Soul Kiss cover art

  Studio Album · No. 12

Soul Kiss Songwriting Credits by Olivia Newton-John

1985 MCA Records 10 tracks 40 min

Produced by John Farrar  ·  Engineered by Allen Sides

MCA Records PopSynth-pop
0%
Authorship
Singer / Performer

Holds writing credit on 0 of 10 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 0 / 10 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 10 tracks with documented writers, by whether Olivia Newton-John carries a lyricist or composer credit.

0%
0 trackswritten by Olivia Newton-John 10 tracksoutside writers
Olivia Newton-John's roles on this album

Share of the 10 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist0%
Composer0%
Producer0%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

10
Tracks
10
Lyricists
1
Producers
500,000+
Worldwide Copies Sold
1985
Released
Data Insight

Soul Kiss is an interpreter's album: Olivia Newton-John wrote none of its songs and instead sang material handed to her by a team of writers built around producer John Farrar. Farrar co-wrote four tracks, pairing with Steve Kipner and Tom Snow on 'Queen of the Publication,' with Billy Thorpe on 'Emotional Tangle,' and with Snow again on 'Overnight Observation' and 'You Were Great, How Was I?' Steve Kipner is the other recurring name, co-writing 'Culture Shock,' 'Moth to a Flame,' and 'Driving Music.' The rest comes from outside pens: Graham Lyle and Terry Britten wrote the opener 'Toughen Up,' Mark Goldenberg wrote the title track, and Gerry Rafferty wrote the closer 'The Right Moment.' The composer column carries the same names as the lyricists because the album's songs were credited to their writers as whole units rather than split into words and music.

Soul Kiss is the thirteenth studio album by Olivia Newton-John, released in October 1985 on MCA Records in the United States. It was produced entirely by her long-time collaborator John Farrar, who also co-wrote four of its songs. The record pushes her sound toward a slicker, synth-driven mid-1980s pop, built on a Los Angeles cast of session players including Steve Lukather, Larry Carlton, Greg Phillinganes, and Vinnie Colaiuta. Newton-John wrote none of the material herself, working instead as an interpreter of songs from Farrar, Steve Kipner, Tom Snow, Gerry Rafferty, and the writing team of Graham Lyle and Terry Britten. The title track reached number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the album was certified Gold in the US, though it marked a step down from her early-1980s commercial peak.

Track Listing & Credits 10 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Toughen Up
Graham LyleTerry Britten Graham LyleTerry Britten John Farrar Olivia Newton-John (Lead Vocals)
2
Soul Kiss #20
Mark Goldenberg Mark Goldenberg John Farrar Olivia Newton-John (Lead Vocals)
3
Queen of the Publication
John FarrarSteve KipnerTom Snow John FarrarSteve KipnerTom Snow John Farrar Olivia Newton-John (Lead Vocals)
4
Emotional Tangle
John FarrarBilly Thorpe John FarrarBilly Thorpe John Farrar Olivia Newton-John (Lead Vocals)
5
Culture Shock
Steve KipnerPaul Bliss Steve KipnerPaul Bliss John Farrar Olivia Newton-John (Lead Vocals)
6
Moth to a Flame
Steve KipnerPaul Bliss Steve KipnerPaul Bliss John Farrar Olivia Newton-John (Lead Vocals)
7
Overnight Observation
John FarrarTom Snow John FarrarTom Snow John Farrar Olivia Newton-John (Lead Vocals)
8
You Were Great, How Was I?
John FarrarTom Snow John FarrarTom Snow John Farrar Olivia Newton-John (Lead Vocals)Carl Wilson (Duet Vocals)
9
Driving Music
Steve KipnerTommy Emmanuel Steve KipnerTommy Emmanuel John Farrar Olivia Newton-John (Lead Vocals)
10
The Right Moment
Gerry Rafferty Gerry Rafferty John Farrar Olivia Newton-John (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 12 contributors

More from Olivia Newton-John

Frequently Asked Questions Soul Kiss

Who wrote the songs on Soul Kiss?
Olivia Newton-John did not write any of the album. Producer John Farrar co-wrote four tracks, Steve Kipner co-wrote three, and outside writers Graham Lyle and Terry Britten, Mark Goldenberg, and Gerry Rafferty each supplied a song.
Did Olivia Newton-John write any of Soul Kiss?
No. On Soul Kiss she worked purely as a singer and interpreter, with every song written by other people.
Who produced Soul Kiss?
The album was produced entirely by John Farrar, Newton-John's long-time collaborator, who also co-wrote several of its songs.
What was the hit single from Soul Kiss?
The title track 'Soul Kiss,' written by Mark Goldenberg, was the lead single and reached number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Who sings the duet on the album?
Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys duets with Newton-John on 'You Were Great, How Was I?,' a song written by John Farrar and Tom Snow.
How well did Soul Kiss sell?
It reached number 29 on the Billboard 200 and was certified Gold in the United States, a modest result compared with her early-1980s peak.
Who played on Soul Kiss?
The album used a deep Los Angeles session roster, including guitarists Steve Lukather, Larry Carlton, Lee Ritenour, and Michael Landau, keyboardist Greg Phillinganes, and drummers Vinnie Colaiuta and Carlos Vega.

Sources