Olivia's Greatest Hits Vol. 2 (titled Olivia's Greatest Hits Vol. 3 in Australasia) is a greatest hits album by Olivia Newton-John released on 3 September 1982 in North America, Australasia, Scandinavia, South Africa and certain Asian and Latin American territories. It was her second greatest hits album released in North America and her third in other territories (following First Impressions and Olivia Newton-John's Greatest Hits).
The album compiled most singles released by Newton-John since the release of her 1977 Olivia Newton-John's Greatest Hits album from her following albums and soundtracks. The album included two new recordings; "Heart Attack" and "Tied Up", both of which were actually recorded during the sessions for the Physical album.
An album with similar cover art titled Olivia's Greatest Hits was released simultaneously in Europe (excluding Scandinavia) and certain Asian and Latin American territories. This compilation fully spanned Newton-John's career up to that point, starting with singles from If Not for You.
The album was certified multi-platinum in both the United States and Canada.
Production and release Olivia's Greatest Hits Vol. 2 / Vol. 3 includes songs released by the singer between 1978 and 1982. The North American edition contains ten tracks while other editions contain fourteen tracks. The two new songs ("Heart Attack" and "Tied Up") were released as singles to promote the album and reached numbers 3 and 38 on the US pop charts, respectively.
Olivia's Greatest Hits (also released as 20 Grootste Hits in the Netherlands and 20 Grandes Exitos in Argentina) includes songs released by Newton-John between 1971 and 1982. "Heart Attack" and "Tied Up" were also included on this collection.
The album only climbed to No. 16 on the Billboard 200, but spent over 80 weeks on the chart and ultimately ranked as the No. 10 album of 1983. This was the longest-charting album of Newton-John's career and her first non-soundtrack album to rank in the year-end Top 10. The album was certified double platinum by the RIAA in the US.
Olivia's Greatest Hits also peaked at number 8 with a 38-week chart run in the UK and became her only platinum certified non-soundtrack album there. 150,000 copies were shipped in Canada initially.Billboard (25 September 1982) MCA pushes gift-giving via Newton-John sicker Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Vol. 94, Nº 38, p. 54. Retrieved 20 January 2016. The album hit #1 in her native Australia, her third album to do so after the soundtracks to Grease and Xanadu.
Reception
The album was well received by music critics. JT Griffith from AllMusic website gave the album four out of five stars and wrote that the album "remains the best choice for casual fans who only want the roller-rink hits".
In their review, Billboard noted that "Newton-John's second hits collection reaffirms that she and John Farrar consistently make some of the best singles in the business, from silky ballads like "Magic" to frenetic workouts like "You're The One That I Want." Half of the songs here are from Newton-John's two feature films, "Grease" and "Xanadu." Also included are two new songs, the current single "Heart Attack" and a sinuous midtempo piece called "Tied Up" which Farrar cowrote with Lee Ritenour. Our only gripe is that this should have been a 12-cut LP and included the major hits "Summer Nights" and "Deeper Than The Night."
Track listing
Charts
Weekly charts +Weekly chart performance for Olivia's Greatest Hits Vol. 2 / Vol. 3 Chart (1982–1983) Peakposition Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) 1 Japanese Albums (Oricon) 12US Billboard 200Billboard Top LPs and Tapes 4 December 1982. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Vol. 94, Nº 48 p. 63. Retrieved 20 January 2016. 16US Cash Box Top Albums6 +Weekly chart performance for Olivia's Greatest Hits Chart (1982–1983) Peakposition
Year-end charts +1982 year-end chart performance for Olivia's Greatest Hits Vol. 2 Chart (1982) Position Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM) 41 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) 43 +1983 year-end chart performance for Olivia's Greatest Hits Vol. 2 Chart (1983) Position Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) 13 Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM) 66 US Billboard 200 10 + 2023 weekly chart performance for Olivia Newton-John's Greatest Hits Vol. 2 (Deluxe Edition)Chart (2023)PeakpositionUK Album Sales Chart(OCC)61
Certifications and sales
References
Sources
External links