The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • Track Of The Day
  • Track Of The Week
  • Books + Movies
  • About
16
new
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: FÉNIXDION – “SUGAR”
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: BIBLIOTEKA – “TICK TOCK”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: GWAR HAVE GONE BERSERK! CHECK OUT THE NEW SONG “BERSERKER MODE” OUT NOW
SPILL NEW MUSIC: QUEEN KWONG RELEASES HER TAKE ON A ‘POP’ SONG “WITHOUT YOU, WHATEVER”
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: ART D’ECCO – “MIDLIFE CRISIS”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: YUNGBLUD ANNOUNCES SELF-TITLED THIRD STUDIO ALBUM SET FOR RELEASE SEPTEMBER 2 VIA LOCOMOTION/GEFFEN RECORDS
SPILL NEWS: CANADIAN PUNK LEGENDS DAYGLO ABORTIONS HIT THE ROAD WITH CITIZEN RAGE FOR A CROSS CANADA TOUR
SPILL FEATURE: DON’T YOU FEEL CLOSER? – A CONVERSATION WITH CY CURNIN OF THE FIXX
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: BROKE ROYALS – “REVIVALISM”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: COMBICHRIST SHARES NEW SINGLE & LYRIC VIDEO FOR “MODERN DEMON” VIA OUT OF LINE MUSIC
SPILL NEWS: KATIE TUPPER RETURNS WITH NEW SINGLE “HONEY” + EMBARKS ON CANADIAN TOUR
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VARIOUS ARTISTS – PAY IT ALL BACK VOL. 8
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SAY SUE ME – THE LAST THING LEFT
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JOHN INGHRAM – JOHN INGHRAM
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE ROLLING STONES – LIVE AT THE EL MOCAMBO
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: FLORENCE + THE MACHINE – DANCE FEVER
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • Track Of The Day
  • Track Of The Week
  • Books + Movies
  • About
  • Spill Menu
    • Reviews
      • Album Reviews
      • Features
      • Live Reviews
      • Festivals
    • Portraits
    • Headlines
      • News
      • Contests
      • Events
      • Entertainment Headlines
      • Concert Listings
      • Toronto Concert Venues
    • New Music
      • Premieres
      • Track Of The Day
    • Track Of The Week
    • Books + Movies
    • About
Album Reviews
775
previous article
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JOHN PRINE - THE TREE OF FORGIVENESS
next article
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE DAMNED - EVIL SPIRITS

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JULIANA HATFIELD – JULIANA HATFIELD SINGS OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN

Juliana Hatfield

Juliana Hatfield
Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John
American Laundromat Records

Juliana Hatfield has been around a while. Her resume is quite extensive and impressive: The Blake Babies, The Lemonheads,  The Juliana Hatfield Three and her solo career. She has released 13 solo albums and many other albums with the other bands. Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John is her 14th release and it is not as unexpected as one might think.

The title initially throws you, but when you think about it, Hatfield has always had a very pop oriented side. Here, she just lets it out completely. The album also serves as a benefit album. Money from the sale of the album will be donated to the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre (ONJ Centre), an organization helping patients with cancer access leading medical treatment. The album also got Ms. Newton-John’s seal of approval.

But, you might ask, what is the album like? Has she altered the songs, turned them upside down? Are these serious covers? The answer is yes, these are serious and faithful covers. She pretty much sticks to the original arrangements and does not stray very far from any of the songs. In fact, there were times when it sounded like the original version. Listen to her cover of “Xanadu”, a near perfect replica of the original. The only thing missing is Jeff Lynne’s production and backing vocals.

But in true Hatfield style, she strays from the hits and covers some lesser known album cuts. Clearly, Hatfield is a fan and knows these albums. Listeners will hear her version of massive hits, such as “Physical” but also her version of “Dancin’ Round and Round” from the 1978 album, Totally Hot. She also covers the title track.

The album would have benefited from Hatfield putting her own distinct spin on some of the songs. She does not reinterpret the songs, but provides a faithful cover, like a very good bar band. Newton-John fans may have complained but it would have made the album more interesting. And why did she not cover “What Is Life” or “Twist Of Fate”?

Overall, a sincere tribute from one artist to another. Hatfield is clearly a fan who has been influenced by Newton-John and let’s face it, she did break down some barriers in the 1970s and 1980s for women in pop, dance, country, and even folk. Not a bad legacy, and Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John pays tribute to that legacy.



Artist Links

website_flat_2016 facebook_flat_2016 twitter_flat_2016 instagram_flat_2016

Item Reviewed

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JULIANA HATFIELD – JULIANA HATFIELD SINGS OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN

Author

Aaron Badgley

Here's what we think...
Spill Rating
Fan Rating
Rate Here
New Criteria
10
7.7
7.0
Total Spill Rating
7.7
Total Fan Rating
2 ratings
You have rated this
Album Reviews
a little more lovealbum reviewsamerican laundromat recordsjuliana hatfieldjuliana hatfield sings olivia newton-johnolivia newton-johnphysical
a little more love, album reviews, american laundromat records, juliana hatfield, juliana hatfield sings olivia newton-john, olivia newton-john, physical
About the Author
Aaron Badgley
Born and raised in Whitby, Aaron discovered music through his love of The Beatles. This led to a career in radio, writing for various publications, and ultimately a radio show about The Beatles (Beatles Universe), which ran for over four years. When not immersed in music, Aaron enjoys spending time with the loves of his life -- his wife Andrea, and daughters Emily and Linda (all of whom have an intense love of music too).
RELATED ARTICLES
album reviewsamerican laundromat recordsjuliana hatfield
 
9.0
On-U Sound
—

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VARIOUS ARTISTS – PAY IT ALL BACK VOL. 8

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on May 13, 2022
Various Artists Pay It All Back Vol. 8 On-U Sound Master producer/songwriter/artist Adrian Sherwood has been behind all things On-U Sound since 1979, and since then he and [...]
 
8.0
Say Sue Me

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SAY SUE ME – THE LAST THING LEFT

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on May 13, 2022
Say Sue Me The Last Thing Left Damnably Sumi Choi (vocalist, guitarist) and her band Say Sue Me are from Busan, Korea. If that tells you that you would be in for some K-pop on their [...]
 
8.0
John Inghram

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JOHN INGHRAM – JOHN INGHRAM

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on May 13, 2022
John Inghram John Inghram CD Baby John Inghram built a name for himself as a musician’s musician, particularly among artist that try to get the gist of the music that has anything [...]
 
10
The Rolling Stones

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE ROLLING STONES – LIVE AT THE EL MOCAMBO

by Gerrod Harris on May 13, 2022
The Rolling Stones Live At The El Mocambo Universal Music The El Mocambo stands alongside The Horseshoe Tavern and Massey Hall as one of Toronto’s most revered and [...]
 
10
Florence + The Machine
6.0

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: FLORENCE + THE MACHINE – DANCE FEVER

by Robert Defina on May 13, 2022
Florence + the Machine  Dance Fever Polydor Records Florence + The Machine has always found the midway point between her classically-trained vocals and accessible dance pop. Her [...]

Latest Album Reviews
View All
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VARIOUS ARTISTS – PAY IT ALL BACK VOL. 8
9.0
—
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SAY SUE ME – THE LAST THING LEFT
8.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JOHN INGHRAM – JOHN INGHRAM
8.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE ROLLING STONES – LIVE AT THE EL MOCAMBO
10
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: FLORENCE + THE MACHINE – DANCE FEVER
10
6.0

Tweets by @spillmagazine

SPILL MAGAZINE MENU
  • Home | The Spill Magazine
  • Premieres
  • Track Of The Week
  • Album Reviews
  • Books + Movies
  • Features
  • Live Reviews
  • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • News
  • Events
  • Entertainment Headlines
  • Concert Listings
  • Toronto Concert Venues
  • About Us
  • Contests
  • New Music
  • Spill Magazine Contributors
  • TOTD
  • Privacy Policy
  • The Scene Unseen
  • Newsletter

Copyright © 2022 | The Spill Magazine
All Rights Reserved.

TRENDING RIGHT NOW
   
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE – FASCINATION
716
 
SPILL FEATURE: CRUISE TO THE EDGE 2022 – THIS YEAR’S PROG CRUISE MAKES A LOT OF NOISE. A WHOLE LOT OF NOISE.
655
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PRIMUS – CONSPIRANOID
427
 
SPILL FEATURE: DANCE TO THE PERFECT MESS – A CONVERSATION WITH CARL MARSH OF SHRIEKBACK
406
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MEN WITHOUT HATS – AGAIN (PART 2)
323
 
SPILL NEWS: BARENAKED LADIES TO RELEASE LIVE TRACKS FROM SOLD-OUT ROYAL ALBERT HALL SHOW | DELUXE EDITION OF ‘DETOUR DE FORCE’ OUT JUNE 3
320
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS – UNLIMITED LOVE
314
 
SPILL FEATURE: DON’T YOU FEEL CLOSER? – A CONVERSATION WITH CY CURNIN OF THE FIXX
297
 
SPILL LIVE REVIEW: JERRY CANTRELL w/ LOLA COLETTE @ HISTORY, TORONTO
283
 
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: LOST CAT – “L.O.S.T.”
270
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: TANGERINE DREAM – RAUM
269
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PAN AMERICAN – THE PATIENCE FADER
255
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VR SEX – ROUGH DIMENSION
255
ENTERTAINMENT HEADLINES