Olivia Newton-John's Hollywood Nights (1980.04.14)

On April 14th. 1980, ABC offered their viewers a very "Hollywood" evening with the 52nd Academy Awards Ceremony.
Leading up to it, Olivia Newton-John's music was showcased in a 1-hour television special, with the help of many guests : Andy Gibb, Cliff Richard, Elton John, Toni Tenille, Tina Turner, Peaches, Karen Carpenter, Ted Knight, Dick Clark and Gene Kelly.

 

At that time, Olivia was long done with promoting Grease and her Totally Hot album. She only had a single out - the lovely duet with Andy Gibb I can't help it - and had recently wrapped her second major movie Xanadu with co-stars Michael Beck and Gene Kelly, so even though she was planting the seeds for her upcoming musical venture (the Xanadu soundtrack), she wasn't that much under the pressure of promoting new material (with the excpetion of her duet with Andy Gibb and the Xanadu song Suddenly, performed with Cliff Richard).

The special included songs from Grease and the Totally Hot album as well as some other artists' covers : the Eagles, Bob Seger, Elton John and Buddy Holly. Olivia also performed a parody of the jazz/blues classic Makin' Whoopee with Gene Kelly, changing the lyrics to Makin' Movies and dealing with Olivia's dream of producing a musical.

The show was aired internationally and did very well in the ratings, as did her two previous US television specials on the same network. It is to be noted that Tina Turner's appearance on Olivia's special helped her sign a contract with then Olivia's manager Roger Davies, who ultimately helped her to go back into the spotlight.

 

Credits :
executive producer : Lee Kramer
produced by Alan Thicke
directed by Jeff Margolis
choreographer : Kenny Ortega
costumes designed by Fleur Thiemeyer
musical director : Lee Ritenour
music consultant : John Farrar

Hollywood Nights
Deeper than the Night / Hopelessly devoted to you / A little more Love
Skit (incl. Let me be there)
I can't help it (w. Andy Gibb)
Oh Boy! (w. Andy Gibb, Cliff Richard & Elton John)
Suddenly (w. Cliff Richard)
Makin' Movies (w. Gene Kelly)
Gimme some lovin'
Candle in the Wind (w. Elton John)
Little Jeanie (Elton John)
Heartache Tonight (w. Toni Tenille, Tina Turner, Peaches, Karen Carpenter, Andy Gibb, Cliff Richard & Elton John)
I honestly love you

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