Studio Album · No. 2
Olivia Songwriting Credits by Olivia Newton-John
Produced by Bruce Welch, John Farrar
Holds writing credit on 1 of 14 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 1 / 14 documented
Scored across the 14 tracks with documented writers, by whether Olivia Newton-John carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 14 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Olivia is an early-career interpreter's album, not a songwriter's. Newton-John wrote only one song here on her own, 'Changes,' and left the rest to outside writers and her producers. The heaviest outside presence is George Harrison, who supplies two songs, alongside covers from Paul Simon, Don McLean, David Gates, Johnny Burnette, Gerry Rafferty, and Chip Taylor. Her producer John Farrar fills the remaining gaps with originals like 'My Old Man's Got a Gun' and the co-written 'I'm a Small and Lonely Light,' setting the pattern of Farrar-supplied material that would run through her biggest years.
Olivia is the second studio album by Olivia Newton-John, released in 1972 and recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London. It was produced by Bruce Welch and John Farrar, both connected to the Shadows, who shaped its soft folk-pop and country-leaning sound. Like her debut, the record leans heavily on outside material, pairing contemporary covers with a small number of originals from her production team. It includes two George Harrison songs from All Things Must Pass, 'What Is Life' and 'Behind That Locked Door,' along with Paul Simon's 'Why Don't You Write Me,' Don McLean's 'Winterwood,' David Gates' 'Everything I Own,' and Gerry Rafferty's 'Mary Skeffington.' The lead single 'What Is Life' reached number 16 on the UK Singles Chart. Only one track, 'Changes,' carries a solo Newton-John writing credit, with the rest sourced from established songwriters and from John Farrar's own originals.
Track Listing & Credits 14 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Angel of the Morning
|
Chip Taylor | James Wesley Voight | Bruce WelchJohn Farrar | Olivia Newton-John (Lead Vocals) |
| 2 |
Just a Little Too Much
|
Johnny Burnette | John Joseph Burnette | Bruce WelchJohn Farrar | Olivia Newton-John (Lead Vocals) |
| 3 |
If We Only Have Love
|
Eric BlauMort Shuman | Jacques Romain Georges BrelMortimer ShumanEric Blau | Bruce WelchJohn Farrar | Olivia Newton-John (Lead Vocals) |
| 4 |
Winterwood
|
Don McLean | Donald McLean | Bruce WelchJohn Farrar | Olivia Newton-John (Lead Vocals) |
| 5 |
My Old Man's Got a Gun
|
John Farrar | John Farrar | Bruce WelchJohn Farrar | Olivia Newton-John (Lead Vocals) |
| 6 |
Changes
|
Olivia Newton-John | Olivia Newton-John | Bruce WelchJohn Farrar | Olivia Newton-John (Lead Vocals) |
| 7 |
I'm a Small and Lonely Light
|
John FarrarPeter Best | John FarrarPeter Best | Bruce WelchJohn Farrar | Olivia Newton-John (Lead Vocals) |
| 8 |
Why Don't You Write Me
|
Paul Simon | Paul Frederic Simon | Bruce WelchJohn Farrar | Olivia Newton-John (Lead Vocals) |
| 9 |
Mary Skeffington
|
Gerry Rafferty | Gerald Rafferty | Bruce WelchJohn Farrar | Olivia Newton-John (Lead Vocals) |
| 10 |
Behind That Locked Door
|
George Harrison | George Harrison | Bruce WelchJohn Farrar | Olivia Newton-John (Lead Vocals) |
| 11 |
What Is Life
#16
|
George Harrison | George Harrison | Bruce WelchJohn Farrar | Olivia Newton-John (Lead Vocals) |
| 12 |
Everything I Own
|
David Gates | David Ashworth Gates | Bruce WelchJohn Farrar | Olivia Newton-John (Lead Vocals) |
| 13 |
Living in Harmony
|
Alan TarneyTrevor Spencer | Alan TarneyTrevor Spencer | Bruce WelchJohn Farrar | Olivia Newton-John (Lead Vocals) |
| 14 |
I Will Touch You
|
Steve Cagan | Steve Cagan | Bruce WelchJohn Farrar | Olivia Newton-John (Lead Vocals) |