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Landslide (Olivia Newton-John song)

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"Landslide"
Single by Olivia Newton-John
from the album Physical
B-side"Recovery"
ReleasedApril 1982
Recorded1981
StudioOcean Way Recording, Los Angeles[1]
GenreDance-rock
Length4:23
Label
Songwriter(s)John Farrar
Producer(s)John Farrar
Olivia Newton-John singles chronology
"Make a Move on Me"
(1982)
"Landslide"
(1982)
"Heart Attack"
(1982)
Music video
"Landslide" on YouTube

"Landslide" is a song recorded by British-Australian singer Olivia Newton-John for her eleventh studio album, Physical (1981). Written and produced by John Farrar, the song was released in several countries as the third and final single in April 1982.[citation needed]

"Landslide" did not achieve the success of its predecessors, but peaked within the top 20 in Belgium and the United Kingdom, peaking at number 18 on the UK Singles Chart.[2] It peaked at number 52 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Tempo and musical style

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"Landslide" incorporates a blend of rock and disco elements with pronounced use of guitars, synthesizers and a 4/4 tempo at 131 beats per minute. There is a heavy use of Vocoder effects in the background and the percussion utilizes tympani rolls to great effect.

Track listing and formats

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  1. "Landslide (Single Edit)" (Farrar) - 3:50
  2. "Recovery (LP Version)" (Farrar, Tom Snow) - 4:20
  1. "Landslide" (Farrar) – 4:27
  2. "Recovery" (Farrar, Tom Snow) – 4:18

Versions

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While there were no official remixes done at the time of its original release, there are three distinct versions of "Landslide". The album version at 4:21, the video version at 4:28 incorporates two bars of rhythm track intro, and the single edit at 3:50 which omits one repeat of the chorus at the end.

Music Video

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The music video for "Landslide" was directed by Brian Grant and is set in a highly-stylized and futuristic setting with Olivia Newton-John in various outfits ranging from a space-age cat suit to a red leather jumpsuit. The video should also be noted for featuring her soon-to-be husband Matt Lattanzi (who she had met on the set of her film "Xanadu") and the female-fantasy driven theme. "Landslide" was included on the "Olivia Physical" video album released by MCA Home Video in 1981 on VHS videocassette and Laserdisc.[5] The video album "Olivia Physical" won the Video of the Year award at the 25th Grammy Awards in 1983.[6]

Charts

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Weekly charts

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Chart (1982) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[7] 18
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[8] 39
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[2] 18
US Billboard Hot 100[9] 52
US Cash Box Top Singles[10] 54
Ireland (IRMA)[11] 25

References

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  1. ^ Physical (Liner notes). Olivia Newton-John. MCA Records. 1981. B004AH7W1O.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ^ a b "The Official Charts Company - UK chart details". Official Charts.
  3. ^ "Olivia Newton-John-Landslide". discogs.com. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Olivia Newton-John Singles from 1981-1984". Onlyolivia.com. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  5. ^ "Olivia-Physical". Discogs.com. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  6. ^ O'Neil 1999, p. 355.
  7. ^ "Olivia Newton-John – Landslide" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  8. ^ "Olivia Newton-John – Landslide" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  9. ^ "Olivia Newton-John Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  10. ^ "Cash Box" (PDF). Worldradiohistory.com. 24 July 1982. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  11. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – A Little More Love". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 25 March 2024.

Bibliography

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