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Funny, I was listening to the Marvin/Farrar album today and felt the same way about Galadriel : p
Really awesome to have such a promocopy of John Farrar's 1980 LP with a press release included, sounds like a real rarity db I agree on how their voices blend so perfectly (which struck me again as I listened to Tied Up today). "A Thousand Conversations - The Best of Marvin, Welch & Farrar" is a compilation CD I can recommend, full of awesome harmonies. It has many songs from their two albums from 1971 and a few from the duo from 1973 and even includes Bruce Welch's "Please Mr Please" from 1974.
John Farrar was a member of British group The Shadows from 1973-1977. Now you may have heard of the Eurovision Songcontest. Olivia represented the UK in '74 and in the national pre-selection sang 6 songs from which the British TV audience could choose the one she would take to Eurovision (Long Live Love). Cliff Richard did the same thing in '73 and in 1975 it was The Shadows' turn. And this is one of the 6 songs that the people in the UK could choose from (all of which ended up on their album "Specs Appeal") :
I wanted to thank you for posting this and the video. It got me learning more about The Shadows. It's so cool when you hear old music for the first time. I've always been amazed at all the hits John Farrar produced during Olivia's career. I've also had a sweet spot for his amazing vocals.
After you posted that video I noticed the uploader had others from the Eurovision tv show. I heard their B side "Stand Up Like A Man" for the first time and was mesmerized by John's higher range and I really dig this song too. I found out that it's from their single "Let Me Be The One" (a side)
Of course I then had to order the single 45 from the UK and it arrived in excellent condition and sounds amazing. I didn't realize he was still recording and performing with the Shadows during the same time he was writing and producing for Olivia. This single was released in 1975, the same year of Olivia's album "Have You Never Been Mellow" of which John wrote the lyrics to that hit song. Cool stuff!!
Here's the sleeve that came with my 45 rpm.
Thanks for the details...I enjoyed reading that since I had no idea about this label.
Regarding John Farrar's 45 single "With Rainnie On My Mind" b/w "John and Mary" Discogs says that John and Mary was an instrumental. It appears we may have an idea what that instrumental sounded like from a track called "Years Away" taken from The Shadows album called Rockin' With Curly Leads. The person who posted this shows on the video that Years Away started as John and Mary the flip side to his single. Check out this track and info at about 31 seconds in.
I really like this guitar instrumental. It really shows how gifted John Farrar was on guitar this was in 1973.
It reminds me of his incredible guitar full instrumentals of the songs "Had To Be" that appears on the CD single Cliff Richard Olivia Newton-John Part 2 and his instrumental of "Misunderstood Man" that appears on Cliff's CD single of the same name.
I think "Had To Be" is underrated and I like it better than Suddenly. I had a hard time finding the Part 2 CD Single. I still don't have Part 1. However Part 2 has the instrumental and the really cool 70's track, "Don't Move Away"Thanks for the tip, I wasn't even aware of the instrumental version of "Had to be", nor the 1973 Shadows album, gonna give it a listen now
Interesting! I must have seen the instrumental track, but I always assumed that it would be one without the lead vocals. I never guessed that the melody line would actually have been replaced by a guitar solo (much like the instrumental version of "Grease", which sounds great as a sax solo track).I think "Had To Be" is underrated and I like it better than Suddenly. I had a hard time finding the Part 2 CD Single. I still don't have Part 1. However Part 2 has the instrumental and the really cool 70's track, "Don't Move Away"
The back of the CD Single shows lead guitar and music by John Farrar.
He also did an instrumental of Cliff's Misunderstood Man
Cliff Richard, Olivia Newton-John - Had To Be
View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1995 CD release of "Had To Be" on Discogs.www.discogs.com
Cliff Richard - Misunderstood Man
View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1995 CD release of "Misunderstood Man" on Discogs.www.discogs.com
Do you know if the official video for Had To Be was ever released on DVD?
This is the only version I have ever seen. I wish there was a way to purchase the video.
I have both CD's "Songs from Heathcliff" and the Heathcliff Live (The Show) 2 CD set, I even bought the PAL DVD of the Heathcliff Musical even though Olivia does not appear on the live CD or the musical. I really love all the music that was composed by John Farrar from this musical. It's interesting to hear how different the songs from the musical compared to the duets with Cliff and Olivia on "Songs from Heathcliff"
Interesting! I must have seen the instrumental track, but I always assumed that it would be one without the lead vocals. I never guessed that the melody line would actually have been replaced by a guitar solo (much like the instrumental version of "Grease", which sounds great as a sax solo track).
I may end up getting myself a copy, since I still don't have "Don't move away" in digital form and I absolutely love that record! Great to see a session date for that one. Somewhere stashed away in storage I have this Cliff Richard book which includes some record session data and I remember that 2 takes were recorded for "Don't move away". I guess the other take was used for Cliff's summer TV special for the BBC. That one sounds like a studio take and Olivia sings "My love is real" instead of "Your love is real", among other small differences...
One song I would love to have in even acceptable quality by Olivia, was from the early 70s. It was written by Paul Williams and called "Perfect Love."
It was sung with just a guitar and from the BBC "Moods of Love" radio show. And with BBC still wiping a lot, of their content only this grainy version can be heard, but it's worth a listen.
Still someone should've had a hit with this song.
That was a new one for me. Just listened to both the mono and stereo mix on YT, but unfortunately my ears hadn't been able to detect any girls' voices.Some people say they're on the Good Times track? Not sure
You're so right! And thanks for the reminder, I immediately ordered me a copy of itDang. Theyre on the Barry Crocker track Susie Darlin'. It's only on 45 tho
I have a question!There are quite a few Olivia fans on here who will be delighted with this news...I don’t have the original link but this is confirmed as official:
I am incredibly honored and excited to announce my latest, multi-faceted, music industry endeavor. It pairs me with an internationally renowned singer/songwriter noted for her heavenly voice and a career that spans seven decades.
To her credit, she has a mind blowing total of 27 top 40 hits in the US, 19 in the UK, and 26 in her native Australia. She has released 22 studio albums of which a staggering 16 of them have been certified gold or achieved multi-platinum status in the US. In her film roles, you might know her as Sandy, Kira, Debbie, Bitsy Mae or Barbara. She's starred in eight of her own worldwide, blockbuster television specials, been on 17 successful concert tours and celebrated a three-year Las Vegas residency. This powerhouse talent even found time to host "Saturday Night Live", compete in the Eurovision Song Contest, and appear in TV shows including "Murphy Brown", "Glee", "American Idol", "Dancing With The Stars", and "RuPaul's Drag Race".
So, to all the Greasers and Pink Ladies, muses and rollerskaters, ask yourself two questions - "Have you never been mellow?", "Do you want to get physical?". You know the answer is a resounding "Yes!"
I am thrilled to be working with Olivia Newton-John and her entire recorded works - both audio and video. There is a lot of material to go through. Many of you know that most of Olivia's albums have never been remastered, expanded or reissued. Much of her material has never been digitized. That means there is an overwhelming amount of work ahead of me. I'm going through every tape, file and document regarding anything Olivia recorded. I have a tremendous amount of projects tentatively planned, but things can change at a moment’s notice. I can confirm the first project I am producing for Olivia is a collection of duets. It will include her latest single, "Window In The Wall", featuring her daughter Chloe Lattanzi.
All of this is a tremendous undertaking. Those of you familiar with my work know I am going to present Olivia's music in the most detailed and beautifully produced way possible. And Olivia will be overseeing everything I put together. I will do my best to "bring all your dreams alive for you”.
Vinny Vero - Writer, Producer, Curator and Archivist, February20202021.
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