Music On Vinyl continues to roll out its Delta Goodrem vinyl releases and one I didn’t think we’d get is ‘I Honestly Love You’, the soundtrack to the Olivia Newton-John biopic mini-series ‘Olivia: Hopelessly Devoted To You’. Released in Australia in 2018, the mini-series saw Goodrem playing Newton-John and she recorded a number of the singer’s songs for the soundtrack. Having been friends with Newton-John for years, and with her own life mirroring many moments from the icon’s, it made sense for Goodrem to take on the role and she did so to widespread critical acclaim.
‘I Honestly Love You’ is the seventh vinyl release from Goodrem’s catalogue courtesy of Music On Vinyl and it’s a bit of a treat for overseas fans of the singer. The mini-series didn’t really get promoted here in the UK (honestly, I’m not sure if it was ever released) and the soundtrack certainly didn’t make it to our shores. Limited to 1,500 numbered copies, this release is pressed on 180-gram translucent magenta vinyl. It includes a double-sided full colour insert with behind-the-scenes photographs from the ‘Olivia: Hopelessly Devoted To You’ mini-series along with the liner notes and credits.
Looking down the tracklist of ‘I Honestly Love You’, it reads like a greatest hits of the late Newton-John. Featuring 13 songs from across the star’s career, and two vocal appearances from Newton-John herself, the collection opens with the iconic ‘Grease’ song ‘You’re The One That I Want’ with Dan Sultan. It’s one of two songs from ‘Grease’ that appears here (the other being ‘Hopelessly Devoted To You’. Fans of the original may be nervous about anyone other than Newton-John and John Travolta tackling this classic but Goodrem and Sultan put their own stamp on the track without losing the magic of the original.
Side One of ‘I Honestly Love You’ is pure nostalgia. Goodrem’s sensitive take on the title track is an early highlight but the first real wow moment is her take on the classic hit ‘Physical’. Many people have tried to cover it over the years but no one has come as close to the original as Goodrem manages here. She has fun with the track and it allows her to use the light and shade in her voice to great effect. Newton-John’s much criticised film ‘Xanadu’ is represented here with ‘Magic’ and of course the titular song. In Goodrem’s hands, both songs sound fresh and particularly on ‘Xanadu’, she sounds like a young Newton-John.
The jewel in the crown has to be ‘Hopelessly Devoted To You’. A song so synonymous with Newton-John, Goodrem puts her vocal front and centre and it’s stunning. The song is much harder to sing than many think but listening to Goodrem wrap her vocals around it, she makes it sound like a walk in the park. Don’t underestimate the skill it takes to pull off a cover of a song that’s as well-known as this one.
Side Two of the album features two appearances from Newton-John, firstly on ‘Let Me Be There’ and secondly on the final song ‘Love Is A Gift’. The vocal similarities on both tracks between Goodrem and Newton-John are startingly clear, and they made wonderful music together. It’s a shame we never got a full album of duets from the two powerhouses, as it would have been incredible. Georgia Flood, who played Pat Carroll in the mini-series, joins Goodrem on ‘Today’ while Goodrem pulls off a stunning rendition of the Burt Bacharach classic ‘Anyone Who Had a Heart’. A cover of Bob Dylan’s ‘If Not For You’ veers into Country territory while ‘Trust Yourself’ from Newton-John’s 1994 album ‘Gaia: One Woman’s Journey’ is a rare showcase for her songwriting, which is brought to life with a dramatic vocal from Goodrem.
It goes without saying that ‘I Honestly Love You’ will appeal to you if you’re an Olivia Newton-John fan. That being said, Goodrem’s vocals are worth listening to the record for, even if you’re not a fan of the material. She. Puts her own spin on all of these songs and hearing her sing with Newton-John really is quite special. This one is for Goodrem collectors and Newton-John fans, but it may not appeal to casual listeners. It’s yet another high quality release from Music On Vinyl though, who are really doing Goodrem’s catalogue justice.
Track list: Side One – 1. You’re The One That I Want (feat. Dan Sultan) 2. I Honestly Love You 3. Physical 4. Magic 5. Hopelessly Devoted To You 6. Xanadu Side Two – 1. Let Me Be There (with Olivia Newton-John) 2. Today (feat. Georgia Flood) 3. Till You Say You’ll Be Mine 4. Anyone Who Had a Heart 5. If Not For You 6. Trust Yourself 7. Love is a Gift (with Olivia Newton-John) Record label: Sony Music / Music on Vinyl Release date: 26th January 2024 Buy ‘I Honestly Love You’ now
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