We know what makes Olivia's music lovely and special but not every reviewer saw it, there's good, bad and ugly here. We have collected these, starting with album reviews, music reviews including singles, then concert/live reviews. I've split off Grease press and Xanadu press on their own.
Album Reviews
Olivia's long career spanned a lot of change in the music press. In the early 1970s pop was more singles oriented, and reviews were written by geezers in smoke-filled rooms. Things went more album-oriented as time went by. The internet arrived in the 1990s and hugely reduced the reach and scope of the music press. I've cast the net a bit wider than reviews. This takes up the story as the old school press review faded.
Olivia Newton-John (UK)/If Not For You (AU)
- Review of Olivia's first album - The Evening Independent December 1971
If Not For You (US)
- Record Rap (upcoming female singers) - Pensacola News Journal November 1971
- Pretty does as pretty is - News And Observer December 1971
- If Not for You - HiFi Stereo March 1972
Olivia
- Olivia album review September 1972
- Olivia getting hits with a little help form her friends - nice interview - Disc September 1972
- Review of Olivia album - NME September 1972
- Olivia Album review - Sydney Morning Herald November 1972
- Olivia (LP) review - The Age November 1972
Music Makes My Day(UK)/Let Me Be There(AU)
- Music Makes My Day album review - Record Mirror February 1974
- Records - review of Music Makes My Day - Leicester Chronicle March 1974
- Olivia makes your day - Evening Telegraph April 1974
Let Me Be There (US)
- Let Me Be There review - Detroit Free Press January 1974
- Let Me Be There March 1974
- Let Me Be There album review - Buffalo News March 1974
If You Love Me Let Me Know (US)
- Australia Sends Sweet Songbird - Fort Worth Star Telegram June 1974
- Two Steps to the Top - The Times June 1974
- If You Love Me Let Me Know album review - Buffalo News July 1974
- If You Love Me Let Me Know album review - Press and Sun Bulletin August 1974
- concert turnout a definite tribute to Olivia's talent and popularity - Golden Star August 1974
- If You Love Me Let Me Know - High Fidelity September 1974
- If You Love Me Let Me Know Album Review - Stereo Review October 1974
- If You Love Me Let Me Know album review - The Gateway October 1974
- If You Love Me Let Me Know album review - The Greyhound December 1974
- Guilty Pleasures - High Fidelity July 1989
Long Live Love
- Long Live Love review - Ealing And Acton Gazette August 1974
- Long Live Love album review - Sydney Morning Herald October 1974
Have You Never Been Mellow
- Have You Never Been Mellow album review - Statesville Record And Landmark February 1975
- Have You Never Been Mellow album review - Sacramento Bee February 1975
- album review Have you Ever (sic) Been Mellow - Music Plus March 1975
- Have You Never Been Mellow at the top of the album charts - Record Mirror March 1975
- HYNBM album review - Record Mirror April 1975
- Have You Never Been Mellow album review - High Fidelity May 1975
- Have You Never Been Mellow - HiFi Stereo June 1975
Clearly Love
- Clearly Love album review - Stereo Review March 1976
Don't Stop Believin'
- A Different Sound from Newton-John, about the forthcoming album Don't Stop Believin - Billboard July 1976
- Olivia Newton-John makes first US Record - Reading Eagle August 1976
- Olivia records Don't Stop Believin' in Nashville - The News And Observer August 1976
- Don't Stop Believin' album review - Billboard October 1976
- Don't Stop Believin' album review - The Spectrum November 1976
- Hit LP review (Don't Stop Belivin') - Cedar Hill Chronicle November 1976
- Don't Stop Believin album review - Record Mirror November 1976
- Don't Stop Believin' in Olivia Newton-John (review) - The North Texas Daily November 1976
- short Don't Stop Believin' album review - The Magee Courier December 1976
- Don't Stop Believin' - HiFi Stereo February 1977
- Don't Stop Believin' album Review - Country Music March 1977
Making A Good Thing Better
- Age Of Pretty Pop, They Oughta Be In Pictures - LA Times June 1977
- Making a Good Thing Better album review - Record Mirror August 1977
- Making A Good Thing Better album review - High Fidelity September 1977
- Making A Good Thing Better - HiFi Stereo November 1977
Totally Hot
- review of Totally Hot album - Billboard November 1978
- Totally Hot - HiFi Stereo March 1979
- Olivia returns with some changes (Totally Hot review) - The North Texas Daily June 1979
- MFSL remaster of Totally Hot review - High Fidelity March 1981
- Obituary and Totally Hot album review from 1978- Record Collector October 2022
Xanadu
- Thoughts on Xanadu soundtrack - Uncut November 2023
Physical
- I Even Clean Windows - Screen, June 1982 January 1981
- Olivia with the dolphins - Honululu Star Bulletin May 1981
- Those Neon Lights Still Shine for Olivia - Juke October 1981
- Physical Cover and Conversation - Record World December 1981
- Physical - Stereo Review April 1982
- Less Flash Would Be Better For Olivia - Chippewa Herald Telegram January 1983
- videogram reviews including Physical - High Fidelity June 1983
- Making Her Move: Olivia Newton-John's Physical Phenomenon Revisited - Popmatters October 2018
- We Have To Believe In The Magic Of Olivia Newton-John - Deluxe Version January 2021
Soul Kiss
- Still, Totally Hot (Soul Kiss album review) - The Ram October 1985
- Soul Kiss reviews - Various November 1985
- Soul Kiss video - Stereo Review June 1986
The Rumour
- Spread the Rumour! - Music and Media August 1988
- Many of my friends go to bed for the day when they hit 40 - Today September 1988
- Salut - review of The Rumour album October 1988
Warm And Tender
- Warm and Tender review - Hifi News March 1990
- Warm and Tender album review - CD Review March 1990
- Queen Of Mellow - Warm & Tender - US April 1990
Back To Basics
- Back To Basics album review - Q magazine July 1992
- Back to Basics album review - CD Review August 1992
Gaia
- The Girl Next Door Grows Up - Spotlight November 1997
Back With A Heart
- Country Comeback - Country Weekly November 1997
- Back With a Heart - Country Music International May 1998
- Back With A Heart - Stereo Review August 1998
- Olivia September 1998
- Back With A Heart - Whoot Weekly May 2000
(2)
- Olivia's new double act (2) album - Womans Day November 2002
Indigo
- Interview with Olivia about recording Indigo October 2004
- Olivia's song of joy - Fresh November 2004
Stronger Than Before
- Stronger Than Before - Parade September 2005
- Olivia is Stronger than Before - Jersey Alive October 2005
Christmas Wish
- Christmas Wish CD Review - Pop Rescue December 2022
Liv On
- Liv On review - Hello October 2016
- Olivia's new album offers a path through grief - The Age October 2016
- Place Your Beths - Irish Gazette January 2017
- Writing this album helped me to heal - Sunday Herald Life January 2017
- Liv On tour - Metro January 2017
- Celtic Connections 2017 review - Revival January 2017
- Celtic Connections folk festival review - The Guardian January 2017
- Liv On album review - Daily Mail January 2017
- Sad Songs - Radio Times January 2017
- Celtic Connections 2017 - Music Footnotes January 2017
- Music Filled with Gratitude - Goldmine February 2017
- Songs from the Heart - Country Music March 2017
- Review of Liv On album - 7 Jahrgang no 34 April 2017
Singles reviews and other music reviews
This excludes live shows which are in the live section
- Possibly the first ever review of Olivia's music, her first single - Disc May 1966
- If Not For You single review - Unknown January 1971
- Banks of the Ohio single reviews - Unknown January 1971
- Cliff Richard single review ... b side Don't Move Away, a pleasant duet with Olivia Newton-John - Reading Evening Post January 1971
- Reviews of If Not For You Single - NME etc February 1971
- Olivia looks as if she's heading for the charts (with single If Not For You) - Fulham And Hammersmith Chronicle February 1971
- review of Bob Dylan's INFY single with the 'all too sweet sound of Olivia Newton-John' - Westminster And Pimlico News March 1971
- Olivia sings Dylan, and wins - Melody Maker April 1971
- If Not for You reaching #12 in the UK charts - Sydney Morning Herald April 1971
- Collection of short US reviews 1971-1977 - Various May 1971
- Love Song single review - Disc & Music Echo June 1971
- If Not For You single review - Berwyn Life June 1971
- Olivia Knows How To Get Her Man - Evening Times October 1971
- Lift-off - column on up and coming artists - Look In January 1972
- What Is Life review - Unknown February 1972
- Olivia Hopes for Another Killing - Evening Times February 1972
- People in focus - pop singles - Norwegian article and pic - Fremover February 1972
- Girl of the week What Is Life single - Record Mirror March 1972
- Variety Of Real Talents in Paris To Piccadilly - The Daily Telegraph April 1972
- Reviews of Just A Little Too Much Single - unknown August 1972
- Lively Olivia - short review for Just a Little Too Much - Record Mirror August 1972
- Take Me Home Country Roads reviews - unknown December 1972
- Let Me Be There single review - Record Mirror June 1973
- Olivia stays in country vein, Let Me Be There single reviews - unknown June 1973
- Let Me Be There single review - Evening Times July 1973
- US award for Livvy's Song - Hull Daily Mail March 1974
- Long Live Love single review - NME March 1974
- Warm Day - Music Makes My Day review - Record Mirror March 1974
- Review of Lewis Clark College concert- Lewiston Morning Tribune April 1974
- If You Love Me, Let Me Know - review - Record Mirror July 1974
- MCA (Canada) to handle Olivia Newton-John - Golden Star July 1974
- America Honestly Loves Olivia - Evening Standard September 1974
- I Honestly Love You single review - Record Mirror October 1974
- First Impressions - album review - Record Mirror December 1974
- Singles - Have You Never Been Mellow - Record Mirror March 1975
- Parton Tribute to Olivia - Billboard April 1975
- First Impressions album review - Electronics May 1975
- Follow Me review - Record Mirror June 1975
- It's Green on the Other Side of the Mountain (Olivia on the soundtrack) - California Aggie September 1975
- Something Better To Do review - Record October 1975
- Country Radio Stations Wrestle With Format Refinements Amid Chorus Of Criticism - Billboard October 1975
- Come on Over single review - Record Mirror June 1976
- Don't Stop Believin single review - Record Mirror September 1976
- short review for Every Face Tells a Story - Record Mirror January 1977
- short review for Sam - Record Mirror May 1977
- Making a Good Thing Better single review - Record Mirror September 1977
- review for After Dark album by Andy Gibb ft I Can't Help It single - Billboard February 1980
- Olivia on Andy Gibb's After Dark album - Petaluma Argus Courier February 1980
- review for I Can't Help It single with Andy Gibb - Cashbox March 1980
- Will Livvy's Fans Still Honestly Love Her - Baxter Bulletin March 1986
- Grease megamix review - Smash Hits December 1990
- Grease The Dream mix review - Smash Hits March 1991
- I Need Love review - Smash Hits June 1992
- 48 Original Tracks CD review - Q Magazine June 1994
- Olivia's recommended album - Music Hound Lounge January 1998
- Olivia Newton-John In My Own Words - Nigel Goodall Blog May 2017
- Juliana Hatfield's hopeless devotion to Olivia - Yahoo Entertainment April 2018
- How I Almost Got Physical with Olivia Newton-John - Nigel Goodall Blog June 2019
- Olivia's First Album Revisited - Nigel Goodall Blog June 2021
- Olivia's Physical At 40 - Nigel Goodall Blog November 2021
- Physical 40th anniversary release review - Classic Pop January 2022
- Xanadu single release - Classic Pop August 2022
- Vale ONJ - The Australian August 2022
- Hopelessly Devoted To Olivia - The Tribune August 2022
- Olivia's Top 10 Best Songs - The Guardian August 2022
- Olivia Newton-John, Her 25 Best Country Songs - CountryUniverse.net August 2022
- Obituary and Totally Hot album review from 1978- Record Collector October 2022
- Greatest Hits 45th anniversary review - Retro Pop November 2022
- OKCPHIL Retrospective - OKCPHIL Program November 2022
- Olivia's Catalog of Emotions - Oxford American December 2022
- Greatest Hits Vol 2 review - Retro Pop February 2023
- Just The Two Of Us review - Retro Pop June 2023
- Just The Two Of Us Vol 2 review - Retro Pop November 2023
- Friends For Christmas re-release - Stack December 2023
- Dream Long-Lost Recording Jim Brickman Discovered After Her Death - People magazine online September 2024
- Blast To The Past, I Honestly Love You - Plus Life October 2024
Live reviews and other live related press material
If you're looking for tour programmes they are listed here
- Danes loved Cliff (and Olivia) - NME April 1971
- Variety Of Real Talents in Paris To Piccadilly - The Daily Telegraph April 1972
- Sacha Distel Concert appearance - Bristol Post August 1972
- Performing in Dundee - The Courier November 1972
- Ad for Manchester concert - NME March 1973
- C and W Night - Hull Daily Mail August 1973
- Olivia star cabaret appearance - Hull Daily Mail September 1973
- Country and Western Music Goes Over Big in Hull - Hull Daily Mail September 1973
- Golden Garter nightclub appearance - The Runcorn Guardian October 1973
- College Sponsoring Olivia concert - Lewiston Morning Tribune April 1974
- Review of Lewis Clark College concert- Lewiston Morning Tribune April 1974
- Trailers for Olivia opening for Charlie Rich at Allentown Fair - Evening Herald April 1974
- review of Olivia's concert at the Univ of Tennessee at Martin's Pacer venue - The Pacer May 1974
- Olivia Charms audience at Martin Campus - Clarksville Leaf Chronicle May 1974
- Winona State College performance - Winona Daily News May 1974
- ONJ featured artist in Disneyland Date Night, Anaheim on 1st June - Desert Sun May 1974
- Disneyland performance - Progress Bulletin May 1974
- In Concert, Olivia Newton-John, Tue 13 Aug, Vancouver - Vancouver Sun July 1974
- Ad for Olivia concert on the 20th Aug 1974 at Jackson, MS - Clarion July 1974
- Greek Theatre concert review - Los Angeles Times July 1974
- Olivia live at the Las Vegas Hilton August 1974
- Country Western Fans Ignore Rains - The Morning Call August 1974
- At Circle Star - The Times August 1974
- Smothers Brothers Are Back (with ONJ) - Peninsula Times Tribune August 1974
- The Smothers Rediscovered (with ONJ) - San Francisco Examiner August 1974
- Ad for Olivia concert on the 16th Aug 1974 at the Kentucky State Fair - The Courier Journal August 1974
- Olivia Great, No Thanks To Her Friends - The Province August 1974
- Ad for Olivia concert on the 23rd Aug 1974 at Six Flags, St Louis - St Louis Dispatch August 1974
- Coming To Indiana State Fair advert - Indianapolis News August 1974
- Six Flag 1974 appearance advert - Atlanta Constitution August 1974
- Olivia set for performance at Six Flags in Texas on 30 Aug 1974 - August 1974
- Fair Time in Topeka Friday - Kansas City Star September 1974
- Singer To Appear At Livestock Show - Herald and Review November 1974
- Singer To Appear At Phoenix Theatre - Arizona Republic December 1974
- Utah State University Performance - Student Life December 1974
- BYU will host Olivia in song - Daily Universe December 1974
- Dogwood Festival Show - Knoxville News Sentinel December 1974
- Olivia Newton-John to appear at Y - The Deseret News December 1974
- BYU concert review - Daily Universe January 1975
- Welsh Singer Smash Hit - Arizona Republic January 1975
- Dixie National Rodeo Olivia performs - Clarion Ledger February 1975
- Olivia finds time to play - The Clarion Ledger February 1975
- Hirsch Coliseum, Louisiana concert - Shreveport Journal February 1975
- Olivia at the Louisiana State Fair, Shreveport LA 14 Feb 1975 - The Times February 1975
- Ad for Olivia live at Texas A&M university, TX, 28 Feb 1975 - The Eagle February 1975
- Tickets Sold out, Oklahoma - Daily Oklahoman February 1975
- Trailer for Olivia live at Eastern New Mexico uni, Clovis, NM, 2 Mar 1975 - Clovis News Journal February 1975
- Review of Olivia live at Eastern New Mexico uni, Clovis, NM, 2 Mar 1975 - Clovis News Journal March 1975
- Olivia wows SPAC crowd - Schenectady Gazette June 1975
- Superstar Olivia wows 14,271 fans (Olivia at the Allentown Fair) - The Morning Call August 1975
- Aussie singer coming to Reno (11-20 August) - Santa Cruz Sentinel August 1975
- Olivia Lure Leaves 'em Limp - Ottawa Journal August 1975
- State Fair Grandstand concert - Star Tribune August 1975
- Beauty, integrity a hit in Vegas - LA Times October 1975
- Lovely Olivia coming to Tahoe NV - Santa Cruz Sentinel October 1975
- Olivia makes her nightclub debut in Las Vegas - Record Mirror October 1975
- SFA Concert - Stone Fort February 1976
- Ad for Olivia live at the Houston Astrodome Feb 28 and 29 - The Bellaire February 1976
- Ad for Olivia's March 6th St Louis MO concert - St Louis Dispatch February 1976
- Concerts debut album (Come On Over, Olivia in Anaheim 23 March) - Desert Sun March 1976
- Miss Newton-John captivates males (concert review) - Santa Ana Register March 1976
- Trailer for Olivia's concert in Mobile AL - Pensacola News Journal April 1976
- Olivia warms Pan Am center (concert review) - Prospector April 1976
- Trailer for Olivia's concert in Mobile AL - Pensacola News Journal April 1976
- Olivia Newton-John - crowd pleaser - Tallahassee Democrat June 1976
- Ad for Olivia's four concert shows August 26th through 29 at the Greek - LA Times August 1976
- Calgary Jubilee Auditorium concert - Calgary Albertan August 1976
- Newton-John Comes on strong - LA Times August 1976
- concert turnout a definite tribute to Olivia's talent and popularity - Edmonton Journal September 1976
- Newton-John and Murray tour - RPM Weekly September 1976
- Dear Olivia - I honestly love you - Honolulu Advertiser November 1976
- Olivia opens April 4th to 10th (Sahara, Tahoe, NV) - Santa Cruz Sentinel March 1977
- Olivia shimmies and shakes - Las Vegas Sports Forum March 1977
- Selection and arrangements key to Olivia's success - Herald Examiner March 1977
- Olivia In Lake Tahoe - Melody Maker April 1977
- Hartford Civic Centre, CT concert advert - Hartford Courant April 1977
- Ad in the New York Times for Olivia's concert at the Met - New York Times April 1977
- Olivia Making Atlanta Home During Tour - Atlanta Constitution April 1977
- Riviera Hotel Las Vegas - Billboard April 1977
- Olivia Making Atlanta Home During Tour - Danville Register April 1977
- Aussie from Nashville wins all the hearts - Richmond News Leader May 1977
- Big Apple Loves Olivia - Daily News May 1977
- We Love Ya Olivia - Daily News May 1977
- Olivia Newton-John Conveys Her Niceness - New York Times May 1977
- Movie Dream - Time May 1977
- Olivia with other stars at Silver Jubilee - Record Mirror June 1977
- Olivia at Sahara Tahoe, Stateline NV Mar 24 through April 2 - Santa Cruz Sentinel March 1978
- Olivia and Labi Siffre - Hamburger Abendblatt November 1978
- Olivia on tour - Das Freizeit Magazin, January 2 1979 December 1978
- Olivia to perform at Royal Command Concert - San Bernadino Sun May 1980
- World's Top Stars Join Olivia - TV Week May 1980
- Holmdel Physical concert review - Central New Jersey Home August 1982
- Never A Dull moment As Newton-John Sings - Detroit Free Press August 1982
- Cellars by starlight August 1982
- Olivia Gets Physical - Middle Tennessee State University September 1982
- Erwin Centre, TX Physical concert review - Austin American Statesman September 1982
- Charlotte Coliseum, NC Physical concert reviews - Charlotte Newspapers September 1982
- Olivia makes a good impression - The Pittsburgh Press September 1982
- Olivia Lights Up The Arena - Pittsburgh Post Gazette September 1982
- Newton-John, Scott have tight program - Lexington Herald Leader September 1982
- University of Illinois concert review - Bradley Scout September 1982
- Olivia's home base is Nashville during tour - Times Daily September 1982
- trailer for Olivia live at UCDavis 3rd Oct 1982 - California Aggie October 1982
- Olivia wows 'em - California Aggie October 1982
- Olivia a little late but luscious - The Deseret News October 1982
- Olivia Newton-John Stages Slick Concert - Arizona Republic October 1982
- Olivia and John Travolta together again - Garbo November 1982
- Chicago Review September 1999
- Concert Review Abravanel Hall - Deseret News August 2004
- Sri Lanka review and interview - Sunday Times, Sri Lanka April 2012
- Olivia Heads to Fantasy Spring Resort Casino - Entertainment Review September 2012
- Celtic Connections 2017 review - Revival January 2017
- Celtic Connections folk festival review - The Guardian January 2017
- Celtic Connections 2017 - Music Footnotes January 2017
- Olivia's Chilean concert - Publimetro February 2017
- Still the One That You Want - Steel Notes magazine June 2017
- Phenomenal Women, Men, Community - Heart to Heart May 2018
- How I Almost Got Physical with Olivia Newton-John - Nigel Goodall Blog June 2019
- Old School - MTSU anniversary issue August 2022
- OKCPHIL Retrospective - OKCPHIL Program November 2022