Primary Wave Music
Release Date: October 6th 2023
Reviewed by: Joshua Andre
Olivia Newton-John– Just The Two Of Us: The Duets Collection (Vol. 2) (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Track Listing:
- Dare To Dream (feat. John Farnham)
- Everybody’s Someone (feat. Cliff Richard)
- Rest Your Love On Me (feat. Andy Gibb)
- Wishin’ And Hopin’ (feat. Dionne Warwick)
- Getting Better All The Time (feat. Marie Osmond)
- Falling (feat. Marty Raybon)
- Cotton Jenny (feat. Anne Murray)
- I’m Counting On You (feat. Johnny O’Keefe)
- Tenterfield Saddler (feat. Peter Allen)
- I Will Be Right Here (feat. David Campbell)
- You Have to Believe (feat. Dave Aude & Chloe Lattanzi)
Olivia Newton-John passed away in August 2022 from breast cancer. An Australian icon and legend that was much loved and respected around the world by her fans and peers and even the casual fan like myself; you’d be hard pressed to find someone who didn’t like Olivia as a singer, as a song-writer and as a person. I will be blogging about Olivia this year or next year (but most likely in the back half of 2024!) when I speak about her influence over all of music across all time; but even now as I write this ‘review’, it’s somewhat difficult for me. Not because I’m an avid fan and I’m bawling my eyes out every time I think about Olivia and her music. No, not by any means. But perhaps it’s because Olivia’s death reminds us about mortality and the impending issue that we all have to face. Death, the end, and what’s next. No, this won’t be a philosophical or religious or spiritual blog piece. But I do want to say that one day, all of our favourite musicians and actors and heroes and role models…well, they’ll all pass away. It’ll be a sad, sad, day when people like John Farnham, Clint Eastwood, Harrison Ford, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Cliff Richard, Robert DeNiro, Elton John, Marcia Hines, Mick Jagger, David Attenborough, Michael Parkinson, William Shatner, Michael Douglas, Paul McCartney, Dolly Parton and Stevie Wonder all pass away. People will mourn, and the world won’t ever be the same again. It’s the same with Olivia Newton-John; I think the world was just in shock, probably the most shock since Robin Williams in 2014. And so, this second instalment in this duets compilation album (I reviewed the first instalment here!)- this duets album and this compilation album… well, it’s a celebration of life and of a well-lived career. But the album feels hollow and empty. Even though it’s technically and objectively brilliant- there’s still a bittersweet feeling that comes along with listening to Just The Two Of Us: The Duets Collection (Vol. 2), just like when listening to Just The Two Of Us: The Duets Collection (Vol. 1).
But make no mistake, this album is a near-flawless masterpiece. Even if you aren’t a fan of Olivia; you’d be blind Freddy not to notice the time and painstaking effort and sheer determination and willpower to get this project out to the masses. There are guest vocals aplenty here, such as John Farnham, Cliff Richard, Marie Osmond, Anen Murray, David Campbell, Johnny O’Keefe, Dionne Warwick, Andy Gibb- even Olivia’s daughter Chloe Lattanzi like in the previous album. And though some of these songs were recorded way back in the day and some were newly recorded last year; the fact that all of these artists and people loved Olivia and were in one sense honouring her and thanking her for her gift of music through these songs… well, it makes for one emotional and tear-jerking album- probably one of the most personal and honest we’ll hear this year and maybe ever, alongside Just The Two Of Us: The Duets Collection (Vol. 1). It’s a weird feeling, listening to Olivia’s songs, knowing that she’s not around anymore and that she’s not alive, and that she’ll never be alive in this world forevermore. It’s a weird feeling that I can’t put my finger on (a different feeling to listening to past icons like Queen, The Beatles, Michael Jackson etc); and Olivia’s music reminds us that sometimes a trailblazer in music comes along to smash away all preconceptions and to break records. Olivia was that person, and no doubt, there will be more to come.
To tell you the honest truth, like with the previous compilation album from Olivia, I have probably only listened to Just The Two Of Us: The Duets Collection (Vol. 2) only once straight through. Am I in a position to actually ‘review’ this album? Probably not. But the fact still remains. Olivia Newton-John is an Australian legend, and her body of work speaks for itself. And I guarantee it, one listen to these songs and a deep dive into her discography, and you’ll agree too. I’m presuming and probably concluding that this will be the last album from Olivia (although more could posthumously arrive, but I highly doubt it!); and once we immerse ourselves heavily in the powerful and emotional and honest music that Olivia has recorded- let’s listen to it again. Greatness is greatness is greatness. And Olivia’s music is testament to this fact. How about you all, everyone? Did listening to this release bring a tear to your eye? Who are your favourite heroes that you are dreading the day of when they pass away?
4 songs to listen to: Rest Your Love On Me, Wishin’ And Hopin’, I’m Counting On You, You Have to Believe
Score: 5/5
RIYL: John Farnham, Tina Arena, Guy Sebastian, Delta Goodrem, Marcia Hines, Richad Marx, Kylie Minogue, Mariah Carey, Jimmy Barnes, Vanessa Amorosi