| Let Me Be There | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Olivia Newton-John |
| Cover: | Let me be there.jpg |
| Released: | November 1973 |
| Recorded: | May – June 1973 |
| Studio: | MCA Recording Studios in Universal City California |
| Length: | 42:09 |
| Label: | Festival / MCA (US) |
| Producer: | |
| Prev Title: | Olivia |
| Prev Year: | 1972 |
| Next Title: | Long Live Love |
| Next Year: | 1974 |
Let Me Be There is the third studio album by British-Australian singer Olivia Newton-John. It was originally released in November 1973 as Music Makes My Day in the United Kingdom, by Pye International Records, and shortly after in Australia as Let Me Be There, which became its most recognisable name. In the United States and Canada, Let Me Be There was released with an alternative tracklist, combining songs from the original release with other tracks from Newton-John's previous albums If Not for You and Olivia.
Let Me Be There marked a shift in Newton-John's career. She achieved considerable success during her early years in the United Kingdom with some folk-inspired singles, but Let Me Be There would make the United States her largest market at the time, being considered her breakthrough album in this country and influencing an inclination to a more country pop sound that would define most of her next records in the 1970s. The songs "Take Me Home, Country Roads" and "Let Me Be There" were released as singles from the album.
The American publication of the album by MCA Records used the cover art from Olivia's 1972 LP record Olivia, which was not released by MCA. Some of its songs were taken for the US publication, such as song titles from the British publications of the albums If Not for You and Olivia. The album was not released outside of North America, the UK, Ireland and Australasia. An album with the same title and cover art was released in Japan, but with the same track listing as First Impressions.
Though the title song was a commercial failure in England, it was Olivia Newton-John's first American top ten hit, successfully boosting her singing career in North America. She had previously charted in the Billboard Top 40 with the song "If Not for You".
Billboard noted that the album was a "mixture of cuts from previous LP's of this versatile Australian songstress who serves up a pleasing set of country, rock and ballads including her current hit, 'Let Me Be There.[1]
Olivia's new LP on MCA is as beautiful as she is, sparkling with the kind of fervent intensity rarely heard from a young performer. Definitely country flavored, the album is a slick combination of ballads and uptempo swingers. The title track is a warm, compelling piece and Olivia really delivers on versions of John Denver's, "Take Me Home, Country Roads" and Kris Kristofferson's "Me And Bobby McGee."There's a beautifully shy but sexy cut of Johnny Burnette's "Just A Little Too Much" and an outstanding version of Dylan's "If Not For You." Olivia has it all.
AllMusic editor Joe Viglione wrote in his retrospective review: "It's early Newton-John, a bit naïve and far from the sophistication of her Warm and Tender release on Geffen, but it works, especially because it contains her first two hit records."
The album was released to capitalise on the success of its title track that had earned Newton-John a Grammy for Best Country Female. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA in 1974,[3] and it peaked at No. 54 on the US Pop chart and at No. 1 (for two weeks) on the Country chart.
All songs produced by John Farrar and Bruce Welch.[4]
In the United States, the album was released with artwork from her 1972 Olivia album and some different songs from this and some earlier Newton-John albums.
Performers and musicians
| US Cashbox Top Albums[5] | 36 | |
|---|---|---|
| US Cashbox Country Albums[6] | 3 | |
| Japanese Oricon LP Chart[7] | 25 |
| US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[8] | 2 |
|---|