Olivia makes a new start with a whole lot of heart
When Olivia Newton-ditched her John ditched pop image to return to her country roots, she decided to do it her way.
“I’d never come to Nashville to write songs before,” she tells COUNTRY WEEKLY. “I wasn’t confident enough and I certainly wasn’t a prolific songwriter. This time I wanted to be really involved. One of my greatest joys is writing.”
The result is Back With a Heart, which debuted at No. 9 on the charts. “I see this record as a new start”, Olivia says. “But, as far as the public is concerned, I guess it’s a comeback.”
The 11-song album boasts seven cuts which Olivia helped write.
“I think country is at a place now where pop was when I recorded in the 70s,” says Olivia, looking smashing in black slacks and a blouse as she settles into a conference-room chair at her record label. “It’s more about the singer and the song and the lyrics. It seems to fit where I am right now in my life.”
“Even though my music was called country back in the early ’70s, it was pop-flavored country. A lot of country music is like that today. And the songs on this album have that same feel.”
The running theme on Back With a Heart is love. “I didn’t have a theme in mind when I was putting the album together, but as it turns out, all of the songs are about the heart they’re about love and life,” Olivia explains between sips of peppermint tea.
“I wrote an album a few years ago it wasn’t released in the United States - about my experiences with breast cancer and about environmental issues, things like that. I discovered people really didn’t want to hear that stuff.” Olivia now laughs. “So I went more for the heart on this record which is something everyone can relate to.”
Olivia wrote the title track and “Spinning His Wheels” with noted songwriter Gary Burr. “I was lucky enough to go to Miles Copeland’s songwriting castle in Europe a couple of years ago and I met Gary there, Olivia says. “Thank goodness 1 didn’t know how famous Gary was or I would have been intimidated about writing with him.”
Olivia wrote two songs with Victoria Shaw. “I love ‘Fight for Our Love’ very much,” Olivia says. “And ‘Love Is a Gift’ ended up being a theme song on the soap “As the World Turns.”
The first single from Back With a Heart is a re-make of Olivia’s smash hit, “I Honestly Love You. And the current rendition is even more emotional than the original.
“The first time I re-corded the song, I was still in my 20s,” the England-born, Australian-bred beauty says. “I was just a girl. I had a different understanding of what the song was about”
“Now I’m a woman and I think this second recording is more interesting. Age and maturity and going through pain - whatever the pain’s related to comes through in your voice.”
Οlivia first hit the country charts in the early ’70s with crossover hits including “Let Me Be There,” “If You Love Me (Let Me Know),” “1 Honestly Love You” and “Please Mr. Please.”
After winning the CMA Female Vocalist of the Year honor in 1974, Olivia shot to superstardom as John Travolta’s co-star in Grease, one of the most popular movie musicals in history.
Throughout the ’80s, Olivia released several successful pop records and appeared in the films Xanadu and Twist of Fate. She opened a chain of clothing boutiques called Koala Blue, gave birth to her daughter Chloe in 1986, and began getting publicly involved in environmental issues.
“I’ve always been concerned about our planet and I probably got that from my mother,” Olivia says. “She was always saving paper bags and reusing them and was always very conscious about the environment.”
“But the first time I really stood up and made a statement was when I was supposed to tour Japan. I heard they were slaughtering dolphins because the dolphins were eating the fish. Excuse me! I didn’t go. I wasn’t very popular in Japan after that but I felt good about it.”
Olivia’s activism escalated after Chloe was born, and eventually she helped form the Children’s Health Environmental Coalition with her friend Nancy Chuda.
“Her daughter Colette died at the age of five from Wilm’s tumor which is a nongenetic cancer,” Olivia says. “Colette was Chloe’s best friend. The loss was so devastating and we believe her death is linked to the environment.”
“Our long-term goal is to have a law passed called the Children’s Environmental Protection Act. Childhood cancers are on the rise and we need laws to protect these children.”
In the early ’90s, Olivia endured more than her share of pain and sorrow. Olivia’s father died on the same day she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Koala Blue went bankrupt. Her marriage ended in divorce. Olivia retreated from the spotlight to concentrate on her health and daughter.
“With everything else that was happening in my life, I really had no intention of returning to singing,” Olivia admits.
The time off was good for Olivia and young Chloe.
“I don’t think Chloe sees me in any other way than her mom,” Olivia says. “She’s proud of me, but she doesn’t like it when my job takes me away from her. She travels with me sometimes but it’s getting harder to miss even a day of school now.”
“When I do have to travel, her father takes care of her. It’s really important to me that she grows up normally. Chloe’s pretty much a typical 12-year-old girl. She likes to be at home and likes swimming and dancing and ice skating. She still likes to play with Barbies, although she’d probably kill me if she knew I told you that!”
Staying grounded in show business isn’t always easy, but Olivia makes it look that way. Her philosophy is “one day at a time.”
“Mentally and emotionally, I’m stronger than I ever have been before. I used to worry about tomorrow and worry about the past and project what was going to happen. I don’t do that anymore. I’m enjoying what’s happening now.”
“Tomorrow will take care of itself. You can’t change it anyhow so you just have to do your best and live in the moment.”
Story by Tamara Savian