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WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT...




  • Wow! Who turned on the time machine. Many great nights at Frog Pond, Terry's, Old College, the Sigma Chi house or wherever Dirk & Tony were playing.  Good fun, Great music!! Still love seeing Dirk around A town.  Fred L.  8/5/10

  • Nice! Amy P.  8/5/10

  • Just discovered this site! What an enjoyable trip down the musical memory lane. Thanks, D. Buck
3/26/10

  • Wow, what a great "blast from the past" to hear "Lost Between Two Worlds"! Saw Tony here in Columbia TN last summer and Dirk will always be a brother to me!
    Peggy J.  2/13/10

  • Love this web site! B. Free turned me on to it and now I can't wait to log in on Friday morning!
M. Small  11/06/09

  • Congratulations for all for work! I love the music of Dione Warwick ... A hug. Later.  Felipe C.  10/21/09

  • Just found out about your web-site, it's wonderful! I'll be watching for my friday e-mails, thanks Freddy Seagraves (The Jesters Band) 9/22/09

  • Just found this website - WOW!!  AJ 8/08/09

  • Great song! "Wildflower" Brings back a flood of memories!!  Thanks for all the time you put into this fun site!
  7/23/09

  • I remember listening to Skylark on a Mini Radio walking to Burney Harris Middle School from Normal Town
  8th grade !!! R.Free  7/17/09

  • "Three Dog Night was my first "rock" concert at the Coliseum at UGA when I was in 7th grade! I wonder if the lead singer can still fit into that tight white fringed jacket?"  L.N. 7/3/09

  • First date with my wife, Three Dog Night, Omni in Atlanta, July 29, 1973....seems like yesterday.
Thanks Larry!    C.A. 7/3/09

  • Hey Larry. Love Robert Palmer and I Loooove that smooth sound. How about some Lionel Richie.
Thanks. Mom.  6/26/09

  • Randy and Tina Raburn turned me
on to this (Robert Palmer) and I
love it.  Out in Oregon.
Thanks. V.T. 6/26/09

  • LOVE the stories behind the performers and their  songs.
Robbie   5/24/09

  • Ain"t heard that one "Brother Louie" in a while.  hoss858  5/24/09

  • You (Dirk and Tony) are one of my fondest memories of UGA!!!!!  My best friend and I STILL sing, "Silly Little Girl" when we are on road trips together!  Deb Mc.  6/23/09

  • Larry, thanks for turning me on to this album (Yesterday & Today - The Beatles) way back in 19XX! It's remained one of my favorite Beatles albums of all time.
Dennis M.  6/19/09

  • Thanks for the lyrics to Louie Louie. I've always thought that they were the Kingsmen's lyrics recorded under the influence of Jack Daniel. Now we know it was rum. A great tune. I've never heard anybody say that they didn't like it.  rjenkins  5/29/09

  • Love the site!  Sheree  5/8/09

  • Have never seen a female lead singer play the guitar like that--Go Larry,thanks for your efforts to entertain your classmates!  tbirdamf  5/8/09

  • OMG, I didn't recognize this one (39-21-40 Shape) till it started playing!  Love it.
Dale 4/19/09

  • Larry, I just had to get up and move with (Shake A Tail Feather) that one! Keep it up!
Jeff  4/3/09

  • That really was a blast from the past!  The last time I saw Dirk and Tony perform was at Jon Tuck’s graduation party in the mid seventies.  What a party!  Love the photo.  And we all thought we looked so cute back then – foolish folks!  Thanks for the memory.  Leslie  P. 3/20/09

  • I have the songs on my Ipod now in the car...............cruisin' in the afternoon just got better!
L.D.  3/20/09

  • Great site!! I really appreciate Dirk and Tony spotlight.They've entertained multitudes when they worked together and still are today on their own.
R. Jenkins  3/20/09

  • Thank you, thank you, Larry!  I always enjoy the music you select but this (Dirk and Tony) is the best yet!!  Talk about memories!
  Melody P.  3/20/09

  • "Oh yeah - played this many times today.  I sent it on to a few folks who are not on the list.  The pictures almost made me sad - too much time has flown by.  Loved hearing the song again.  So glad you were able to get it on there.   I think I played it 3 times at least."  Betsy K.  3/20/09

  • Dirk, Looking GOOD my brutha!! I love the earlier pics of you and Tony.  I hope to get to Athens again one of these days, soon, and hear you sing. You are a treasure! Bobby D.
3/20/09

  • Awesome!!  Debbie G.  3/20/09

  • Loved hearing this song again!!!  When will y'all be playing together again?   Gilbert M.  3/20/09

  • Good morning & Happy first day of Spring!!!! What a great way to start my morning, Dirk and Tony!
Patti  W. 3/20/09

  • You did a wonderful job on this week!!!!  Dirk and Tony takes ya back a long way to some good times!!!
Thanks, Rhonda  T. 3/20/09

  • Tina R. shared this and it was great fun.  Thanks from Oregon. 03/13/09

  • Great to see you bashing the drums in the group video that your mum sent, we spotted her dancing. Also enjoyed the music played by the group. Uncle Jack & Aunt Carole in the U.K. 02/19/09

  • Thanks bsh69r, I missed that.  Two heads or more are better than one.
  02/17/09   friday@fridayinathens.com

  • Correction: The song that's played here was done by Scott McKenzie and is called "San Francisco".  The MP3 is mistitled. Aside from that, I love your site...absolutely a great site and will keep revisiting it.  :-)                 bsh69r         02/16/09

  • Really enjoying the site.  Love the featured act (The Zombies) and their music.  Great work you do.
     A service.  Barry H.  02/06/09

  • This ("Ain't That Peculiar") used to be the song back then!  Heidi R. 01/29/09

  • One of my all time favorite groups "The Intruders", doing one of their best!  I play this one on my home system at least once a week.  Your buddy, Dirk H.         12/05/08

  • You’ve created something wonderful with your Friday website.  Something positive to look forward to each week. Can’t wait to see what’s on the plate for this week.  Leslie P. 11/17/08

  • Thanks for the wonderful music I enjoy it... Great site   Connie  9/11/08

  • Larry,  Live for "Fridays"....I even get up and put on my tornado red shoes and tap along to the songs!!!
A.P.    7/11/2008

  • Growing up as an "old school" listener, I love this kind of music. Thanks so much for putting real music on so we all can hear what it was like back then. This music is NOT DEAD, it's still alive; and people like "us", the listeners keep it alive!
Babedoll  7/9/2008

  • This "Private Number" was always a great song.  Too bad they did not have more hits.  I loved this song.  Harper  7/9/2008

  • Don and Juan were one of the great Doo-Wop singing Duo's out there.  Love 'em!  "All That's Missing Is You" is one of their rarest records!  Northern Soul! Brian Y.  7/2/2008

  • Larry; What would Friday's be without you and Friday is Always coming in Athens? Jimmy J      6/30/2008

  • Thank you for this site, I'm french and
  I have 40 years. I am a collector of
  vinyl and American music oldies, soul,
  funk.  Il are very few in my french
  cas.Je this site is fantastic because I
  found some artist American and that
  I discovered the other, bravo and
  keep this site.      5/20/2008

  • Hey! I haven't heard this song since I was visiting LLC in the summer of 1972. I was crazy about her... wow! Thanks for sharing this song with the public! MSH    5/19/2008

  • The words to this song (Expressway to Your Heart) are quite interesting. Larry keep the tunes coming.  
  TC jJ     5/19/2008

  • First timer for me.  I love your terrific format and exciting info.  I feel like I'm back in Athens.  ES   5/14/2008

  • IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS----THIS IS THE BEST!!!!    Unknown    5/9/2008

  • I love it. I am learning about all of these singers and I'm only
  16 years old.    Unknown     5/8/2008

  • Hey you,
  I LOVE that song by the Casinos
  this week.  I think it's
  one of the prettiest "pop" songs ever
  written and a great slow dance song.
  :) I keep getting a flash back of a
  girl/boy party in 6th or 7th grade.
  I remember slow dancing with
  someone - maybe Kevin.  I can
  almost see the room (someone's
  basement/ rumpus room) and I
  know the guy had on a sweater but I
  can't quite see the
  face.  I'll keep you posted.  Anyway -
  thanks for playing it for me.  
  Take care.    B.  -  4/25/2008

  • Larry - Thanks so much for Otis!
  Can you find "Then You Can Say
  Goodbye" by The Casino's?   Thanks!
  Betsy     4/18/2008

  • Thanks for sharing the one hit wonder.
  I'm surprised this only made it to #7
  as its played quite often as an oldie.
  Keep the sounds coming.
  JJ    4/13/2008

  • Lovin the tunes, Larry.See ya in June. Randy R.  3/21/2008

  • Mr. Larry; Thanks for all you do for us little people.
Sincerely JJ    3/7/2008

  • Thanks Larry!  Nothing like a Dirty Old Woman!  Betsy
3/3/2008

  • This is very cool.My kind of music. Thanks.  George S.
   2/29/2008

  • Larry,  Does anyone remember the days at Legion Field with POCO & Pure Prairie League and the music park behind the pool and all the good times concerts concerts?
Bill M.    2/29/2008

  • Mr. Green sure does have a smooth voice. I'm surprised he didn't do even better.  JJ     2/18/2008

  • Hey Larry - Ever heard of "Dirty Old Woman" by Denise La Salle?   You make my Fridays.  Betsy
2/15/2008

  • Enjoyed Joe Cocker. Thanks folks. - Jim  2/8/2008

  • This is a great song. Larry keep the tunes coming.
TC YF JJ  2/8/2008

  • A WONDERFUL site-  Thanks for keeping GOOD MUSIC- Alive. - Big Doc-Bdge, GA  2/8/2008

  • Greetings to all at FIA!
  I've been longing to hear "The Bus' by
  the late, great Billy Preston. Any
  chance you got that in your vaults?
  Here's to a soulful 2008!
  Carlos - Cleveland, OH  1/29/2008

  • Hey Larry, I just read about Miles and Jimi being friends. How about some Hendrix soon.
Love the website, Joy  1/18/2008

  • Great to get the Twelve Days of Christmas.
  Thanks, Pat M. 12/28/07

  • A great way to enjoy the history of music and the  beautiful sounds of the blues.  Robert B.  12/7/2007

  • Enjoyed your special on the Rolling Stones. I would like to see more on Blues Artist old and young. Keep it Groovin.  Robert B.  11/28/2007

  • Larry, Johnny Guitar Watson really brings back some wasted brain cells!  Wore out the grooves in that album the year it came out.  Thanks David L.  11/9/07

  • Watson is the man!!!   Your Bro. Young Robert!  11/9/07

  • OMG, This song (Humble Pie - Thirty Days In The Hole) so reminds me of you Larry and 1972! LOL  Andrie - 10/5/07

  • I love this website, I have to listen to this each and every day.  Thank you very much.  I will share this with all my
  co-workers and friends. Nate  9/30/07

  • Love this site! I call it "Continuing Music Education"! I know the songs, but I didn't know all the stories behind the people who performed them.   Andrie - 9/23/07

  • Can you dig up Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel by Tavares?  Thanks! D. - Cleveland OH   8/17/07

  • The site is wonderful Larry and the music is just awesome!!!  I love visiting It's Friday In Athens!!!!  Please keep this going forever!!!! - Dierdra L. - President/CEO, Getan Records, THE LIGHTHOUSE GOSPELETTES!!! Athens, GA  7/29/07

  • It's Friday? How about "Don't Roll Your Bloodshot Eyes at Me" for a little local flavor?  Mark B. 7/27/07

  • Consider the Manhattans on Friday’s!  Frank P.  7/27/07

  • Larry!!!! You MADE my day with "Build Me Up"! I'm on vacation in Santa Barbara and sent it to my co-workers with the threat that I can now play it anytime I want! Psych! Hello Don M in the bay area and to Betsy! Everyone raves about your site, Larry! It's awesome! Gratefully yours, Scotty  7/20/07

  • Hey Larry,  Before the summer's over we need something from the summer of love for its 40th anniversary. It's for us in the bay area.  Don M.  7/13/07

  • Hey Larry The music is just great.Would also like to hear'The Horse' by Cliff Nobles. Thanks.  Double Divine 7/6/07

  • Hey Larry,  Remember those instrumentals that played before the top of the hour on AM Radio?  How about "The Horse" by Cliff Nobles or "Soul Finger".
Thanks!  Betsy K.  6/30/07

  • Larry, If I ever need a D.J. Guess what,You The Man!!! Thanx: Corndog  6/22/07

  • Yes! it's Friday and I'm up here jammin' in Cleveland, OH. How about some Soul Generation - Body & Soul (That's the Way It's Got to Be) Ya'll remember that one?  Have a great weekend!  losplus 6/22/07

  • How about Earth, Wind and Fire?  Angie G.  6/6/07

  • Hooray for Friday!!   Mary A. 6/1/07

  • This group (The Four Tops) is great. Thanks VM Jimmy J. - 5/25/07

  • Thanks for a Friday of Dusty Springfield, The Look of Love. Erica from Red Lobster, thanks for the look. - F.L. 4/5/07

  • I love this site! Any chance I could hear "Coldest Days Of My Life" by the Chi-Lites?  -  4/4/07

  • I would love to hear "Unchained Melody" by the Righteous
Brothers or "Fats" Domino's
"Ain't That a Shame" or
"Blueberry Hill."  Thanks,
Patrick - 3/30/07

  • Hey Larry! You are amazing! I have my whole office dancing to these! Just great! Can you do a BeeGees for my boss and slip in Build Me Up Buttercup? I sing it anyway at work, may as well have the music to go along with it (the more to torture my co-workers with! Looking forward to all the Fridays-with-Larry! :) Scotty - 3/30/07

  • Oh, my goodness, you found "Black Pearl."  I nearly fainted this am, when I opened the site.  Thank you sooooo much.  Blessings  P.W. Smith - 3/30/07

  • Please add "Black Pearl" by The Checkmates...not sure what year, but thinking mid 60's.  Thanks sooooooo much.
P. Smith - 3/23/07

  • This is a great website.  My mom always listened to the "Oldies" station here, and I wanted to be just like my Mom, so I started listening to it and I loved it, and this website has some of my favorites.   M. Pierce - 3/22/07

  • Hey, I love the t-shirt.  I have had it on
  since I got home from Arizona.  You
  did a good job. That was a great
  song last Friday (Wang Dang Doodle)
  - didn't know it but who ever
  requested it is someone I
      would like to hang with. And then
  today we had
  The Zombies....that took me back to
  8th grade and one of my first boy/girl
  parties. They were always held in
  someone's basement and the lights
  would go off by 9:00.
  That song always seem to bring on
  lots of smooching.  I will
  not be naming names....  ;)
  Thanks again,
  Betsy

  • This is awesome!!! Thanks for the great site and fabulous music!! WooHoo!! Jen B. - 2/18/07

  • I could not have picked a better artist. Thanks, Pat M.

  • Thank you Larry - You have made my day! Betsy K.

  • Mr. Larry, I really enjoyed Roy Head-Hey Hey. YF
Jim J. - 2/5/07

  • This always gets my Friday off to a great start!  Love it!
  Debbie - 1/26/07

  • Every once in a while my mornings are worth rising for, this has been one of them with Tina Turner.
  Thanks Bill S. - 1/19/07

  • Keep up the good work. JJ - 1/19/07

  • Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year 2007!  I remember at this time in 1969 we were really gettng into Abbey Road!  But oh, how I love the sweet soul music of the 60's and 70's as well.  Thanks for your work in keeping this music alive.  And keep on sending it, Brother!    Dennis M. - 12/29/06

  • Moonchild Diva in Motown - found the site by looking for Billy Stewart!  I think you answered my question...who played bass on Billy's recordings?  SO THANK YOU for clearing up the mystery! - 12/11/06

  • Billy Stewart , alright, one of my favorites.   Also, Jerry Butler, Major Lance, Willy Tee....
Your friend, Dirk H.

  • Thanks for Billy Stewart Larry - You have made
my day!  Betsy K. - 12/8/07

  • I look forward to Friday's email.  This is great.
Linda L. - 12/8/07

  • Wow! From your personal E-Mail account. I forward "Its Friday in Athens!!!" on to my friends often. The folks here at work are trying to figure me out. Their 56 year old C.E.O. sits in his office every Friday morning booming out R&B. Though it works for me, its not the type of behavior they  expect from someone in my position. BLUES BANKER!
  T. Turgeon -

  • Thanks for Joe T. Luv'd it! Roy Head and the Traits?
Hope you had a good Turkey Day.
  T. Turgeon - 11/27/07

  • I keep waiting for Jackie Wilson and Billy Stewart....I have
  decided that like me, you have an
  older brother or sister who had you
  listening to this music as a kid.
    Hope all is well your way.
    Betsy K. - 11/25/06

  • How about a little Joe Tex?  T. Turgeon

  • Thanks, "I LOVE IT! Makes my day! M.N. - 9/29/06

  • WOW WOW WOW AN OUTSTANDING REVIEW OF THE real STYLE OF MUSIC - Atlanta Cooking - 9/23/06

  • In my time, this is the most fascinating music I have ever heard.  **86 - 8/17/06

  • Keep up the great and extremely important work. We met I believe at Michael Guthrie's house a few weeks ago at the HVARII Reunion. I am a great lover of our R&B and it's great to see someone who truly cares about it. Ole!
T. Turgeon - 8/2/06

  • Again, the "It's Friday" series is great - I love it every week and have sent it on to so many folks -
      thanks again.  Betsy K.

  • Aretha is my personal favorite so far!  Peggy M.

  • LOVE THIS...I NEED SOMETHNG TO GET ME THROUGH THE DAY !!!!  C. Lady - 6/3/07

  • Great! Perfect! Dance Music I Love It!!!  Laine L.

  • I think you missed your calling as a DJ!   Nicki S.

  • Keep 'em coming!!   I really enjoy listening to "my kind of music". Thank you.  Mary M.

  • I like getting your email every Friday, keep it coming!
       Carlas A.

  • DON'T FORGET THE 'QUEEN OF SOUL'........ ARETHA!!!!! YOUR MAKING MY FRIDAYS.    RONK

  • MY FRIENDS REALLY LIKE FRIDAY IN ATHENS! ONE IS SENDING EVERYONE AT THE COURTHOUSE AN  EMAIL.   Ron H.

  • THANKS SO MUCH EACH WEEK!  Nancy W.

  • This makes me smile!  Ray C.

  • Great job, keep up the good work.  Terry T.

  • I SAVE UNTIL FRI AFTERNOON, BY 5:00 P.M. I'M REVVVVED!!!   RONK - 5/19/06

  • Thanks for this humanitarian service to get us crunk for district wide planning.  Wilson Pickett reminds us to put a “spotlight on Otis Redding y’all”.  Yeah,yeah, oh yeah. Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-Faaa!  Karl S.

  • Thanks. What a pleasant surprise to get to work and open this e-mail- glad I started with yours first.  Melanie B.

  • Thanks for the Friday emails Larry!!  I really enjoy them.
Kim S.

  • Thanks for the sound of good music. I really do love my oldies but goodies. E. Luke - 5/19/06

  • Thanks!!!  This is great! Jane B.

  • Great site!  How about some Sam Cooke??? - 5/19/06

  • Thanks for the music!  Steve P.

  • I love this! Thanks.   Dianne M.

  • I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your Friday emails.  Thanks for including me!  Betsy K.

  • I appreciate the link – good stuff!
Jon W.

  • I LIKE IT!!!!!!  Thanks and HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!  Barbara S.

  • THIS IS GREAT!!!!!!  Susan R.

  • So in your spare time you try to cheer up everyone?   Thanks, Lori R.

  • I love these songs. Thanks. Terri S.

  • Awesome……Thanks for doing this, we all look forward to it every week.  I’ve sent it to everyone I know!
Debi D.

  • I needed this today! Thanks. Susan S.
Good selection for this fabulous
Friday!!!!!

  • Thanks for the Music this morning. I think I could listen to this all day, if people didn't think I was crazy for MOVING in my chair. Have a great weekend.  Joyce G.

  • This is awesome!   Thanks,  Debi D.
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About The Artist
 
Olivia Newton-John AO, OBE (born 26 September 1948) is an English-born, Australian-raised singer and actress. She is a four-time Grammy award winner who has amassed five No. 1 and ten other Top Ten Billboard Hot 100 singles and two No. 1 Billboard 200 solo albums. Eleven of her singles (including two platinum) and 14 of her albums (including two platinum and four double platinum) have been certified gold by the RIAA. Her music has been successful in multiple formats including pop, country and adult contemporary. She co-starred with John Travolta in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical Grease which became one of the most successful films and movie soundtracks in Hollywood history.

Newton-John has been a long-time activist for environmental and animal rights issues. Since surviving breast cancer in 1992, she has been an advocate for health awareness becoming involved with various charities, health products and fundraising efforts. Her business interests have included launching several product lines for Koala Blue and co-owning the Gaia Retreat & Spa in Australia.

Newton-John has married twice and currently lives with her second husband, John Easterling, in Jupiter Inlet Colony, Florida. She is the mother of one daughter, Chloe Lattanzi, with her first husband, actor Matt Lattanzi.

Olivia Newton-John was born in Cambridge, England, to a Welsh father, Brinley ("Bryn") Newton-John, and a German mother, Irene Born (the eldest child of the Nobel prize-winning atomic physicist Max Born). Newton-John is the youngest of three children, following brother Hugh, a doctor, and sister Rona, an actress once married to Grease co-star Jeff Conaway. Newton-John's father was an MI5 officer on the Enigma project at Bletchley Park and was the officer who took Rudolph Hess into custody during World War II. Newton-John's family emigrated to Melbourne, Australia in 1954 where her father worked as a Professor of German and Master of Ormond College at the University of Melbourne.

At 14, Newton-John formed a short-lived all-girl band, Sol Four, with three classmates often performing in a coffee shop owned by her brother-in-law. She soon became a regular on local Australian radio and television shows including HSV-7's The Happy Show where she performed as Lovely Livvy. She also appeared on the Go Show where she met future duet partner, Pat Carroll, and future record producer, John Farrar. (Carroll and Farrar eventually married.) She entered and won a talent contest on the television program, Sing, Sing, Sing, hosted by 1960's Australian icon Johnny O'Keefe performing the songs "Anyone Who Had A Heart" and "Everything's Coming Up Roses". Newton-John was initially reluctant to use her prize, a trip to England, but travelled there nearly a year later encouraged by her mother to broaden her horizons.

Newton-John recorded her first single, Till You Say You'll Be Mine b/w Forever, in England for Decca Records in 1966. Newton-John was homesick in England for her then-boyfriend, Ian Turpie, with whom she co-starred in an Australian telefilm, Funny Things Happen Down Under. Her mother cancelled trips back to Australia that Newton-John would repeatedly book. Newton-John's outlook changed when Pat Carroll also moved to England. The two formed a duo called "Pat and Olivia" and toured nightclubs in Europe. (In one incident, they were booked at Paul Raymond's Revue in Soho, London. Dressed primly in frilly, high-collared dresses, they were unaware that this was a strip club until they began to perform onstage.)  After Carroll's visa expired forcing her to return to Australia, Newton-John remained in England to pursue solo work until 1975. She became engaged to, but never married, guitarist Bruce Welch who was a member of The Shadows along with John Farrar.

Newton-John was recruited for the group Toomorrow – the brainchild of American producer Don Kirshner who also created the Monkees. In 1970, the group recorded an eponymous album and starred in a "science fiction musical" film also named after the group. The project bombed and the group quickly disbanded.

Newton-John released her first solo album, If Not For You (No. 158 Pop), in 1971. The title track, written by Bob Dylan and previously recorded by Beatle George Harrison for his 1970 album, All Things Must Pass, was her first international hit (No. 25 Pop, No. 1 AC). Her follow-up single, "Banks of the Ohio", was a Top 10 hit in England and Australia. She was voted Best British Female Vocalist two years in a row by the magazine Record Mirror. She made frequent appearances on Cliff Richard's weekly show It's Cliff Richard[ and starred with him in the telefilm The Case. In 1974, Newton-John represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song, "Long Live Love", which was chosen for her by the British public. Newton-John placed fourth at the contest held in Brighton behind ABBA's winning "Waterloo". (Newton-John eventually admitted that she disliked the song.) All six song candidates for the contest were recorded by Newton-John and included on her Long Live Love album, her first for the EMI Records label.

In the United States, Newton-John's career floundered after If Not For You. Subsequent singles including "Banks of the Ohio" (No. 94 Pop, No. 34 AC) and remakes of George Harrison's "What Is Life" (No. 34 AC) and John Denver's "'Take Me Home Country Roads" (No. 119 Pop) made minimal chart impact until the release of "Let Me Be There" in 1973. The song reached the American Top 10 on the Pop (No. 6), Country (No. 7), and AC (No. 3) charts and earned her a Grammy for Best Country Female and an Academy of Country Music award for Most Promising Female Vocalist. The song also propelled the album Let Me Be There to No. 1 on the Country Albums chart for two weeks as well as No. 54 Pop.

The Long Live Love album was released in the United States as If You Love Me, Let Me Know with the six Eurovision songs dropped for four different, more country-oriented tracks meant to capitalize on the success of "Let Me Be There". The title track was the first single, reaching No. 5 Pop, No. 2 Country (her best country placement ever), and No. 2 AC. The next single, "I Honestly Love You", became Newton-John's signature song. Written by Jeff Barry and Peter Allen, the ballad became her first No. 1 Pop (two weeks), second No. 1 AC (three weeks) and third Top 10 Country (No. 6) hit and earned Newton-John two more Grammys for Record of the Year and Best Pop Female. The success of both singles helped the album reach No. 1 on both the Pop (one week) and Country (eight weeks) Albums charts.

Newton-John's country success led to debate among purists who believed a foreigner singing country-flavored pop music did not belong in country music. In addition to her Grammy for "Let Me Be There," Newton-John was also named the Country Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year in 1974, defeating nominees Loretta Lynn, Canadian Anne Murray, Dolly Parton, and Tanya Tucker  - all established country music artists. This outrage led to the formation of the short-lived Association of Country Entertainers (ACE). Newton-John was eventually supported by the country music community. Stella Parton, Dolly's sister, recorded "Ode To Olivia" and Newton-John recorded her 1976 album, Don't Stop Believin', in Nashville.

Encouraged by expatriate Australian singer Helen Reddy, Newton-John left England and moved to the United States. Newton-John topped the Pop (one week) and Country (six weeks) Albums charts with her next album, Have You Never Been Mellow. The album generated two singles – the title track (No. 1 Pop, No. 3 Country, No. 1 AC) and "Please Mr. Please" (No. 3 Pop, No. 5 Country, No. 1 AC). Newton-John's pop career cooled with the release of her next album, Clearly Love. Her streak of five consecutive gold Top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 ended when the album's first single, "Something Better To Do", stopped at No. 13 (also No. 19 Country and No. 1 AC). Although her albums still achieved gold status, she did not return to the Top 10 on the Hot 100 or Billboard 200 charts again until 1978.


Magic

Come take my hand
You should know me
I`ve always been in your mind
You know that I will be kind
I`ll be guiding you

Building your dream
Has to start now
There`s no other road to take
You won`t make a mistake
I`ll be guiding you

(CHORUS)
You have to believe we are magic
Nothing can stand in our way
You have to believe we are magic
Don`t let your aim ever stray
And if all your hopes survive
Destiny will arrive
I`ll bring all your dreams
Alive for you
I`ll bring all your dreams
Alive for you

From where I stand
You are home free
The planets align so rare
There`s promise in the air
And I`m guiding you

Through every turn
I`ll be near you
I`ll come anytime you call
I`ll catch you when you fall
I`ll be guiding you

(CHORUS)

Have to believe we are magic
Nothing can stand in our way
Have to believe we are magic
Don`t let your aim ever stray
And if all your hopes survive
Destiny will arrive
I`ll bring all your dreams
Alive for you
I`ll bring all your dreams
Alive for you


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Email Address
Magic
1980
Olivia Newton-John
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