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Have You Never Been Mellow is the fifth studio album by British-Australian singer Olivia Newton-John, released on 12 February 1975 by MCA Records.

Both the title single and the album rose to the top of their respective US charts (the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and the Billboard 200 albums chart). The title song and its follow-up, "Please Mr. Please", were both top 10 on three Billboard charts: the Hot 100, Adult Contemporary, and Country. The title song was Newton-John's first charting single in Japan, where it reached number 26 on the Oricon singles chart.

Newton-John received a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for her work on the song "Have You Never Been Mellow", but lost to "At Seventeen" by Janis Ian. The album was also named Favorite Pop/Rock Album at the American Music Awards of 1976, beating The Eagles and Elton John.

The album was certified Gold in the US.[1] The LP sold 169,380 in Japan.[2]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
The Village VoiceD+[4]

Rolling Stone noted that "with the huge success of Have You Never Been Mellow, Olivia Newton-John joins Helen Reddy and Karen Carpenter as one of the decade's three white female MOR superstars...Newton-John's records combine standard MOR production with instrumentation borrowed from country music, and Newton-John, who is British born, affects a country-girl personality convincingly enough to sell to the country as well as the pop market. Her voice is very pretty, especially in the upper register... She looks and sounds like a breathlessly innocent real-life doll. The smash title cut of her new album is its most ingenuous. Three other songs — "It's So Easy," "Please Mr. Please" and Rick Nelson's "Lifestream"—are possible follow-ups." [5]

AllMusic called the title track "a masterpiece of songwriting by her producer, John Farrar, an exquisitely pleasant melody with a sunny and peaceful theme." In their review of the entire album, critic Joe Viglione noted that "from beginning to end Have You Never Been Mellow is Olivia Newton-John showing why she could hold her own on the charts with as powerful a star as Elton John. Recorded at EMI Studios, London, it has impeccable sound and a special vibe." [6]

Track listings

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Have You Never Been Mellow"John Farrar3:33
2."Loving Arms"Tom Jans2:56
3."Lifestream"Ricky Nelson2:38
4."Goodbye Again"John Denver3:59
5."Water Under the Bridge"Petrina Lordan3:05
6."I Never Did Sing You a Love Song"David Nichtern2:47
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
7."It's So Easy"Hank Marvin, John Farrar3:10
8."The Air That I Breathe"
3:52
9."Follow Me"John Denver3:03
10."And in the Morning"Graeme Hall4:36
11."Please Mr. Please"
3:22
Japanese bonus track[7]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."I Honestly Love You"
3:22
Australian bonus track[8]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."If You Love Me (Let Me Know)"John Rostill3:12

Charts

Certifications and sales

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[20] 2× Platinum 200,000^
Japan — 169,380[11]
United States (RIAA)[21] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ "American album certifications – Olivia Newton-John – Have You Never Been Mellow". Recording Industry Association of America.
  2. ^ Okamoto, Satoshi (2006). Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. p. 349. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  3. ^ Viglione, Joe. Have You Never Been Mellow Review at AllMusic. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  4. ^ Christgau, Robert (17 March 1975). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
  5. ^ "Album Releases". Rolling Stone. No. Apr 24, 1975). Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  6. ^ https://www.allmusic.com/album/have-you-never-been-mellow-mw0000197927
  7. ^ "Olivia Newton-John - Have You Never Been Mellow". Discogs. 1975.
  8. ^ "Olivia Newton-John - Have You Never Been Mellow". Discogs. May 1975.
  9. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 217. ISBN 0646119176.
  10. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 3934a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  11. ^ a b Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  12. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  13. ^ "Olivia Newton-John Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  14. ^ "Olivia Newton-John Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  15. ^ "Cash Box Top Albums" (PDF). Cash Box. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  16. ^ "Cash Box Country Albums" (PDF). Cash Box. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  17. ^ "1975 Wrap Up". RPM. 24 December 1975. Retrieved 4 April 2022 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  18. ^ "1975 Year-End Billboard 200 Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  19. ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 1975". Billboard. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  20. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Olivia Newton-John – Have You Never Been Mellow". Music Canada. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  21. ^ "American album certifications – Olivia Newton-John – Have You Never Been Mellow". Recording Industry Association of America.
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