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The 8/14/71 survey reminds me of how some perceived Olivia Newton-John when her first Top 40 hit "If Not For You" came out. I remember reading an article in Stereo Review which critiqued the LP that produced it, and according to the author Olivia's breathy, sensuous voice was best suited for flowery, syrupy romantic B-movies, not much else. I understood this guy was supposedly just making an impartial judgment, but for the next couple years I couldn't get the idea out of my head that a set of female pipes that sexy couldn't miss becoming very, very celebrated one day. I've always loved Livvy's great voice more than her records overall; just never cared for that take-a-load-off-your-poor-tired-bod "Never Been Mellow" kind of fluff. If anything I dig her uptempo hits, whether from the "Grease" phase or the synth-pop early '80s period (e.g., "Magic). But rest assured, I never got "Physical" with her--either the act or the song! Funny, first time I heard it I thought she was singing "Visigoth, visigoth" and was like, What is this about, the day the Vikings plundered ancient Rome or something?
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Posted By: Jeff on: 08/28/2006 17:55:51 EDT