Juliana appears on Episode 134 of Al Melchior’s You, Me and An Album podcast:
Indie rock icon Juliana Hatfield pays YMAAA a visit to talk about the soundtrack album for the 1980 musical motion picture, Xanadu, which features Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra. Juliana talks about being a fan of both artists growing up, her Olivia Newton-John covers album and her upcoming ELO covers album and the difficulties involved in covering other artists’ songs in general.
Available to order now from American Laundromat Records.
Recorded earlier in the year during her tour, here's Juliana performing 3 acoustic covers for WUWM at the Lake Effect Performance Studios in Milwaukee. You can hear the original broadcast including an interview at wuwm.com.
Juliana is interviewed by Craig Rosen, talking about her Olivia Newton-John and Police projects as part of a feature at Tidal on the subject of covers:
Hatfield admits that she has done at least one ironic cover, in her earlier days. Earwig, a 1989 album by Hatfield’s band the Blake Babies, featured a cover of the Stooges’ highly sexualized anthem “Loose.” “That was a little ironic,” she says. “It was also kind of a joke, because I was a virgin at that time and I was singing this cock-rock song.”
These days, Hatfield says she’s no longer interested in being ironic. “What’s the point in belittling anything that was made with love?” she says. “Music is really precious, but it’s complicated because it’s all caught up in commerce. You have to be careful. If you’re going to knock something publicly, there has to be a real reason for it.”
The two songs from the bonus 7-inch single for Juliana's 2018 Olivia Newton-John tribute album are now more widely available.
Deeper Than The Night and Heart Attack are now on streaming and download stores including Spotify, Apple Music, and iTunes.
American Laundromat Records:
To celebrate the one-year anniversary of Juliana's Olivia Newton-John tribute, we're doing a very special 500 unit LP pressing with alternative cover art and cool vinyl colors. Please note in addition to the Cream and Pink/Purple Splash available on our website, there are 100 translucent clear vinyl that will only be available at select independent record shops.
Orders are being taken now with shipping anticipated for February 14, 2019. Ordering info and details of the indie shops at:
https://www.alr-music.com/collections/out-now/products/juliana-hatfield-sings-olivia-newton-john
The album only came out in April so it's unclear which calendar they have at ALR for their "one-year anniversary," but this is some pretty vinyl and lovely artwork nonetheless!
On the subject of the ON-J tribute, it is now owned by John Farrar, who wrote many of the songs and produced their original recordings:
Giving the incomparable John Farrar @julianahatfield CD for his belated Birthday! Birthday 🎁 🍰 🎂 pic.twitter.com/x72FuSwnEl
— lisa locicero (@lisalocicerogh) December 10, 2018
Lyndsey Parker, writing for Yahoo Music at the conclusion of an interview with Juliana focused on the Olivia Newton-John covers album:
Hatfield’s next album of originals, Weird, comes out Jan. 18. So, will Weird be influenced by Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John? “I think everything I do is influenced by my love for Olivia Newton-John,” Hatfield answers. “She has an authenticity and a humility that you don’t always see in every megastar. Yeah, she put on the costumes and the hair and makeup and all that jazz, but she was never pushing it too hard. It seemed like she always had this sort of quiet confidence in who she was, and she didn’t have to pretend to be anything that she wasn’t. I will always respond to that in some way.”
Juliana appeared on stage for an encore at Liz Phair's show at Royale Boston last night (Oct 8, 2018.)
She performed Olivia Newton-John's Please Mr. Please with Liz and Speedy Ortiz's Sadie Dupuis.
Liz, Juliana and Sadie sing ONJ! 💫 pic.twitter.com/1Tfygswu0P
— Andrea Feldman (@visaforviolet) October 9, 2018
The truth is, this is the first night Juliana and I ever met. The old industry separated female artists, almost pitted them against each other in the press. Now we’re sewing up the gaps. I love you @julianahatfield thank you so much https://t.co/Aa6pciJCCl
— Liz Phair (@PhizLair) October 9, 2018
Released on SoundCloud today and previously only available on a 7 inch bonus single sold with the Olivia Newton-John covers album, here's Juliana's version of Deeper Than The Night.
Another batch of reviews for Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John, with thanks again to Carlos Lopez for many of these links:
Jim Fusilli, The Wall Street Journal:
At its best moments, the album finds Ms. Hatfield paying respect, but not fealty, to Ms. Newton-John’s familiar versions. Its best cuts—including “Dancin’ ’Round and ’Round” and “A Little More Love,” both from “Totally Hot”—call to mind not the originator, but the bright side of Ms. Hatfield, thus liberating the recording from the glum responsibilities of a nostalgia exercise.
Maura Johnston, Rolling Stone:
Pop supernova Olivia Newton-John and alt-pop heroine Juliana Hatfield both possess winsome sopranos, and this delightful album filters Newton-John's biggest hits through Hatfield's slightly grungier sensibility. Hatfield's obvious affinity for the source material is evident throughout, with her coy take on the late-Seventies smash "A Little More Love" and her heartfelt version of the Grease showstopper "Hopelessly Devoted to You" being particular highlights.
Robert Peacock, The Wee Review:
This album’s niche, then, but not pure gimmick. You might need to love both women to truly love this album, but you wouldn’t be disappointed if you were a fan of either, or even a curious bystander. Respect to Hatfield for being so hopelessly devoted to Newton-John and full marks for the cover art which does a good job of capturing the vibe.
Grant Walters, Albumism (5/5):
If you’re a fan of Newton-John’s or Hatfield’s, there are plenty of reasons you’ll want to put this record on and bask in its thoughtfulness. If you’re not familiar with either but appreciate an intuitive, talented artist giving voice to a batch of compelling compositions, this album’s for you too.
Jeff Rogers, saukvalley.com:
That new take on old songs works best where you might least expect it. Hatfield’s version of “Physical” is fun, where the original was kind of annoying. A reworking of “Xanadu” dials down the gloss just enough to let the subtle, fuzzy guitar give the undeniable earworm of a song an interesting twist. Same with “Hopelessly Devoted to You” and “A Little More Love.”
Hyperbolium, No Depression:
Hatfield has internalized these songs and their artist in a thousand bedroom and car singalongs, and filters them through the original artistry they helped inspire. The contentment of “Have You Never Been Mellow” retains its optimistic mid-70s introspection while being deepened by Hatfield’s additional decades of life experience, and “Hopelessly Devoted to You” could just as easily be Hatfield singing about Newton-John as it was Sandy singing about Danny. This is a treat for fans of both Newton-John and Hatfield, and the only thing missing are some Grease photo cards to stick inside your locker.
Ian Rushbury, Under The Radar:
There's a great mix of reverence and alt-rock on this record, which moves Sings Olivia Newton-John from an idea that was better in planning than in practice onto a different level. About two or three songs into the album, you'll forget that it's a "concept" album and just enjoy it for what it is—a really strong collection of songs that just happen to come from an unlikely source. Now all we have to do is wait for the Olivia Newton John Sings Juliana Hatfield album.
Juilana, interviewed by Allyson McCabe for an excellent article in The Rumpus:
Rumpus: I think you can even see it at the end of Grease, in her transformation from Sandra Dee to Sandy, although it takes the form of a makeover and a cigarette and some spandex pants.
Hatfield: I choose to look at the end of Grease in a different way. It’s too depressing to think, Oh, you just have to whore it up and you’ll get everything. You’ll get the man. You’ll get the happiness. I think at the end of Grease it’s more like she’s acknowledging that this is just a role that girls play, it was a wink, and just playful. And I think that’s what saves the ending of Grease. It’s a role she’s playing, but we’re all in the know.
Having said that, I think another part of why I have such an affinity for Olivia Newton-John is because I have had my own struggles with being perceived as a “good girl.” She’s really seen as someone who’s cute and sweet, and people have put her in that box, and I feel like some people have wanted to put me in that same kind of box. Sometimes I also feel like I’m limited by my own sense of right and wrong.
Rumpus: Tell me more.
Hatfield: Sandy’s character was kind of cursed to be a good girl, not just being perceived that way, but actually that is her nature, and she can’t escape it. And I felt that way too, like I was an outcast in high school because my peers were drinking, and having sex, and doing drugs, and I wasn’t and I couldn’t. I still wanted to hang out with these people, and they were my friends, but I felt like an outcast because I was not breaking the rules.
If you read just one of the interviews Juliana has given on the Olivia Newton-John covers album, make it this one.
This is marvellous.
I'm breaking my Twitter silence in the name of ART. I love @julianahatfield's new album of @olivianj covers. Here is a 50/50 mix of Juliana and Olivia performing "Xanadu" together as a duet. I fear NO ONE ELSE would do this and the world needed to have it. https://t.co/tURWfnHK43 pic.twitter.com/NawCW0G3kl
— Jake Fogelnest (@jakefogelnest) April 14, 2018
Endorsed by jh too:
ohmygod i love this thank you...i'm so glad i did these songs in the original keys https://t.co/Kj3LrO8Naq
— Juliana Hatfield (@julianahatfield) April 14, 2018
JG: Do you think that your fans listening might reassess your catalog as well, listening to it alongside these Olivia Newton-John songs?
JH: Maybe they will discover, as I am, that I have been more influenced by her musically than I ever realized. I thought I just loved her music, but, now when I go back and listen to my stuff, I can see similarities in some of the ways that I layer vocal harmonies against melody, and the way I orchestrate some of the backing keyboards and guitars and things. I think theres a Olivia Newton-John influence in some of my music. Just melodically, I love really pretty, melodious tunes and that’s something I love about her. I love the kind of melodies that move a lot. Yeah, I think there are similarities between us.
Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John is released today by American Laundromat Records. It's available on the major streaming / download sites, and on cd, cassette and vinyl direct form the label.
It seems that most of us who pre-ordered have had the album for the last week or two.
I agree with what seems to be a universal consensus - it's a wonderful idea, superbly executed. It is the perfect way to follow Pussycat.
With thanks as ever to Carlos Lopez for many of the links that appear on these pages, here are some of the reviews:
Gina, Fools Rush In:
Hatfield says in her liner notes that she has always found Newton-John’s work inspiring and positive, and that completely virtuous stance shines through in her interpretations of it: there’s nothing cynical or kitschy in her choice of artist. Unlike the usual goofy ‘70s covers many bands choose, there’s absolutely no irony here: instead, Hatfield successfully injects her vision into ours, so that, at the end of the record, rather than dismissing her, we learn to have that same kind of faith in her too.
Chris Martin, Atlanta Auditory Association:
If I had not known this was an album of ONJ songs I would swear the rocking “Totally Hot” and “Make a Move On Me” were Hatfield originals. If you ever listen to Hatfield’s music, then you know disco is far from her sound, so I was curious as to how she would handle the tunes “Magic” and “Xanadu”. Staying true to the originals she nails both giving them a hint of the disco vibe while grounding them with perfectly placed guitars.
Jeff Gemill, The Old Grey Cat:
Aside from a sped-up “Dancin’ ‘Round and ‘Round,” the arrangements hew close to the originals, though the pop and pop-country overtones are replaced with the punky pop-rock embellishments that have long accented Juliana’s work. Electric guitars are often at the fore – even on the opener, “I Honestly Love You,” which is raw and real.
The epiphany: These songs are as much a reflection of Juliana’s soul as her own compositions. It’s “This Lonely Love” brought into the open for all to see and share.
aLfie vera mella, Cryptic Rock (5/5):
The 1980s and the 1990s may be both heralded as prolific and proficient ages of music in terms of outputs and stylistic diversity. Taking this into consideration, Hatfield’s homage to Newton-John is a completion of a circle. It is, therefore, a doubly worthy contribution to the 2010s own streak of musical greatness that is surely to be hailed in the decades to come. CrypticRock gives Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John 5 out of 5 stars.
Glenn Gamboa, Newsday (4.5/5):
With “Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John” (American Laundromat), Hatfield not only showcases the sturdiness of Newton-John’s undeniable catalog, which spans country, pop and rock, but by amping up the edges serves as a reminder of the barriers the Aussie singer broke through in the ’70s.
Christopher Long, Ink 19:
For longtime Newton-John admirers, the 14-track collection will take ya on a friendly-feeling trip down memory lane. However, it’s the non Newton-John fans – the young folks who weren’t around back in the old days, as well as Hatfield’s fervent followers, who will reap the greatest joy from this set, as it stands tall on its own, simply as a solid, new rock release.
Juliana, speaking to Geoffrey Himes for an article in Paste Magazine:
“For my whole career, without consciously realizing it,” Hatfield says, “I’ve been trying to integrate Olivia and X, the sweet pop and the messy punk. I’ve always had those two sides to me, not only in what I play but also in what I listen to. I veer back and forth like a pendulum. On this new record, I felt the need to rough up Olivia’s songs, to muss up their hair, to add a little grime. Because that’s who I am; I’m not as pristine or as strong a singer as her. So I had to play to my own strengths—to my scrappiness.”
Juliana played ONCE Ballroom in Somerville, MA last night (April 6) in a show to celebrate her new Olivia Newton-John covers album and the vinyl reissue of Hey Babe.
What a set list:
Thanks to Charlie for the annotated set list photo (and info: "The order of the last two was swapped... five piece band (2g, b, d, k) with sometimes a sixth member (ag or 2nd k) and sometimes a seventh (bv)... solo means guitar solo, not alone!")
All other photos courtesy of David Young of Dry Eye Photography.
Juliana, interviewed by Victoria Wasylak for Vanyaland:
VW: As someone who’s been an influence on you, what qualities of hers [Olivia Newton-John] have you tried to put into your own music?
JH: I don’t know if I’d call her an influence, it’s more like I liked what her music made me feel. It made me feel happy in a visceral way, like the sound of her voice was just very pleasing to my sensibilities. I just felt an affinity with her sense of melody and harmony, because I also love to sing really wide-ranging melodies, with lots of layers of harmonies and vocals. I think it’s like a shared sensibility, maybe. Her voice is not rock and roll, and my voice is not rock and roll either. I always wanted to have a rock and roll voice but I didn’t, so I guess I was truly drawn to her because she also had a kind of non-rock voice, and that was part of the affinity I had for her.
VW: When you went about recording this album, did you change anything in any of the songs?
JH: It was a challenge to decide with each song how much I wanted to veer away from the original and how close I wanted to stay. There were choices I was making for each song. Some of them are pretty faithful to the original versions, whereas other ones I kind of reinterpreted a little. There’s a song called “Make A Move On Me,” which Olivia’s version is kind of swing, but we straightened it up so it’s more of a caveman rock feel. “Hopelessly Devoted To You” is really pretty close [to the original], I didn’t change a whole lot, except I added one distorted guitar in the chorus. Just little choices. It depends on the song how close it is to the original. Like an instinct, each song seemed to tell me what it needed.
