![]() ![]() The songs "Recovery" and "Falling" had been originally featured on John Farrar's 1980 self-titled solo album, but were later remodeled for Physical. It was the first of several Newton-John releases written by Kipner. When Newton-John's then-manager Lee Kramer accidentally heard the demo, he immediately sent the song to her, but initially she didn't want to release the song because it was "too cheeky". The lead single "Physical" (originally "Let's Get Physical") was written by Terry Shaddick and Newton-John's longtime friend Steve Kipner, and initially was intended for a "macho male rock figure like Rod Stewart", according to Kipner. I've gotten the confidence to be more adventurous whereas in the past I didn't think it was time." In a Billboard article, she said: "You might lose a few fans but you gain others. The new music style generated some criticism from the country-music community and Newton-John's old fans. It also marked her first studio album without any country tracks. Physical followed Newton-John's new image, perceived as a more sexualized and mature record. Newton-John feared that she could be overexposed with many works released in a short period. Physical was recorded and released in 1981, marking the longest gap between Newton-John studio albums at the time from 1971 to 1978, she recorded at least one studio album per year. Later that same year, Newton-John released the studio album Totally Hot, and two years later, the Xanadu soundtrack (1980), both with a more pop-oriented style than in her past albums. Following the huge success of Grease, and inspired by her character's transformation from goody-goody "Sandy 1" to the sexy, spandex-clad "Sandy 2", she traded her previous musical styles for a sexier and more aggressive pop image. Before the film, Newton-John was known for country pop and adult contemporary songs. In 1978, Newton-John starred as the female lead, "Sandy", in the musical film Grease, which was a worldwide blockbuster and had a best-selling soundtrack. Newton-John talking about her music style change I would have done a country song on Physical if I found one I really liked" I'm not deliberately going after any audience. I still know my limitations and wouldn't attempt songs I couldn't do. "If these new songs were offered to me a couple of years ago, maybe I wouldn't have attempted them and similarly some of the songs I sang a couple of years ago I wouldn't be interested in doing now. The Physical era marked the height of Newton-John's solo career, gaining her wide acclaim as one of the most successful female artists of the early 1980s. The album was promoted with Newton-John's 1982 North American Physical Tour, performances from which a home video entitled Olivia in Concert was produced. The material was a commercial and critical success, and earned Newton-John a Grammy Award for Video of the Year. A video compilation, Olivia Physical, was produced, featuring music videos of all songs from the album. " Landslide", which failed to enter the majority of musical charts, had a music video featuring Newton-John's boyfriend (and later husband) Matt Lattanzi, to whom she had dedicated the album. The single was followed by " Make a Move on Me", another top-ten worldwide hit. ![]() ![]() The song and its music video were controversial, having been banned or edited by several radio stations and television channels (such as MTV) for its sexual references. The album's title track was a commercial phenomenon, staying 10 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100, at the time tying the record set by Debby Boone's 1977 single " You Light Up My Life". It also ranks among the best-selling albums by Australian solo artists, selling more than ten million copies worldwide. The album charted high in several countries, including the United States, Japan and Newton-John's native Australia, becoming one of the most successful albums of the early 1980s. Upon its release, the album received positive reviews from music critics, many of them considering it to be Newton-John's best effort. Musically, the album features considerable use of synthesizers, and it explores lyrical themes such as love and relationships, sex, kinesthetics and environmental protection. Holman's studio in Los Angeles, Physical became one of Newton-John's most controversial and sexual records, and her most successful studio album. Recorded and mixed at Ocean Way and David J. The album was produced and partly written by her long-time record producer John Farrar. Physical is the eleventh studio album by British-Australian singer Olivia Newton-John, released through MCA Records on 13 October 1981. ![]()
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