is only moderately talented, with a sweet, sexy voice that stays within its small range. Good production and well-suited songs will further her number one status. She is outselling all female vocalists including the multi-, multi-talented Joni Mitchell.
Perhaps another reason for such success is the sincerity heard in her vocals. Her current single, “Have You Never Been Mellow,” sounds as if she really feels and means all that she sings. This song is already at the top of the charts.
The album bulleted into the Top 200 LP’s chart of Billboard at number 43 its first week, a feat that is only achieved by superstars. It is strange because it is all soft-rock, semi-country and easy listening songs. America appears to be in love with this Australian lady, who is quite a knockout to look at, too.
Her beauty adds to her success creating something like “America’s Sweetheart” from afar. The other night on the American Music Awards she was awarded best pop/rock female vocalist along with the best song of the year for “I Honestly Love You” and the best country album for Let Me Be There.
The Mellow LP contains the likes of two John Denver songs, “Goodbye Again” and “Follow Me,” the Hollies hit, “The Air That I Breathe,” and other commercially promising single possibilities.
The next single will most likely be “It’s So Easy.” This tune is from the same mold that created her “Let Me Be There” and “If You Love Me, Let Me Know” hits. The most original cut on the album is the hit, title tune, but the whole LP is enjoyable.
How long she may reign is questionable, but for at least the next year it is going to be Queen Olivia in America. It is hard to criticize someone like this when she comes across so innocently. The worst that could be said is that Olivia Newton-John’s records have no redeeming artistic value, but they are nice.
By Phil Cutrell