![]() ![]() It became one of the most successful musicals in movie history. ![]() Audiences fell for the fun, catchy music, engaging storyline, and appealing performances. ![]() Newton-John portrayed the virtuous cheerleader Sandy opposite Travolta in the role of Danny, a rough-around-the-edges, but tender greaser. Set in the 1950s, the film told the story of two teenagers in love from two different social worlds. The release of the 1978 film adaptation of the successful Broadway musical Grease made Newton-John an international star. She scored hits on the country and pop charts with "Have You Never Been Mellow" and "I Honestly Love You," which won the 1974 Grammy for record of the year. More awards and successful albums followed. Newton-John made a splash in the United States with her third solo album, Let Me Be There (1973), the title track winning a Grammy Award for best country female vocal performance. Newton-John went to England in the mid-1960s and performed in clubs and on television. Perhaps best known for playing the squeaky clean Sandy in the movie musical Grease (1978), she got her start as a singer in her teens. Early Career and Grammy Winsīorn on September 26, 1948, in Cambridge, England, Olivia Newton-John was raised in Melbourne, Australia. She devoted much of her time to raising awareness and funding for cancer research and supported various environmental causes and charities. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992, Newton-John eventually went into remission and then suffered a relapse in 2017. The Olivia Newton-John catalog runs deep, and Totally Hot is one of the more consistently entertaining albums in the collection.Olivia Newton-John performed in clubs and on television in England in the 1960s, and went on to record Grammy Award-winning hits including "I Honestly Love You" and "Let's Get Physical." She became an international star after playing Sandy in the 1978 film adaptation of Grease, co-starring John Travolta. It's a dramatic reading that shows the other side of this recording. The cover of Eric Carmen's "Boats Against the Current" is a nice feather in his cap. John isn't performing a duet with Newton-John on this New Orleans adventure. The title track is funky and the big mistake on this disc is that Dr. The precision on the verse and chorus make for a beautiful album track, lyrics that flow perfectly on the singer's voice. That the prolific John Farrar didn't contribute more to these albums shows how careful they were about material, but "Never Enough" is stunning, and maybe Newton-John will take on the Marvin, Welch, & Farrar songbook sometime in the future. John Farrar actually pens three songs in a row on Totally Hot, including the title track, and with Newton-John's two contributions, the songstress and her producer compose half of this album. Jimmy Miller, producer of the original 1967 hit, would probably approve of the spirit - it is definitely more fun than the Blues Brothers' version which charted three years after this. The cover of Spencer Davis Group's "Gimme Some Lovin'," on the other hand, is as close to a drunken party as one will get on a Newton-John album. "Borrowed Time" is more country-pop and is one of the more serious tracks on the album. The album contains a nice balance, something missing from 1985's Soul Kiss. "A Little More Love" went Top Three in December of 1978, with "Deeper Than the Night" hovering around the Top Ten in May of 1979. Along with the John Farrar smash "A Little More Love," those involved showed that Olivia Newton-John could move beyond the three huge hits from the film Grease which saturated the airwaves in 1978. Tom Snow's "Deeper Than the Night" was a nice musical departure for the singer, with its strong piano reflecting the melody. Her own "Talk to Me" is bouncy adult contemporary, but it is the two hit singles which, naturally, stand out. David Foster, Steve Lukather, and Tom Snow add their talents to the project, but it is Newton-John, with the guidance of John Farrar, who really shines here. As with the Let Me Be There release, her name is prominently splashed on the cover and the tan background suits her well, with the mysterious look with the kerchief on the inside cover as playful as the music. Is it Newton-John's voice or Michael Botticker's synthesizer at the end of the first track? A little jarring for her country audience, but she takes care of them on "Dancin' 'Round and 'Round," a wonderful country-pop tune and quick about face. "Please Don't Keep Me Waiting" is a girl group all grown up. Total abandon is its trademark, the atmosphere lightened up a bit, and from top to bottom it is one of her most satisfying projects. Totally Hot is one of the most fun albums from Olivia Newton John. ![]()
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