Wikipedia

Come On Over (Olivia Newton-John album)

Come On Over is the seventh studio album by British-Australian singer Olivia Newton-John, released in March 1976. The album peaked at number two on the US Top Country Albums chart and number 13 on the US Billboard 200.

Come On Over
Studio album by
Olivia Newton-John
ReleasedMarch 1976[1]
RecordedOctober–November 1975
StudioAbbey Road Studios, London
Genre
Length41:10
LabelMCA
ProducerJohn Farrar
Olivia Newton-John chronology
Clearly Love
(1975) 		Come On Over
(1976) 		Don't Stop Believin'
(1976)
Singles from Come On Over
  1. "Come on Over"
    Released: March 1976
  2. "Jolene"
    Released: 1976
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

The lead single released from the album was the title song, written by Barry Gibb and Robin Gibb and originally featured on the Bee Gees' 1975 album Main Course. It was a moderate pop hit, peaking at number 23 on the US Billboard Hot 100, but did much better on the country (number 5) and adult contemporary (seventh of ten number 1 singles) charts. In New Zealand, the title track reached number 3.[2]

The album's first track, a cover of Dolly Parton's "Jolene", was only released as a single in Japan, and it became a hit there, peaking at number 11 on the Oricon Singles Chart. The album itself was also a success in the Japanese market, reaching the number 2 position on the Oricon Albums Chart. It was released in Australia in 1978 where it peaked at number 29.[3]

The album also included versions of the traditional song "Greensleeves" and The Beatles' "The Long and Winding Road" (the ending track), as well as "Who Are You Now?", originally featured in the 1973 movie Hurry Up, or I'll Be 30. Besides Parton's "Jolene" the album also boasts covers of recent country hits by Willie Nelson ("Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain") and Lynn Anderson ("Smile For Me").

Reception

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Billboard called it a "good, romantic set," noting "the obvious attempts at country don't really work, but the straight pop ballads come off well. Usual strong orchestration and form fitting production from John Farrar and continued improved singing from Newton-John. Best material comes from the pens of the Bee Gees and Rory Bourke, though Farrar has written a couple of good songs."[4]

Cash Box said "The constantly maturing vocals of Olivia Newton-John continue their musical growth on Come On Over. Ms. Newton-John puts effective emotion into every song and when played off against clear instrumentals, strikes an effective tone on ballad and uptempo numbers alike."[5]

Allmusic called it a "consistent and entertaining project," noting "what this record becomes is a textbook on the separation between what is good and what is great. The album is quality stuff through and through."[6]

Track listing

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Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Jolene"Dolly Parton3:07
2."Pony Ride"
  • Diane Berglund
  • Jim Phillips
3:58
3."Come on Over"
3:38
4."It'll Be Me"
3:28
5."Greensleeves"Traditional3:40
6."Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain"Fred Rose2:22
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
7."Don't Throw It All Away"
2:54
8."Who Are You Now?"
2:54
9."Smile for Me"
3:05
10."Small Talk and Pride"Farrar3:50
11."Wrap Me in Your Arms"Harlan Collins3:04
12."The Long and Winding Road"
4:24
Japan 2010 SHM-CD bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
13."Jolene" (live in Osaka, Japan, December 1976)3:13
14."Pony Ride" (live in Osaka, Japan, December 1976)3:50

Personnel

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Musicians

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Production

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  • Producer – John Farrar
  • Engineers – Tony Clark, John Kurlander, Allan Rouse and Michael Stavroes
  • Recorded at Abbey Road Studios (London, England)
  • Mixed at AIR Studios (London, England)
  • Tape Operator – John Walls
  • Photography – Jeff Dunas
  • Art direction and design – George Osaki

Charts

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Certifications and sales

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[19] Platinum 100,000^
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[20] Gold 10,000*
Japan (Oricon Charts) — 371,000[8]
United States (RIAA)[21] Gold 500,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ a b Viglione, Joe. Come On Over at AllMusic
  2. ^ (Chart 2699) Nztop40.co.nz. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  3. ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. p. 217. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  4. ^ "Top Album Picks" (PDF). Billboard. No. 13 March 1976. p. 68. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  5. ^ "Album Review" (PDF). Cashbox. 13 March 1976. p. 18. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via World Radio History.
  6. ^ "Come on over - Olivia Newton-John | Album | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  7. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4120a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
  8. ^ a b Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  9. ^ "Charts.nz – Olivia Newton-John – Come On Over". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
  10. ^ "Olivia Newton-John | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
  11. ^ "Olivia Newton-John Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
  12. ^ "Olivia Newton-John Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
  13. ^ "Cash Box Top Albums" (PDF). Cash Box. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  14. ^ "Cash Box Country Albums" (PDF). Cash Box. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  15. ^ "1976年アルバム年間ヒットチャート" [Japanese Year-End Albums Charts 1976] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  16. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1976 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  17. ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 1976". Billboard. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  18. ^ "1977年アルバム年間ヒットチャート" [Japanese Year-End Albums Charts 1977] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on 5 December 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  19. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Olivia Newton-John – Come on Over". Music Canada. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  20. ^ "IFPIHK Gold Disc Award − 1977". IFPI Hong Kong. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  21. ^ "American album certifications – Olivia Newton-John – Come on Over". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
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