The voice of an angel. A.M. Radio’s sweetheart. Olivia Newton-John, who is also MY sweetheart. As a little boy, I recognized the gift she gave us with her voice. Chris and I had an opportunity to meet her a few years back, after her concert in the round, and I got a chance to tell her the story I’m about to share. I remember being a tiny little Nicky, sitting on the stairs watching my mom do the laundry. Have You Never Been Mellow came on W.G.B.B. and my mother started humming along and said to me, 'Nicky, this is what an angel sounds like.' I can never forget that moment, etched on my heart and in my memory until I die. Then I grew up and Olivia’s sound changed a little, but her voice was still as sweet and perfect as always. And in the confines of that room in the Poconos I discovered the soundtrack to Xanadu. And Suddenly, a duet with Cliff Richard, entered the top 10 with continuous radio air play. I think it may have been the most beautiful love song I had ever heard. Though I had no experience with love, I recognized the emotion and the beauty. As an adult I understand the true gift of Olivia’s voice. Such a rare thing to possess. And now when I listen to these songs, not only am I taken back to wondrous, simpler times, I am immediately calmed. Her music calms this savage wildebeest.
From the historical writing archive. Original date: December 18, 2015. Recovered from local source material; editorial review is still in progress.
