Olivia's Greatest Hits Vol. 2 Explained

Olivia's Greatest Hits Vol. 2
Type:compilation
Artist:Olivia Newton-John
Cover:Olivia greatest hits vol2.jpg
Released:3 September 1982
Genre:Pop
Length:35:54
Label:
Producer:
Prev Title:Physical
Prev Year:1981
Next Title:Two of a Kind
Next Year:1983

Olivia's Greatest Hits Vol. 2 (titled Olivia's Greatest Hits Vol. 3 in Australasia) is a greatest hits album by Olivia Newton-John released on 3 September 1982 in North America, Australasia, Scandinavia, South Africa and certain Asian and Latin American territories. It was her second greatest hits album released in North America and her third in other territories (following First Impressions and Olivia Newton-John's Greatest Hits).

The album compiled most singles released by Newton-John since the release of her 1977 Olivia Newton-John's Greatest Hits album from her following albums and soundtracks. The album included two new recordings; "Heart Attack" and "Tied Up", both of which were actually recorded during the sessions for the Physical album.

An album with similar cover art titled Olivia's Greatest Hits was released simultaneously in Europe (excluding Scandinavia) and certain Asian and Latin American territories. This compilation fully spanned Newton-John's career up to that point, starting with singles from If Not for You.

The album was certified multi-platinum in both the United States and Canada.

Production and release

Olivia's Greatest Hits Vol. 2 / Vol. 3 includes songs released by the singer between 1978 and 1982. The North American edition contains ten tracks while other editions contain fourteen tracks. The two new songs ("Heart Attack" and "Tied Up") were released as singles to promote the album and reached numbers 3 and 38 on the US pop charts,[1] respectively. "Heart Attack" was certified gold in Canada, and spent four weeks at Number One in France. "Tied Up" became a surprise chart-topper in Cyprus.

Olivia's Greatest Hits (also released as 20 Grootste Hits in the Netherlands and 20 Grandes Exitos in Argentina) includes songs released by Newton-John between 1971 and 1982. "Heart Attack" and "Tied Up" were also included on this collection.

The album only climbed to No. 16 on the Billboard 200,[1] but spent over 80 weeks on the chart and ultimately ranked as the No. 10 album of 1983. This was the longest-charting album of Newton-John's career and her first non-soundtrack album to rank in the year-end Top 10. Olivia's Greatest Hits also peaked at number 8 with a 38-week chart run in the UK and became her only platinum certified non-soundtrack album there. 150,000 copies were shipped in Canada initially.[2]

The album was certified double platinum by the RIAA in the US.[3]

Reception

The album was well received by music critics. JT Griffith from AllMusic website gave the album four out of five stars and wrote that the album "remains the best choice for casual fans who only want the roller-rink hits".

In their review, Billboard noted that "Newton-John's second hits collection reaffirms that she and John Farrar consistently make some of the best singles in the business, from silky ballads like "Magic" to frenetic workouts like "You're The One That I Want." Half of the songs here are from Newton-John's two feature films, "Grease" and "Xanadu." Also included are two new songs, the current single "Heart Attack" and a sinuous midtempo piece called "Tied Up" which Farrar cowrote with Lee Ritenour. Our only gripe is that this should have been a 12-cut LP and included the major hits "Summer Nights" and "Deeper Than The Night." [4]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1982–1983)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)1
Japanese Albums (Oricon)12
US Billboard 200[5] 16
US Cash Box Top Albums[6] 6

Year-end charts

Chart (1982)! scope="col"
Position
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[7] 41
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[8] 43
Chart (1983)! scope="col"
Position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)13
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[9] 66
US Billboard 200[10] 10
2023 weekly chart performance for Olivia Newton-John's Greatest Hits Vol. 2 (Deluxe Edition)!Chart (2023)!Peak
position
UK Album Sales Chart(OCC)[11] 61

References

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Olivia Newton-John: Awards. AllMusic. RhythmOne. dead. 24 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150224090753/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/olivia-newton-john-mn0000473554/awards.
  2. https://books.google.com/books?id=mSQEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Olivia%27s+Greatest+Hits+Vol.+2+copies&pg=PT53 Billboard (25 September 1982) MCA pushes gift-giving via Newton-John sicker
  3. Web site: 25 October 2020. RIAA – Searchable Database: Olivia Newton-John. .
  4. Top Album Picks. Billboard. 25 September 1982 . 59 . August 11, 2024.
  5. https://books.google.com/books?id=WiQEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Olivia%27s+Greatest+Hits+Vol.+2+billboard+16&pg=PT59 Billboard Top LPs and Tapes 4 December 1982.
  6. Web site: Cash Box Top 100 Albums. Cash Box. 28. 14 August 2022.
  7. Top 100 Albums 82. RPM. 25 December 1982. 37. 19. 19. 0315-5994.
  8. Web site: Top Selling Albums of 1982 - The Official New Zealand Music Chart. en. Recorded Music NZ. 12 April 2022.
  9. The Top Albums of 1983. RPM. 24 December 1983. 39. 17. 0315-5994.
  10. Billboard 200 Albums - Year-End. Billboard. 12 April 2022. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20210413223955/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1983/top-billboard-200-albums. 13 April 2021.
  11. Web site: Official Album Sales Chart Top 100. Official Charts Company. 13 January 2023 . 11 August 2024.