Olivia Newton-John - Come On Over

This month (February 29th) marks the fortieth anniversary of Come On Over, the sixth studio album from Olivia Newton-John. This 1976 release spent twenty-four weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 13. It also went to number 49 in the UK, number 30 in Canada, number 29 in Australia, number 12 in New Zealand, number 2 in Japan and on the US Billboard Country charts.

Xanadu (soundtrack) (35th anniversary)

Welcome back to Soundtrack Sunday.

Today marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of the chart debut for the soundtrack from Xanadu, a movie that would then hit theatres a month later on August 8th of 1980. The record reached number 1 in Newton-John's native home of Australia, number 2 in the UK, and number 4 on the US Billboard Album chart (with thirty-six weeks on the charts). It also spawned six top 40 singles.

For my full review of this favorite of mine, click here.

Andy Gibb - After Dark

This month marks the thirty fifth anniversary of After Dark, the third and final studio album from Andy Gibb. This 1980 release reached number 67 on the US Billboard R&B chart, number 65 in Australia, number 24 in Canada, number 23 in Sweden, and number 21 in Norway and on the US Billboard Album chart. It spent a total of fifteen weeks on the US Billboard Album chart. Older brother Barry assisted on the record by penning all of the songs.

Barry Gibb - Now Voyager

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Now Voyager, the first officially released solo studio album by Barry Gibb. The 1984 release spent eight weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 72.

Two of a Kind (soundtrack)

Welcome to another edition of Matinee Monday.

Today (December 16th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of Two of a Kind, the 1983 romantic comedy that re-teamed John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. The two played criminally-minded individuals (he an inventor, she a bank teller) bent on protecting the Earth from God’s destruction. Unlike the former film that starred these two (1978’s film-adaptation of the musical Grease), this one was a critical and commercial flop.

Olivia Newton-John - Totally Hot

Welcome to another edition of Seventies Sunday.

Today, in honor of its thirty-fifth anniversary this month, we are giving a listen to the 1978 release Totally Hot. This was the tenth studio album for Australian-born singer Olivia Newton-John. The Platinum selling record went to number 30 in the UK, number 18 in New Zealand, number 9 in Japan, number 7 on the US Billboard Album chart, number 5 in Canada, and number 4 in Australia on the US Billboard Country chart.

Grease (soundtrack) (35th anniversary)

Welcome to another edition of Soundtrack Sunday.

Today (April 14th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of the release of the soundtrack from Grease, the Hollywood big-screen adaptation of the hit Broadway musical.

If you have not already done so, please click here to read my review of this soundtrack album.

Olivia Newton-John - Physical

Today (September 26th) marks the sixty-fourth birthday of actress and Grammy award-winning singer Olivia Newton-John. Although she spent a good portion of the early part of her career, during the 1970’s, on the country charts, she crossed over into the pop arena by the end of the decade and continued that route in the early 80’s.

Working again with long-time producer John Farrar, Newton-John released Physical in October of 1981. It would go on to become her biggest selling album to date. The multi-Platinum selling record went to number 11 in the UK, number 8 in New Zealand, number 5 in Japan, and number 3 in Canada. In the US, it went to number 32 on the Billboard R&B charts and number 6 in the Billboard Hot 200. It also generated a trio of chart-breaking singles.

Grease (soundtrack)

Welcome to another edition of Soundtrack Sunday.

Note: this blog post/review is dedicated to Jeff Conaway who played "Kenickie" in this film as well as starred in shows like Taxi and Babylon 5. The 60-year old actor died Friday morning 5/27/11 at Encino Tarzana Medical Center, where he had been hospitalized in a coma since 5/11/11. Jeff battled with drug addiction for many years, including to pain-killers which were needed to counter physical ailments from which he suffered. May his spirit rest in peace.

Xanadu (soundtrack)

Welcome back to Soundtrack Sunday. This one goes out to one of my Twitter followers (a fellow lover of all 80's music) who shares my immense appreciation for this album.

On August 8th of 1980, Universal Pictures released a film starring Olivia Newton-John, Gene Kelly and Michael Beck. It is the story of Sonny Malone (Beck), a talented artist who was unsatisfied with his day job of painting larger versions of album covers and longs for something more. Into his life comes a mysterious girl named Kira (Newton-John) who turns out to no only be an artistic muse for him but also an actual muse (i.e. daughter of the Olympian god Zeus). Add to the mix former big-band leader Danny McGuire (Kelly) who is looking for one more big adventure and you get the $20 million dollar musical extravaganza Xanadu.