Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John

by Juliana Hatfield

Overview

When Juliana Hatfield was a kid, Olivia Newton-John was the first pop star to cast a spell upon her. The spell never lifted, not when Hatfield fell for punk as a teen, nor when she became a rocker herself in the 1980s, so there was only one path she could choose: to record an album where she could pledge allegiance to her idol. Make no mistake, 2018's Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John isn't ironic, nor is it an attempt to turn a perennially uncool pop singer hip. It is simply a love letter, one that conveys what Olivia Newton-John means to Juliana Hatfield. Appropriately enough for a child of the '70s, Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John evokes images of shag carpets, pastels, and lava lamps, but Hatfield isn't attempting a re-creation of an era: she's using elements from the past to paint a portrait of how the music felt to her at the time, and how it still speaks to her now. While she only rarely indulges in significant reworkings -- "Physical" is punched-up and punky, "Totally Hot" turns into a louche glam groove, "Make a Move on Me" becomes pleading power pop -- the takes often don't sound straight, thanks to the record's homespun charm and the smart arrangements. Hatfield is a sharp record-maker, understanding when to let harmonies pile up and when to let analog keyboards set the tone, a gift that turns Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John into a sumptuous aural pleasure. The album is also compelling as a testament to the power of fandom, illustrating how this kind of love is sustaining and creatively nourishing. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	04/13/2018
Label:	American Laundromat Records
UPC:	0616011914191
Rank:	35621

Tracks

1. I Honestly Love You
2. Suspended in Time
3. Have You Never Been Mellow
4. A Little More Love
5. Magic
6. Physical
7. Totally Hot
8. Don't Stop Believin'
9. Please Mr. Please
10. Hopelessly Devoted to You
11. Xanadu
12. Dancin' 'Round and 'Round
13. Make a Move on Me
14. I Honestly Love You (Reprise)

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Juliana Hatfield   Primary Artist,Bass,Drums,Guitar,Vocals,Keyboards
Ed Valauskas   Bass
Pete Caldes   Drums

Technical Credits

Adam Mitchell   Composer
Pat Dicenso   Engineer,Mixing
Jeff Barry   Composer
Bruce Welch   Composer
Sean Glonek   Mastering
James Bridges   Engineer
Nicole Anguish   Design,Illustrations
Tom Snow   Composer
Peter Allen   Composer
Scott Litt   Mixing
John Rostill   Composer
Jeff Lynne   Composer
John Farrar   Composer
Clif Norrell   Mixing Assistant
Steve Kipner   Composer
Terry Shaddick   Composer