Totally Hot

Totally Hot
Totally Hot
Studio albumby Olivia Newton-John
Released	21 November 1978
Recorded	June–July 1978
Studio	Cherokee,Hollywood; Hollywood Sound, Hollywood; Group IV, Hollywood;
Genre	Pop rock; country pop;
Length	39:19
Label	MCA
Producer	John Farrar
Olivia Newton-Johnchronology
SinglesfromTotally Hot
	"A Little More Love"; Released: November 1978; "Totally Hot"; Released: March 1979 (EU); "Deeper Than the Night"; Released: April 1979 (US);

Totally Hotis the tenth studio album by British-Australian singerOlivia Newton-John,released on 21 November 1978. Commercially, it became her first top-ten album on theBillboard200chart sinceHave You Never Been Mellow(1975). Dressed on the album cover all in leather, Newton-John's transformation was seen to mirror her character Sandy's transformation inGrease.At the time,Totally Hotwas her most successful album and became her first album to receive aPlatinumcertification by theRecording Industry Association of America(RIAA).^[2]

Background and production

1978 was a big year for Newton-John, when her career soared after she starred in thefilm adaptationof the Broadway musicalGrease.She was offered the lead role of Sandy after meeting producerAllan Carrat a dinner party atHelen Reddy's home.^[3]The movie became the biggest box-office hit of 1978,^[4]andthe soundtrack albumwhich the former two songs were written and composed by her long-time music producer,John Farrar,specifically for the film,^[5]yielded three Top 5 singles for Newton-John^[6]and became one of the best-selling soundtracks of all time.^[7]

Newton-John's transformation inGreasefrom goody-goody "Sandy 1" tospandex-clad"Sandy 2" emboldened Newton-John to do the same with her music career. In November 1978, she releasedTotally Hot.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
Stereo Review	(favourable)^[8]

The album received mostly favourable reviews from music critics. Joe Viglione fromAllMusicwrote that the album "is one of the most fun albums from Olivia Newton John". He also said that "[the album] is one of her most satisfying projects" and "one of the more consistently entertaining albums in the collection".^[1]

Billboardpraised the album, noting that "Newton-John proves that she is more than just the queen of MOR. Six of the cuts here are up-tempo, including an explosive version of the Spencer Davis Group's" Gimme Some Lovin' "on which a hot Newton-John squeals, shouts and spits out the lyrics in a departure which will amaze her long-time fans and perhaps finally win over her detractors. The frenetic rocker" You're The One That I Want "set the stage for this musical shift, and Newton-John has seized the chance to broaden her musical appeal. To be sure there are some ballads here, but they aren't swamped with strings as has been the case in the past. Instead most of the cuts here feature a basic tight band sound."^[9]

Cashboxnoted that "the title of Olivia's first studio album in nearly two years describes her status since her eminently successful role inGrease.This album should only continue that streak since it contains enough ballads to please her fans of old plus enough sassy material to satisfy those who were won over by the punchy "You're The One That I Want." Of special note are the aggressive vocals on the title tune, an Allen Toussaint/New Orleans-styled tune and "Please Don't Keep Me Waiting," an ambitious cut which shows what Olivia can really do. "^[10]

Rolling Stonewere harsh in their criticism, referring to the album as "an abysmal, by-the-numbers affair probably whipped up by some leading exponents of the New Hollywood music scene to capitalize on Olivia Newton-John's less-than-incandescent performance in the film version ofGrease.While the queen of cotton-candy soul peers out in desperado drag from the album's inner sleeve, song titles like "Never Enough," "Totally Hot" and "Gimme Some Lovin'" promise the kind of down-and-dirty grit that Newton-John is scarcely equipped to deliver. The title track certainly elevates funk to new levels of weightlessness. And "A Little More Love," the one number that could conceivably arouse any interest, merely serves to showcase the singer's newly acquired rock squawk in the upper registers. "^[11]

Commercial performance

The album reached No. 30 in the UK (where it was also released as a limited editionpicture disc) and it was certified Gold.^[12]The album was a top 10 success in Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Israel, and Japan as well as a chart-topper in Ireland. The album was re-released in Japan during 2010. featuring two bonus tracks: an extended version of "Totally Hot" and "Love Is Alive" from her 1981 live album,Love Performance.

Although the album de-emphasised Newton-John's country sound, it still reached No. 4 on theBillboardCountry Albums chart.

Track listing

Side one

"Please Don't Keep Me Waiting" (Joe Falsia, Stephen Sinclair) – 5:51
"Dancin' 'Round and 'Round" (Adam Mitchell) – 4:02
"Talk to Me" (Olivia Newton-John) – 3:31
"Deeper Than the Night"(Tom Snow,Johnny Vastano) – 3:39
"Borrowed Time" (Olivia Newton-John) – 3:38

Side two

"A Little More Love"(John Farrar) – 3:29
"Never Enough" (John Farrar,Pat Farrar,Trevor Spencer,Alan Tarney) – 4:13
"Totally Hot"(John Farrar) – 3:14
"Boats Against the Current"(Eric Carmen) – 4:00
"Gimme Some Lovin'"(Spencer Davis,Muff Winwood,Steve Winwood) – 4:15

2010 Japanese SHM-CD bonus tracks

"Love Is Alive"(Live in Osaka, Japan, December 1976) – 3:04
"Totally Hot" (extended version) – 5:20

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album'sliner notes.

Olivia Newton-John – lead and backing vocals
Jai Winding – pianos (1, 2, 5–10), horn arrangements (8),organ(10)
Michael Boddicker– synthesizers (1, 2, 7)
David Foster– pianos (3)
Tom Snow– pianos (4)
John Farrar– guitars (1–5, 7–10), backing vocals (4, 8), all album arrangements
Steve Lukather– guitars (3, 6, 10),guitar synthesizersolo (7)
David McDaniels – bass guitar (1, 5)
David Hungate– bass guitar (2–4, 6–10)
Mike Botts– drums (1, 2, 5–10)
Ed Greene– drums (3, 4)
David Kemper– drums (6, 10)
Lenny Castro– percussion (3, 6, 8, 10)
Victor Feldman– percussion (4),vibraphone(4)
Marty Grebb– alto saxophone (3, 8)

Jerry Peterson – tenor saxophone (3, 8)
Chuck Findley– trombone (3, 8)
Steve Madaio – trumpet (3, 8)
James Newton Howard– string arrangements (9)
Sid Sharp – concertmaster (9)
Sandy Ighner – backing vocals (8)
Petsye Powell – backing vocals (8, 10)
Phyllis St. James – backing vocals (8)
Pattie Brooks– backing vocals (10)
Carolyn Dennis– backing vocals (10)
Roy Galloway – backing vocals (10)
Jim Gilstrap– backing vocals (10)
Patricia Henderson – backing vocals (10)
John Lehman – backing vocals (10)
Zedrich Turnbough – backing vocals (10)

Production

John Farrar – producer
David J. Holman – engineer, mixing
Michael Carnavale – second engineer
Terry Becker – second engineer
Betsy Banghart – second engineer
Bart Johnson – second engineer
Ron Garrett – second engineer
George Tutko – second engineer
Bob Mockler – second engineer
Allen Zentz – mastering

Studios

Recorded atCherokee Studios,Hollywood Sound Recorders and Group IV Recording Studios inHollywood,California.
Mixed at Indigo Ranch inMalibu, California.
Mastered at Allen Zentz Mastering in Hollywood, California.

Design

Ria Lewerke – art direction, design
Claude Mougin – photography
Fleur Thiemeyer – costume design

Business

MCA Records–record label,US copyright owner(1978)
EMI Records– record label, UK copyright owner(1978)
Interfusion Records – record label, Australian copyright owner(1978)

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance forTotally Hot
Chart (1978)	Peak position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)^[13]	7
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)^[14]	5
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[15]	5
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)^[16]	25
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[17]	18
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)^[18]	4
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)^[19]	9
UK Albums(OCC)^[20]	30
USBillboard200^[21]	7
USTop Country Albums(Billboard)^[22]	4
USCash BoxTop 100 Albums^[23]	5
USCash BoxCountry Albums^[24]	7
Japanese Oricon LP Chart^[25]	9

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance forTotally Hot
Chart (1979)	Position
USBillboard200^[26]	35
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)^[27]	14

Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales forTotally Hot
Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)^[28]	Platinum	100,000^{^}
Netherlands (NVPI)^[29]	Gold	50,000^{^}
United Kingdom (BPI)^[30]	Gold	100,000^{^}
United States (RIAA)^[31]	Platinum	1,000,000^{^}
^{^}Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

^^a ^b ^c ^dAllMusic review: Totally HotAllmusic.com. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
^"American album certifications – Olivia Newton-John – Totally Hot".Recording Industry Association of America.
^Windeler, Robert (31 July 1978)."Ohh Sandy! – Olivia Newton-John".People.Retrieved10 November2008.
^"IMDb Top Box Office".IMDb.
^"'Grease' at 40: Olivia Newton-John, Frankie Valli & John Farrar Reflect on the Blockbuster Songs ".Billboard.Retrieved6 September2019.
^"Grease (Musical) Songs".StageAgent.Retrieved6 September2019.
^"The 15 best-selling movie soundtracks of all time".Business Insider.Retrieved5 July2017.
^Olivia Newton John: Totally Hot.Stereo Review.March 1979.
^"Album Reviews"(PDF).Billboard Music Week.No. 18 November 1978. p. 74.Retrieved1 August2024.
^"Album Reviews"(PDF).Cash Box.No. 18 November 1978. p. 19.Retrieved1 August2024.
^"Album Releases".Rolling Stone.No. May 17, 1979).Retrieved1 August2024.
^"British album certifications – Olivia Newton-John – Totally Hot".British Phonographic Industry.Selectalbumsin the Format field.TypeTotally Hotin the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
^Kent, David(1993).Australian Chart Book 1970–1992.St Ives, NSW:Australian Chart Book Ltd.ISBN 0-646-11917-6.Note: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1974 untilAustralian Recording Industry Association(ARIA) created their ownchartsin mid-1988. In 1992, Kent back calculated chart positions for 1970–1974.
^"Top RPM Albums: Issue 0124a".RPM.Library and Archives Canada.Retrieved 28 July 2013.
^"Dutchcharts.nl – Olivia Newton-John – Totally Hot"(in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
^Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Olivia Newton-John".Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021(PDF)(in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 183.Retrieved24 August2022.
^"Charts.nz – Olivia Newton-John – Totally Hot".Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
^"Norwegiancharts.com – Olivia Newton-John – Totally Hot".Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
^"Swedishcharts.com – Olivia Newton-John – Totally Hot".Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
^"Olivia Newton-John | Artist | Official Charts".UK Albums Chart.Retrieved 21 May 2016.
^"Olivia Newton-John Chart History (Billboard200) ".Billboard.Retrieved 8 October 2016.
^"Olivia Newton-John Chart History (Top Country Albums)".Billboard.Retrieved 8 October 2016.
^"Cash Box Top 100 Albums"(PDF).Cash Box.p. 50.Retrieved14 August2022.
^"Cash Box Country Top 75 Albums"(PDF).Cash Box.p. 33.Retrieved14 August2022.
^Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005.Roppongi,Tokyo:Oricon Entertainment. 2006.ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
^"1979 Year-EndBillboard200 Albums ".Billboard.Retrieved19 August2021.
^"Top Country Albums – Year-End 1979".Billboard.Retrieved19 August2021.
^"Canadian album certifications – Olivia Newton-John – Totally Hot".Music Canada.
^"Dutch album certifications – Olivia Newton-John – Totally Hot"(in Dutch).Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers.Retrieved14 April2019.EnterTotally Hotin the "Artiest of titel" box.Select1979in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
^"British album certifications – Olivia Newton-John – Totally Hot".British Phonographic Industry.Selectalbumsin the Format field.SelectGoldin the Certification field.TypeTotally Hotin the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
^"American album certifications – Olivia Newton-John – Totally Hot".Recording Industry Association of America.

[AM-1] AllMusic review: Totally HotAllmusic.com. Retrieved 26 November 2016.

[2] "American album certifications – Olivia Newton-John – Totally Hot".Recording Industry Association of America.

[autogenerated1-3] Windeler, Robert (31 July 1978)."Ohh Sandy! – Olivia Newton-John".People.Retrieved10 November2008.

[4] "IMDb Top Box Office".IMDb.

[:1-5] "'Grease' at 40: Olivia Newton-John, Frankie Valli & John Farrar Reflect on the Blockbuster Songs ".Billboard.Retrieved6 September2019.

[6] "Grease (Musical) Songs".StageAgent.Retrieved6 September2019.

[7] "The 15 best-selling movie soundtracks of all time".Business Insider.Retrieved5 July2017.

[8] Olivia Newton John: Totally Hot.Stereo Review.March 1979.

[Billboard19610828-9] "Album Reviews"(PDF).Billboard Music Week.No. 18 November 1978. p. 74.Retrieved1 August2024.

[10] "Album Reviews"(PDF).Cash Box.No. 18 November 1978. p. 19.Retrieved1 August2024.

[11] "Album Releases".Rolling Stone.No. May 17, 1979).Retrieved1 August2024.

[12] "British album certifications – Olivia Newton-John – Totally Hot".British Phonographic Industry.Selectalbumsin the Format field.TypeTotally Hotin the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.

[Kent-13] Kent, David(1993).Australian Chart Book 1970–1992.St Ives, NSW:Australian Chart Book Ltd.ISBN 0-646-11917-6.Note: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1974 untilAustralian Recording Industry Association(ARIA) created their ownchartsin mid-1988. In 1992, Kent back calculated chart positions for 1970–1974.

[group=-14] "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0124a".RPM.Library and Archives Canada.Retrieved 28 July 2013.

[ac_Netherlands_Olivia_Newton-John-15] "Dutchcharts.nl – Olivia Newton-John – Totally Hot"(in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.

[16] Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Olivia Newton-John".Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021(PDF)(in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 183.Retrieved24 August2022.

[ac_New_Zealand_Olivia_Newton-John-17] "Charts.nz – Olivia Newton-John – Totally Hot".Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.

[ac_Norway_Olivia_Newton-John-18] "Norwegiancharts.com – Olivia Newton-John – Totally Hot".Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.

[ac_Sweden_Olivia_Newton-John-19] "Swedishcharts.com – Olivia Newton-John – Totally Hot".Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.

[ac_UK_Olivia_Newton-John-20] "Olivia Newton-John | Artist | Official Charts".UK Albums Chart.Retrieved 21 May 2016.

[ac_Billboard200_Olivia_Newton-John-21] "Olivia Newton-John Chart History (Billboard200) ".Billboard.Retrieved 8 October 2016.

[ac_BillboardCountry_Olivia_Newton-John-22] "Olivia Newton-John Chart History (Top Country Albums)".Billboard.Retrieved 8 October 2016.

[23] "Cash Box Top 100 Albums"(PDF).Cash Box.p. 50.Retrieved14 August2022.

[24] "Cash Box Country Top 75 Albums"(PDF).Cash Box.p. 33.Retrieved14 August2022.

[JPCB-25] Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005.Roppongi,Tokyo:Oricon Entertainment. 2006.ISBN 4-87131-077-9.

[26] "1979 Year-EndBillboard200 Albums ".Billboard.Retrieved19 August2021.

[27] "Top Country Albums – Year-End 1979".Billboard.Retrieved19 August2021.

[CanadaOlivia_Newton-JohnTotally_HotalbumCertRef-28] "Canadian album certifications – Olivia Newton-John – Totally Hot".Music Canada.

[NetherlandsOlivia_Newton-JohnTotally_HotalbumCertRef-29] "Dutch album certifications – Olivia Newton-John – Totally Hot"(in Dutch).Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers.Retrieved14 April2019.EnterTotally Hotin the "Artiest of titel" box.Select1979in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".

[United_KingdomOlivia_Newton-JohnTotally_HotalbumCertRef-30] "British album certifications – Olivia Newton-John – Totally Hot".British Phonographic Industry.Selectalbumsin the Format field.SelectGoldin the Certification field.TypeTotally Hotin the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.

[United_StatesOlivia_Newton-JohnTotally_HotalbumCertRef-31] "American album certifications – Olivia Newton-John – Totally Hot".Recording Industry Association of America.

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v t e Olivia Newton-John
Albums Singles Videography Tours Awards and honours
Studio albums	If Not for You Olivia Let Me Be There Long Live Love Have You Never Been Mellow Clearly Love Come On Over Don't Stop Believin' Making a Good Thing Better Totally Hot Physical Soul Kiss The Rumour Warm and Tender Gaia: One Woman's Journey Back with a Heart 2 Indigo: Women of Song Stronger Than Before Grace and Gratitude Christmas Wish A Celebration in Song This Christmas Liv On Friends for Christmas
Compilations	If You Love Me, Let Me Know First Impressions Greatest Hits Greatest Hits Vol. 2 Back to Basics: The Essential Collection 1971–1992 The Definitive Collection Magic Gold 40/40: The Best Selection Hopelessly Devoted: The Hits Just the Two of Us: The Duets Collection (Vol. 1) Just the Two of Us: The Duets Collection (Vol. 2)
Live albums	Love Performance Highlights from The Main Event One Woman's Live Journey Olivia's Live Hits Two Strong Hearts Live
Soundtracks	Grease Xanadu Two of a Kind A Few Best Men
EPs	Hotel Sessions
Video releases	Olivia Physical Olivia in Concert Twist of Fate Soul Kiss Olivia Down Under The Main Event Video Gold Live at the Sydney Opera House
Singles	"Till You Say You'll Be Mine" "If Not for You" "Banks of the Ohio" "What Is Life" "Just a Little Too Much" "Take Me Home, Country Roads" "Let Me Be There" "Long Live Love" "I Honestly Love You" "If You Love Me, Let Me Know" "Have You Never Been Mellow" "Please Mr. Please" "Something Better to Do" "Let It Shine" "Come on Over" "Jolene" "Don't Stop Believin'" "Every Face Tells a Story" "Sam" "Making a Good Thing Better" "You're the One That I Want" "Hopelessly Devoted to You" "Summer Nights" "A Little More Love" "Deeper Than the Night" "Totally Hot"/"Dancin' Round and Round" "I Can't Help It" "Rest Your Love on Me" "Magic" "Xanadu" "Suddenly" "Physical" "Make a Move on Me" "Landslide" "Heart Attack" "Tied Up" "Twist of Fate" "Soul Kiss" "The Best of Me" "The Rumour" "Reach Out for Me" "When You Wish Upon a Star" "The Grease Megamix" "Grease: The Dream Mix" "I Need Love"
Featured singles	"You Have to Believe"
Other songs	"Me and Bobby McGee" "If" "Help Me Make It Through the Night" "If You Could Read My Mind" "Angel of the Morning" "Everything I Own" "God Only Knows" "The Air That I Breathe" "Love Is Alive" "Ring of Fire" "Slow Dancing"
Concert tours	Physical Tour One Woman's Journey Tour Heartstrings World Tour A Summer Night with ONJ Summer Nights Two Strong Hearts Live
Related articles	Toomorrow(soundtrack) Olivia Newton-John: Hopelessly Devoted to You Max Born Pat Carroll John Farrar Tottie Goldsmith Chloe Lattanzi(daughter) Matt Lattanzi(first husband) Emerson Newton-John(nephew)
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