Olivia Newton-John

Xanadu

Potent "Magic" from 20 Years Ago

Review Score:

(8/10)
I remember the Summer when this album and film were released...Olivia was all over the radio, along with ELO. Though the movie itself was a bit convoluted, this soundtrack was a seamless Pop album that firmly established (ONJ producer) John Farrar as an arranger/writer/player of note.

Though ELO frontman Jeff Lynne (later of Travelling Wilburys) produced side two, the transition from Farrar's "ONJ side" goes without a hitch. The use of synthesizers and layers of studio polish is the main reason for this, but the sheer tunefulness of the songs certainly helps. Olivia's "Magic," a potent single from '80 was only eclipsed by next year's "Physical" in her catalog of hits. The duet with Cliff Richard was/is a sunny AM radio favorite. "Dancin" with the Tubes is nice, for Olivia's part any way. (Farrar's Pop 'mold' doesn't fit the established sound of the often raunchy Tubes.) "Suspended In Time" is, if you'll pardon the pun, a timeless ballad that is sung beautifully. The duet with Gene Kelly is a romantic big band raveup, almost custom-made for a Busby Berkeley film.

The ELO side isn't quite as impressive as the lead: the two ELO-only singles ("I'm Alive" and "All Over The World") are among their best for this period, but the interceding tracks are lackluster musical bleeps. The closing duet with ONJ is easily the most memorable song of the entire album, and that's really saying something.

I consider it a minor crime that such a HUGELY popular album should be out of print in the U.S., but at least MCA had the brains to license it abroad. If you are a diehard ELO fan or a casual ONJ fan, this CD should be on your music rack.

-Mic

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