review of Totally Hot album
OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN - Totally Hot, MCA MCA 3067. Produced by John Farrar.
On her first album since shedding her sweet, frail image by playing the good girl gone bad in “Grease,” Newton-John proves that she is more than just the queen of MOR. Six of the cuts here are up-tempo, including an explosive version of the Spencer Davis Group’s “Gimme Some Lovin’” on which a hot Newton-John squeals, shouts and spits out the lyrics in a departure which will amaze her long-time fans and perhaps finally win over her detractors.
The frenetic rocker “You’re The One That I Want” set the stage for this musical shift, and Newton-John has seized the chance to broaden her musical appeal. To be sure there are some ballads here, but they aren’t swamped with strings as has been the case in the past. Instead most of the cuts here feature a basic tight band sound.
Best cuts: “Gimme Some Lovin,” “Boats Against The Current” (the Eric Carmen song), “Talk To Me,” “Borrowed Time” (both written by Newton-John).
Dealers: Though none of the “Grease” songs are included here, they have made Newton-John the most-played female star of the year on radio.