Track Listing

1. Making a Good Thing Better
2. Slow Dancing
3. Ring of Fire
4. Collin' Down
5. Do'nt Cry for Me Argentina [From Evita]
6. Sad Songs
7. You Won't See Me Cry
8. So Easy to Begin
9. I Think I'll Say Goodbye
10. Don't Ask a Friend
11. If Love Is Real

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #106074 in Music
• Released on: 2001-03-27
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Import

Customer Reviews

No big hits but a high quality album
This album marked the end of an era, being the last album that Olivia recorded before she changed her musical style completely. Perhaps her decision to change style was helped by the absence of hits from this album. There are only two famous covers here and they certainly provide a contrast, one being the Johnny Cash classic Ring of fire and the other being Don't cry for me Argentina - a song that was originally a UK number one hit for Julie Covington and was a nineties hit for Madonna, but is most closely linked with Elaine Paige, the singer actress who originally starred in the stage production of Evita in London's West end.

Elsewhere on this album, there is a song written by Olivia (Don't ask a friend) and a cover of If love is real (Randy Edelman) and several other interesting songs, mainly ballads.

If you are already familiar with some of Olivia's music pre-Grease, you will find this to be similar in style - if not, you should try a compilation of her early music or some of her other original albums from the period. Nevertheless, this is a fine album in its own way and anybody who is a committed fan of Olivia's early music needs this album.

Good thing about to get raunchier
This was Olivia Newton-John's last studio album before Grease opened and changed her career for ever. The pop/country format had served her well in the US, though Making A Good Thing Better was her poorest seller in years. That's not to say it's a bad album, it isn't. It's just that there are no overwhelming hits here. The title track was the only single released and it's lovely, a soaring ballad that Olivia does to perfection. Sad Songs is another standout, upbeat, catchy and a lot of fun. The John Farrar ballad, Coolin' Down is stunning, an exquisite, soothing gem that proves why the man was responsible for many of her classics.

I've never been fond of Don't Cry For Me Argentina, and Olivia's version hasn't changed this. She does it OK, but it does tend to bring out the insipid, simpering quality of her voice. Her version of Ring Of Fire is another blip. It's as plastic country as can be and Olivia sounds like she couldn't care less about the song.

Still, this set is a goodie. Even the sleeve artwork is beautiful capturing Olivia at her very best. Her next album, Totally Hot, was a far different, rockier affair and was one of her biggest hits. Buy that if you like this.