Clearly Love review
By Michael Porter
CLEARLY LOVE. Olivia Newton-John, Interfusion (Festival), stereo, L. 35704.
THIS very attractive young woman is one of the phenomena of recent show business.
Her success is probably based on physical appeal as much as talent. She is a good-looking woman has a voice which is pure and most pleasant.
She also sings songs which have their own appeal in a manner which can give few offence.
What confuses me is that she seems to put little into the songs except the qualities already outlined.
There is little of the gut feeling one would expect in songs such as “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” or “Summertime Blues” although the latter tends to be somewhat innocuous, as are many of the selections.
There is no doubt that she sings with purity and clarity of voice and tone. What is missing for me is the emotive awareness of a Judith Durham or a Margaret Roadknight, to name two other Australian singers who really grab me here.
But obviouslv there are thousands who do not agree with me and will be upset by these criticisms, gentle as they are. One of the measures of success is sales, and these the lady has in abundance, and good luck to her.