Olivia Newton-John - Making a Good Thing Better
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CD Details
Artist: Olivia Newton-JohnEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown)
Format: Import, Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 1998-10-12
Music Label: Festival Records
Soundtracks:
- Making A Good Thing Better
- Slow Dancing
- Ring Of Fire
- Coolin' Down
- Don't Cry For Me Argentina
- Sad Songs
- You Won't See Me Cry
- So Easy To Begin
- I Think I'll Say Goodbye
- Don't Ask A Friend
- If Love Is Real
Music reviews of Making a Good Thing Better
Music Review: When It Comes to MAGTB and My Profound Affair with it, There's No "Coolin' Down."
Rating: 5 Stars
I purchased this album on cassette tape for my birthday when it was new in 1977, procured a copy on vinyl in 1988, and bought the CD at a defunct record chain in 2006. Let's face it: I am hopelessly addicted to this album. In fact, MAGTB is my favorite of all of Olivia's albums, bar none. No hit singles, no media hoopla. Just a plainly good adult contemporary album with nods to country, as is expected. Let's break it down:
"Making A Good Thing Better:" Such a sweet, optimistic ballad about love when it's at it's best. The desire to work hard and try everyday in spite of immediate joy is what it's all about, isn't it? Couldn't agree more, and appreciate the joy-filled sentiment.
"Slow Dancing:" Slower than the Johnny Rivers hit single version, but far more agrarian sounding and intimate.
"Ring of Fire:" The one exception on here I don't feel is up to the rest of the album. Don't much like the feel or interpretation, but to each his own.
"Coolin' Down:" My absolute favorite song on this album, cool mellow jazz vibe and all. The pain in her voice comes over as effectively as the intimate phrasing that coincides with it. Deeply personal and sexual in nature, it is a song that comes too close to describing a few past relationships of my own, and when I sing along with it, it knocks the very wind out of me. Still, like the cliche' moth and the flame...
"Don't Cry for Me Argentina:" From Andrew Lloyd Weber's operetta Evita. Admittedly the first version of this song I ever hear at the age of 13, and didn't initially like it due to my immaturity. It's beautiful, though, I realized years later as my tastes developed, and her expression is right on the mark and at home with the symphonic backdrop.
"Sad Songs:" Written by Billy and Bobby Alessi whose own career under their last name didn't get very far. They proved themselves to be good, if underappreciated, songwriters, but Olivia was listening. Lovely piece of pop desparation, but I wonder what everyone was laughing at the subject for. This must be one of those songs designed to encapsulate individual listeners' own takes.
"You Won't See Me Cry:" Absolutely pretty song with descending chords and sweet longing.
"So Easy to Begin:" Women just love Jules Shear's songs, don't they? Me too! He's such a great, underrated melodic poet, lyrically worthy of--if not surpassing--Dylan. "I know you've been wonderin' why I look at you so hard. But I never want to wake up someday and wonder where we've been...It's so easy to begin." Amen. Beautiful interpretation, Livvy!
"I Think I'll Say Goodbye:" Cute country-pop song about telling some bossy guy where to stick it. I LOVE songs that tell guys off!
"Don't Ask a Friend:" Another personal favorite, and penned by Lovely Livvy herself. Caught between a rock and a hard place between two friends who are lovers. Never experienced this and never want to. Sounds like a personal experience, but this is a far better song than "Changes," as it shows maturity in both her songwriting and the sophisticated pop arrangement in general.
"If Love is Real:" Livvy loves to do material by a lot of songwriters who don't get their due, and it's that I really cherish her for. Why can't you take love and lock it away in a safe place? Sweet, a bit of a sad neo-classical pop piece. The album ends on a note full of earnestness born of an artist who must ultimately be going through a personal transition in her love life. After all, her relationship with Lee Kramer was almost over. Makes you wonder at all the ballads.
This is a gorgeous album, although I sense the choice of material was private, thus the lack of hit singles. I don't care about hit singles anyway, preferring the intimate, personal route. If you like intimate and truly artistic endeavors that sound suspiciously personal, this album will be all the more endearing to you. If not, go buy the Grease soundtrack. I have always considered her not so lily-white as everyone else, very personal, and this album only serves to embrace that fact. Excellent!
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Description of Making a Good Thing Better
Digitally remastered reissue of her top 40 1977 album. 11 tracks, including the hit title song & covers of pop standards such as 'Ring Of Fire', 'Slow Dancing', 'Don't CryFor Me Argentina' & 'You Won't See Me'. 1998 Festival Records release.Broadway & Vocalists CDs
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