| Come On Over | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Olivia Newton-John |
| Cover: | Come On Over (Olivia Newton-John album) coveart.jpg |
| Released: | March 1976 |
| Recorded: | October–November 1975 |
| Studio: | Abbey Road Studios, London |
| Length: | 41:10 |
| Label: | MCA |
| Producer: | John Farrar |
| Prev Title: | Clearly Love |
| Prev Year: | 1975 |
| Next Title: | Don't Stop Believin' |
| Next Year: | 1976 |
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.
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.[1]
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.
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").
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."[2]
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."[3]
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."[4]
| Chart (1976) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[5] | 30 | |
| Japanese Albums (Oricon)[6] | 2 | |
| US Cash Box Top Albums[7] | 15 | |
| US Cash Box Country Albums[8] | 1 |
| Chart (1976) | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese Albums (Oricon)[9] | 9 | |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[10] | 40 | |
| US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[11] | 30 | |
| Chart (1977) | Position | |
| Japanese Albums (Oricon)[12] | 12 |