Olivia Newton-John, A Few Best Men soundtrack (Universal) **** (From York Press)

Olivia Newton-John, A Few Best Men soundtrack (Universal) ****

12:12pm Friday 27th January 2012 in CD reviews By Ian Sime

IN the summer of 1977, Olivia Newton-John had a big hit with Sam, a song written by her long time collaborator, and former member of The Shadows, John Farrar.

A year later, Sam Farrar was born. Today Sam is a writer himself, scoring hits with Maroon 5 and Phantom Planet. Father and son are still writing for Olivia, on the exquisite theme song to Stephen Elliott’s Aussie romp Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, about a groom and his troupe of hapless best men (including Xavier Samuel and Kris Marshall) causing mayhem in the Outback.

Apart from the Farrar song, the soundtrack is a surprising move for Newton-John into hardcore dance music, on a par with Lady GaGa and Britney. Few would have expected cutting-edge dance covers of Devil Gate Drive, Georgie Girl or Mickey. Nor indeed, updates of Brand New Key and The Pushbike Song.

A Few Good Men is a radical new venture for Olivia, and one that will alienate some fans, but still absolutely worth investigating.