Let Me Be There by Olivia Newton-John

Let Me Be There

1973

Olivia Newton-John

Olivia Newton-John fell off the charts for a couple of years after she released 'If Not For You'. Oh, she was still as lovely, her voice still as sweet and pretty, and everyone loved that Aussie accent...but her single releases just didn't quite jell for some reason. They didn't, anyway, until 1973 when she teamed up with Songwriter John Rostill and vocalist Mike Sammes, who sang bass harmony on a couple of her hits, and released her first true Country-Pop cross over hit...Let Me Be There.

Let Me Be There was not actually written as a crossover song...it was written as a Country song. Not only was it written as a Country song, it cracked the top 10 on the Country charts (#7 there) and won her the Grammy for Best Female Country Vocalist. And when you listen to the song...well it is a country song. There's really nothing about Pop about it. From that familiar, and catchy guitar lead in and instrumental accompaniment to the tempo and beat. “let Me Be There' was solid, classic, 70's Country.

Then 'Some Record-Spinnin' Dee-Jay' somewhere on a Top 40 station got hold of it and played it...and it got more Top-40 airplay...and we realized 'Our Livvie is back!!!' And, at least when she was singing, Top 40 music had a sudden Country flair to it.

I can't remember exactly when 'Let Me Be There' came out in '73, but I definitely remember it suddenly being all over WLEE and WRVQ, who were still vying for Top 40 listeners in Richmond, Va and environs there-of. (Though 'Q-94' was pulling away from 'Big LEE' in a big way by then.). And I remember people not being able to resist finger snapping, and bopping to it (Whether they wanted to or not...lot's of Liv's music had that effect on you!)

Seventies Kids just fell in love with Olivia and her music. She was a certifiable babe, and her music was light, fun, infectious and effervescent. 'Let Me Be There' climbed the charts to #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 without even breaking a sweat, doing one position better than it's Country chart performance when it did so. And to show just how much we loved her, we bought both the single,as well as the album that 'Let Me Be There' was the title track of. The single was certified 'Gold' on February 8^th, 1974, and the album followed 7 months later, on October 14^th. Liv was on the Hot 100 to stay for awhile.

You'll still hear this occasionally on the Oldies stations, especially if they have a 'Hits of The Seventies' feature, or feature the top songs of 1973. It's just as light and fun now, 40 years after it was released, as it was back in '73, and it's always fun to hear it and remember when America fell head over heels in love with a cute Australian singer named 'Livvie'

So enjoy! With some pictures of Lovely Liv (There can never be too many of those!) Let Me Be There, by Olivia Newton John.

And as a bonus, a live performance from England, recorded in 1973.

Bonus Two! Another live performance from Australia in 2004. Still lovely, still awesome! Don't let the slow intro fool, ya! She solid kicks it at 1:10! I know ya sang along...and you were grinning ear-ear after watching this!