Totally Hot album review
Olivia Newton-John, Totally Hot, MCA.
The album cover seems to indicate that Newton-John is trying to retain the market advantage she gained with the release of Grease, the motion picture. And the title song, Totally Hot, and another. A Little More Love, are the best two disco-influenced selections.
However, the blonde songstress is staying in touch with a lot of faithful. Side 1, which features Please Don’t Keep Me Waiting, Talk To Me, Deeper Than The Night and Borrowed Time, are examples of the way she mixes a little bit of country, some soft rock, some touching ballads. Gimme Some Lovin’ on Side 2 is a really explosive, hand-clapping rock and roller, with good-sized vocal contingent behind her.
Newton-John has the talent, no matter which format she follows. But the end of Please Don’t Keep Me Waiting is partly destroyed by a series of high-note shreiks and there are other examples where she exaggerates the high notes, instead of sticking to a simple, pleasant, straight-forward delivery.
By Ned Powers
Editor’s note - I love the end of Please Don’t Keep Me Waiting!