Juliana Hatfield

The last few days of April. Rain still coming and going in LA. “April showers” is a thing, but rain in Southern California, not so much. I’m getting accustomed to it though and will miss it when the rain is gone. Today is a day of change. New office in a new part of Los Angeles. We are in a space with more space, with exposed ceilings, and giant windows everywhere. I can stand up and see the ocean. This gifts me a sense of peace. An unexpected blessing. I should have known it would, to be honest. The sea and me, we go way back. The ocean has always been something magical to me, calming and hopeful, and full of peace and possibility.

Today’s Top 5 Music Obsessions are songs that have been bubbling up over the last few days. Songs I keep hitting repeat on. Songs that make me feel good, which is important right now. I’ve struggled a lot lately, more than I have since I was so much younger. I didn’t expect to ever be reacquainted with my twenties-anxiety, but it came back to me over the last year. I’m always one to find the good in things, but it’s been quite a struggle to find the good in all this anxiety. Today, as I was driving one thing, did occur to me…all this anxiety inspired my investigations into mindfulness, into meditation, healthy eating, walking, and breathing. Writing and music have always been tools, but these others are new to me – and they are helping my anxiety, along with some other internal, and external things.

It’s slow going. Any change is. But it’s been a gift to my life. So, I suppose, that is the good in the anxiety. It has led me to live more healthily, with more vulnerability and mindfulness. It is helping me be more awake, and alive.

The first track in today’s Top 5 is from Minnie Riperton. It’s a tune that recalls my childhood, reminding me of riding in my family’s light blue station wagon or lying on the floor in our living room listening to the music coming out of the bigger-than-me-at-the-time speakers. Next up is the perfect end-of-April song by the incredible Patti Smith. I feel like I’m always uncovering music of hers, and I’m grateful for that. Jennie Lawless is a new discovery singer that I recently added to a walking mix of mine. I can’t seem to get enough of this track of hers. Today’s 4th song is another one of Juliana Hatfield’s Olivia Newton-John covers. I really don’t think I’ll ever tire of hearing ONJ’s songs, by her, or by Juliana. Bedouine is this week’s newest discovery – discovered today on my way into work. It reminds me of 60’s music my mom used to play back in that car, and living room, I mentioned before.

Let’s have a listen to all 5. You can stream on Spotify and YouTube – or just press play below.

Top 5 Music Obsessions – April 29, 2019

1. “Les Fleurs” by Minnie Riperton
from the album, Come To My Garden (1970)

“Ring all the bells,
sing and tell the people that be everywhere,
that the flower has come.
Light up the sky with your prayers of gladness,
and rejoice,
for the darkness is gone.
Throw off your fears,
let your heart beat freely at the sign,
that a new time is born.”

This song seems perfect for a day of change, like today for me. It has a feeling of joy and hope to it. That said, after its recent use in the closing credits of Jordan Peele’s film, Us, there is something foreboding about it, as well. And relevant to the movie’s story (“…for the darkness is gone.”)

I first knew of Minnie’s music through her 70’s hit “Lovin’ You”, a track my late husband used to love for reasons he never truly explained (but that I credited to his own childhood). I also remember hearing “Les Fleurs”, and the album Come To My Garden growing up. I’m pretty certain it was among my mom’s large record collection.

Minnie is the mother of Maya Rudolph, a favorite actor/writer/comedian of mine. She died tragically from breast cancer, in 1979. At diagnosis, which was unfortunately late, her prognosis was dire. Nonetheless, Minnie continued touring and spoke out with the American Cancer Society.

2. “April Fool” by Patti Smith
from the album, Banga (2012)

“Come,
be my April Fool.
Come,
you’re the only one.
Come on your rusted bike.
Come,
we’ll break all the rules.”

“April Fool” reminds me of my young adulthood. Being in my very late teens and early twenties. My first car. The freedom that came with it. The hope I tied to everything and everyone I met, even though my life should have shadowed me with jadedness and doubt.

It also reminds me of my younger life. My first bike. The freedom that came with that, too. Riding around the neighborhood. My clip on radio playing. Feeling the Summer breeze whip my hair back. Feeling like I could be anyone I wanted to. Feeling like I could be anyone but me.

3. “I Want To Believe” by Jennie Lawless
from the EP, Two Songs (2018)

“I shut out the part of my doubtful heart.
Shudder at the thought of it spreading out.
Impressionable me cannot let it spread –
I wanna keep my head.”

I stumbled on this song when I was putting together a walking playlist for myself, and it stuck out to me, feeling very relevant to how I am lately. Seeking my optimistic self that has been dimming lately. Resurrecting her. Breathing new life in my hopeful side.

“I Want To Believe”. I want to keep believing. I want to get back into seeing this world as a beautiful thing, and my life as something so very good. I’m tired of feeling so doubtful and negative. I need the light that’s always been so vital to me and my life.

4. “Have You Never Been Mellow” by Juliana Hatfield
from the album, Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John (2018)

“Have you never been mellow?
Have you never tried to find a comfort from inside you?”

I’ve written a lot about Olivia Newton-John’s music, and what it meant to me as a young girl. She was one of my favorite things, and her songs are part of the DNA of me. I was beyond excited (understatement) when Juliana Hatfield (one of my favorites from my twenties) released a cover album of Olivia’s songs.

No matter how many times I play the album, I never get tired of the songs. Never. I just love them more. This morning, “Have You Never Been Mellow” came on and it felt so perfect for how I’m feeling today, and lately. My need for mellowness, for mindfulness, for calm, and for happy. I feel like I’m surrounded by so much negativity, in all aspects of my life, and its been very hard on me.

But, I’m taking back happy. It is a choice, even when the choice is hard and feels insurmountable. Maybe we can’t be happy all the time. I know we can’t. But, I do believe we can choose to see the good in things, repeat to ourselves what we are grateful for (or write them out), and realize that in so many ways we are lucky to be here, to be alive, to love, and be loved.

Optimism, mellowness, and love do not fix everything. Money seems to beat out all of those things, even love, as does worries about money. But, somewhere in each day, we should appreciate love. I try to appreciate it. Love. As well as music, movies, books, the weather and blue sky, and all the random things that make up a day. I try to appreciate that I’m still breathing, too. Life is short and fleeting. Shorter than any of us think. We don’t get today back. We don’t get any of these moments back. Not ever.

5. “Come Down In Time” by Bedouine
from the single, “Come Down In Time” (2018)

“Come down in time I still hear her say,
so clear in my ear like it was today.
Come down in time was the message she gave.
Come down in time,
and I’ll meet you half way.”

What a gorgeous Elton John cover.

I came across this today via the Discover Weekly Playlist from Spotify. Bedouine’s cover of “Come Down In Time” was an insta-obsession. I kept hitting play, over and over again.

Bedouine is the name of Azniv Korkejian’s musical project. It is a take on the word Bedouin, meaning a nomad, or wanderer. Azniv is a bit of a Bedouin herself. She was born in Aleppo, Syria, grew up in Saudi Arabia, and then moved to the US when her family won a Green Card Lottery. Since then she’s lived in Boston, Houston, and now LA.

If you could go wandering today, where would you go?

Top 5 Music Obsessions – Week of April 29, 2019

 

“Choose Drugs” is the 3rd Track off of Juliana Hatfield’s 4th solo album, Beautiful Creature. An often underrated album, Beautiful Creature is one of my favorites. It has so many fantastic songs, like this one, that has stuck and stayed with me ever since I first listened.

“Choose Drugs” by Juliana Hatfield
from the album, Beautiful Creature (2000)
Song of the Day

“I say it’s me or drugs,
you choose drugs.”

This song is sometimes very hard to listen to, yet it is one of my favorite tracks by Juliana Hatfield. It brings up old hurts of a past relationship that shattered, and the enormous loss that came with it.

The battle was brutal, cruel, and I suppose futile, but I fought it for years. I would scream, cry, beg, plead and sometimes just smile and pretend it was all okay, pretending, as well, that he would choose me, and us, instead. It hurt more than I have words to say that he never did.

It also brings up the reality that with few exceptions my relationships have been shadowed by the presence of drugs in my partners. It somehow always gets in the way, hurts what we have, and eventually becomes something I have to be responsible for. Whether it’s dealing with the consequences and downfalls or being the one who has to say enough, or please stop.

I wonder what it is about me that continues this trend. Is it a co-dependency in my personality? An enabling nature in me? Is it a pattern created by what is familiar? Or is it embedded in my DNA, a legacy of depression, anxiety, and addiction coursing through my veins, helping to navigate where I land?

Is there a way to stop the pattern? Is it something I need to fix in me? If so, what is it exactly? Maybe I just need to focus on myself, what I do and don’t do, and keep striving for being happy in the present, mindful, grateful, hopeful, and focusing on love.

“Choose Drugs” (live) by Juliana Hatfield

Female Friday is back with a brand new playlist to spin through the last gasps of Summertime. Spanning the sonic landscape of genre, style, and sound, this playlist is full of some of my very best favorite women in music.

Love, loss, and the last of the late Summer nights
A Female Friday Playlist

Listen on Spotify and YouTube

“Cloudbusting” by Kate Bush
“Putting the Damage On” by Tori Amos
“Laura” by Bat For Lashes
“Song To the Siren” by This Mortal Coil
“We are Fine” by Sharon Van Etten
“Metal Heart” by Cat Power
“Elegie” by Patti Smith
“Blue” by Joni Mitchell
“My Skin” by Natalie Merchant
“I Know” by Fiona Apple
“Halah” by Mazzy Star
“Night Vision” by Suzanne Vega
“Even Though Our Love Is Doomed” by Garbage
“Ocean” by Goldfrapp
“All Apologies” by Sinéad O’Connor
“Horses In My Dreams” by Polly Jean Harvey
“Come To Me” by Björk
“Love Is a Stranger” by Eurythmics
“I Drove All Night” by Cyndi Lauper
“The Killing Jar” by Siouxsie and the Banshees
“Joanne (Where Do You  Think You’re Going)” (Piano Version) by Lady Gaga
“Elastic Heart” (Piano Version) by Sia
“Crystal” by Stevie Nicks
“Hymn to Her” by Pretenders
“A Little More Love” by Juliana Hatfield
“Acrobat” by Tanya Donelly
“All I Could Do Was Cry” by Etta James
“Drown In My Own Tears” by Aretha Franklin
“Sail” by Macy Gray
“LA Song” (Live Acoustic) by Beth Hart

Love, loss and the last of the late Summer nights

Hello Monday, how you doing? I’m calling on some of my favorite women in music to get me through today. This Monday’s Top 5 Music Obsessions are best played loudly and on repeat. They are really doing it for me today. I may continue past these 5 and listen to each of the albums they come from today. On repeat.

Top 5 Music Obsessions – June 11, 2018

Listen on Spotify and YouTube – follow and listen along for the entire week

1. “Daniel” by Juliana Hatfield
from the album, Beautiful Creature (2000)

“He looks alright outside,
but he feels so bad inside.”

I started listening to Juliana’s album Beautiful Creature on repeat on Sunday morning while drinking a cup of coffee with cream and doing some writing. I forgot how much I love this album. I’m a fan of opening tracks, and tracks with people’s names in them – “Daniel” has both. Juliana’s vocals and guitar work here is stellar, as are the lyrics. I’m really feeling the lyrics today. So much of how we feel does not show on our outsides so much of the time.

2. “No Aloha” by The Breeders
from the album, Last Splash (1993)

“No bye,
no aloha.
Gone with a rock promoter.”

I’m always changing my pick for my favorite song on the Last Splash album. Most often its a tie between “Drivin’ on 9” and “Do You Love Me Now?”, but lately, it has been “No Aloha”. Love it.

3. “Jennifer’s Body” by Hole
from the album, Live Through This (1994)

“It’s bettering you,
it’s bettering me.
My better half has bitten me.”

Hole’s been a post-breakup go-to for me lately. “Jennifer’s Body” is a track I was blasting loudly on my commute to work today.

4. “White Chocolate Space Egg” by Liz Phair
from the album, Whitechocolatespaceegg (1998)

“Orange and blue, green and pink,
I see you in everything.”

“White Chocolate Space Egg”, the title track off of what just might be my favorite Liz album.

5. “Silverfish” by Belly
from the album, King (1995)

“Will I be the stranger in your movie?
Is there a place for me in the patterns,
that glow on your skin and your clothes?”

“Silverfish” is such a beautiful song. Its so bittersweet to me right now, but I love it.

Top 5 Music Obsessions – Week of June 11, 2018

Thank you for the music, Juliana Hatfield, The Breeders, Hole, Liz Phair, and Belly. I really need all these Top 5 Music Obsessions songs today.

It’s time to walk on and get over you
A Monday Playlist

Listen on Spotify and YouTube

“To Wish Impossible Things” by The Cure
“Running Away” by Richard Ashcroft
“Nothing Lasts Forever” by Echo And The Bunnymen
“How Can You Be Sure?” by Radiohead
“The Songs That We Sing” by Charlotte Gainsbourg
“Aspects” by Paul Weller
“Sweet” by Cigarettes After Sex
“Damaged” by Primal Scream
“Let’s Stay Together” by Low
“Sugar For the Pill” by Slowdive
“Love” by Lana Del Rey
“Stuck On the Puzzle” by Alex Turner
“I Need My Girl” by The National
“Movies” by Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson
“Moonage Daydream” by David Bowie
“Tender” by Ruby Force
“Out of Time” by Blur
“Suspended In Time” by Juliana Hatfield
“Left and Leaving” by The Weakerthans
“Get Better” by Frank Turner
“Fire” by Anna Calvi
“I Want To Go To the Beach” by Iggy Pop
“All We Ever Wanted Was Everything” by MGMT
“Unreflected” by Mazzy Star
“I Don’t Believe In the Sun” by The Magnetic Fields
“Getting Away With It (All Messed Up)” by James
“Lola + Joseph” by July Talk
“last words” by isaac gracie
“Goddess On a Hiway” by Mercury Rev
“You Said” by Ryan Adams

It’s time to walk on and get over you

 

“A Little More Love” was the first Single Released from the Album Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John. It was a Track-teaser, so to speak, and was such a surprise to me – a delightful surprise – I had to immediately pre-order the Album from American Laundromat Records.

Even Clyde, my cat, loves the Album:

 

I loved this Cover at first listen, and it is one of my Favorites off the Album (tied for 1st, actually). This Song is so well-suited for Juliana’s Vocal range, style, and that mix of raw vulnerability and tough edge she’s always had. I’m so Obsessed with this Song.

“A Little More Love” was originally the lead Single off of Olivia’s 1978 Album, Totally Hot. For whatever reason, this is the one Olivia Album from the 70’s-80’s that I didn’t own. That said, I’d heard it on the Radio, and had the Song on 45″ Single.

“A Little More Love” by Juliana Hatfield
from the Album, Totally Hot (1978)

The Single was a worldwide Top 10 hit single, peaking at #4 in the UK and #3 in the US. In Canada, it spent three weeks at #2 during February and March 1979 and was the 7th biggest Canadian hit of that year. (from Wikipedia)

I thought Olivia looked like end-of-Grease Sandy on the Single cover. And those shoes!

“A Little More Love” by Olivia Newton-John
from the Album, Totally Hot (1978)

“Suspended In Time” by Juliana Hatfield is Today’s Song of the Day. Day 3 of Lyriquediscorde’s Week celebrating the Album Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John (available at American Laundromat Records) continues with a Song originally from the Movie Soundtrack to Xanadu. I’ve written about Xanadu a few times, both about the Movie itself, and the Soundtrack. The Movie means a great deal to me as it came out around the time that I was Obsessed with Olivia Newton-John, and when I was on the cusp of adolescence, sorting out what I liked and what excited me.

The Xanadu Soundtrack was the first Album I bought with my own money. I saved up the $11.99 sticker price (it was a Double-Album) and walked to Montgomery Ward department store, making my way to the Music department. I’ve never forgotten how it felt to buy it, nor how much that Album meant to me because I bought it myself. I still have it in my Vinyl collection. It will always be with me.

“Suspended In Time” by Juliana Hatfield
from the Album, Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John (2018)

“I get a feeling when I’m with you,
none of the rules apply.”

Ms. Hatfield released her first recording in 1987 as a 20-year-old member of the Boston-based Blake Babies; across the span of some two-dozen albums, she has repeatedly shown a gift for edgy and crafty songwriting; a voice that can be sweet, world-weary and ideal for channeled aggression; and the ability to play what the songs require, especially on electric guitar. Her Newton-John tribute ripples with a charming vibrancy that was missing, deliberately so, from her prior release, the pointedly political “Pussycat,” issued last year.

Juliana shares my love of Olivia Newton-John’s Music. She came to it as a young girl, just as I did. I think that it made it more impactful, and in some ways precious to have this Music hit pre-teenage years. There is something so pure in my memories of the Music. That said, it was never flimsy Pop Songs. There was always a singer-songwriter quality in Olivia’s Songs, even if she was not the one penning them. They told a story that resonated, even if the particular stories were not something relevant to a young girl’s life.

Juliana is quoted as saying, about Olivia and her Music:

“It bothers me when people write her off as a cupcake. She had depth and breadth.”

I couldn’t agree more.

With “Suspended In Time”, the Song transcended the Movie it came from and to me, became an Olivia Song first, and a Xanadu Song second. There are nods to “I Honestly Love You” and “Hopelessly Devoted To You” in the sentiment of the Song, just as much as there are connections to “Magic” and “Xanadu”, both from the Film.

“Suspended In Time” by Olivia Newton-John

 

“Have You Never Been Mellow”, originally from Olivia Newton-John, and covered by Juliana Hatfield on her New Cover Album, Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John is Today’s Song of the Day. Another favorite Song from my Olivia-Obsessed childhood, “Have You Never Been Mellow” was a Track I loved to Sing-a-Long to, but that I never quite understood. “Mellow” somehow in my mind had something to do with dessert food, soft and sweet and fluffy dessert food, like marshmallows, pudding, or ice cream shakes. I’m not sure where any of that correlation came from, nor why I thought it, but its where my mind went when I listened to this Song.

As I got older the Song took on a deeper meaning. It hit on a few different feelings in me. My anxiety issues wrapped up in insomnia and over-extending my time and energies made me wish for a chance to be “Mellow” (sans fluffy desserts). It also reminded me of people in my life who I’ve loved who never seemed to be able to slow down, relax, or open themselves up past themselves.

“Have You Never Been Mellow” by Juliana Hatfield
from the Album, Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John (2018)

“Have you never been mellow?
Have you never tried to find a comfort from inside you?
Have you never been happy just to hear your song?
Have you never let someone else be strong?”

“Have You Never Been Mellow” was written by John Farrar and originally recorded by Olivia Newton-John. It was the Title Track for Olivia’s Album of the same name.

In March of 1975, the Single became Olivia’s second consecutive #1 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and also topped the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Singles Chart. “Have You Never Been Mellow” was a crossover Hit, as well, peaking at #3 on the Hot Country Singles Chart in the U.S.

In the U.S. it was Olivia’s fourth straight Single to be certified Gold (sales of 1 million copies). “Have You Never Been Mellow” also reached #1 in Canada and peaked at #10 in Australia and #26 in Japan, but was not much of a success elsewhere in the world, failing to chart altogether in the U.K. (from Wikipedia)

John Farrar has said that he was inspired to write the Song while on tour with Olivia in the U.S. stating:

“All the guys in the band were using ‘mellow’ as their favorite word.”

I’m guessing they weren’t talking about fluffy desserts.

“Have You Never Been Mellow?” (live, 1975) by Olivia Newton-John

Monday is back again. Back with its early morning wake-up alarms, coffee pot brewing to help wake me up, and a staggering to-do list.  I’m all about the fresh start of the week and the tall cup of Sumatra coffee, but I could really have used one more day this weekend. The ocean was a delight, the sunrise on Sunday morning gorgeous, and time spent with my boyfriend exquisite. We spent a lot of time with Music this weekend, restoring 8-Track Tapes, and working on writing/producing a Song of our own. I will take the memories of all of it with me to get through Monday. Kind of like a postcard of my own, wishing I was still there, but knowing that there is always next time to look forward to.

Today’s Top 5 Music Obsessions will help, too. Every Monday there’s a little extra push of Music. The Top 5, the Song of the Day, a Northern Soul Song, a New Wave Song, and a Monday Playlist. We all know Mondays need all the help they can get. But, it all starts with the Music I’m Obsessing over. It starts here and bleeds into all the other Monday Music delights. I’d love to hear what you are Obsessing over, too. Care to share?

Song 1 is from Elvis Costello (see above), Today’s Top 5 Featured Artist. “Watching The Detectives” is my absolute, all-time Favorite Elvis Costello Song. There’s something about it that harkens Film Noir Stories, and also a dream I had once about a female detective in a green dress and red hair. She was part femme fatale, and part jaded detective. It was awesome.

Next up is “Old Habits” from Hot Bodies In Motion. This is a new discovery for me. I found it randomly via Spotify while searching for Playlists from TV Series. I love the heavy sound this Song has. It feels like Rock meets Bluegrass meets the Blues. Hot Bodies In Motion remind me of Welshly Arms, Royal Blood, The Dead Weather, The Heavy, and The Veils, who are up next.

“Low Lays the Devil” is one of my Favorite Song by The Veils. It makes me want to take a road trip, stop in a small town and have a drink at a local dive bar with a good jukebox. Then have a burger and slice of pie at the 24-hour diner that’s right off the off-ramp. Maybe I’d drive until I was in the South. Maybe Louisianna. Because the more I listen to this Track the more I think of “True Blood”, and the Sookie Stackhouse books. I feel like The Veils would play live at Fangtasia.

The 4th Song is from Juliana Hatfield’s Cover Album of Olivia Newton-John Songs. This Week’s Song of the Day’s are dedicated to JH and ONJ, but I’m so into it that I had to add one to Today’s list of Obsessive Music. “A Little More Love” is the first Song I heard from the Cover Album. It was a pre-release Single that was put up online when the Album was announced. I love it so much!

Last, but not least, is another Cover Song. This one from Meshell Ndegeocello who Covers Tina Turner’s “Private Dancer”. I forgot how much I like this Song. The original was released in 1984 and got quite a lot of MTV coverage for the Video. The Track was written by Mark Knopfler, of Dire Straits fame. Meshell’s version is so raw and vulnerable and heartbreakingly beautiful.

If you’d like to Follow along on this Week’s Top 5 Songs check out Playlists at Spotify and YouTube.

Top 5 Music Obsessions of the Day – April 16, 2018

1. “Watching the Detectives” by Elvis Costello

2. “Old Habits” by Hot Bodies In Motion

3. “Low Lay the Devil” by The Veils

4. “A Little More Love” by Juliana Hatfield

5. “Private Dancer” by Meshell Ndegeocello

(not available on YouTube)

I hope your Monday is filled with good coffee and Songs you are Obsessing over, and all the other things that make your Monday better. Hope you enjoyed Today’s Top 5 Music Obsessions featuring Elvis Costello, Hot Bodies In Motion, The Veils, Juliana Hatfield, and Meshell Ndegeocello.

Got something you’d like to see featured in a Top 5? Share the Song Title and Artist/Band in the Comments, or email lyriquediscordesubmissions@gmail.com.

Top 5 Music Obsessions for the Week of 4/16/18

 

“I Honestly Love You” is the first Track off of Juliana Hatfield’s fantastic Cover Album of Olivia Newton-John Songs. I’ve had the Album for a little over a week, and can “Honestly” say I Love It. Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John officially came out this past Friday, so “Honestly” go now go and get yourself a copy. You can grab it at American Laundromat Records. They have some keen packages, too. They even have it available on Cassette!

“I Honestly Love You” was one of my Top 5 Favorites of Olivia’s when I was a young girl. Juliana’s version has both edge and vulnerability. The guitar works so well, giving it that edge I mentioned. But, her voice, and the layered harmonic vocals make this Song raw, genuine, vulnerable, and beautiful. It makes me love this Song even more than I did when I was a kid.

“I Honestly Love You” by Juliana Hatfield
from the Album, Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John (2018)

“You don’t have to answer,
I see it in your eyes.
Maybe it was better left unsaid.”

To celebrate this Cover Album that I have been so excited about, I’m going to feature a Song a Day for this Week’s Song of the Day feature. I hope you all enjoy it as I know I will. My childhood Music Favorite, ONJ, covered by my 90’s Music Favorite, JH, is a dream come true.

“I Honestly Love You”, originally released as “I Love You, I Honestly Love You” (in Australia), was a worldwide Pop Hit for Olivia Newton-John, in 1974. It was Olivia’s first #1 Single in both the U.S. and Canada. (from Wikipedia)

The Song was written by Jeff Berry, who also penned the Hit Songs “Be My Baby” and “Sugar Sugar”, along with Peter Allen who was in the middle of working on his Album, Continental American. Berry and Allen co-wrote the Song for Allen’s Album, but the Demo got into the hands of Olivia’s Producer John Farrar, who played it for her.

She loved the Song, but Allen wanted to keep it. Barry convinced him that letting Olivia Record it was a good idea since she was one of the most popular Singers in the world and more likely to have a Hit with it. He finally agreed, which was lucrative, as the Song was a big Hit and helped launch Allen’s career as a songwriter. (from Songfacts)

“I Honestly Love You” (live, 1974) by Olivia Newton-John