Olivia Newton-John "Soul Kiss (2013 Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Paper Sleeve, SHM-CD, Japan, Universal Music, UICY-94717)"

Soul Kiss is the twelfth studio album by English-Australian singer Olivia Newton-John, released on 25 October 1985 by Mercury Records in Europe, by Festival Records in Australia, and by MCA Records in the United States. It reached No. 11 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart and No. 29 on the United States Billboard 200. The album was produced by long-time associate John Farrar, who also co-wrote four tracks; the cover art features photography of Newton-John by Helmut Newton and Herb Ritts.

The album's title track was released as a single and reached No. 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts, as well as No. 20 on the Australian Kent Music Report singles chart, and Number One in Norway. It is Newton-John's most recent US top-40 pop single and her second-to-last in Canada. The single reached No. 100 on the UK Singles Chart. It was also remixed into a 12-inch single mix, which featured a new Carib-influenced percussion overdub.

The follow-up single, "Toughen Up" (written for Tina Turner but rejected by her), failed to chart, except for a top-70 placement in Australia. A remix by Jellybean Benitez was released as a 12-inch single in 1986.

Writing for Rolling Stone, Davitt Sigerson gave the album a mixed review. "After a long period of corporate fine tuning, MCA released Olivia's Soul Kiss with a kinky Helmut Newton cover, a lean John Farrar production and a fun single, the album's title track. Originally (and wisely) passed on by Tina Turner, 'Soul Kiss' is just right for Newton-John. She proves once again that she is the best pure pop singer working today. Check her out live sometime, mark her for range, pitch, phrasing, energy, ballsiness and, yes, commitment to the songs, and see if you don't agree. Too bad the rest of the material doesn't match up. There are good songs, but no other bull's-eyes, and a pair of embarrassments." Sigerson would go on to produce Newton-John's next studio album, The Rumour in 1988.

In their review of the album, Billboard commented that "the pop diva returns with sophisticated production and a mixed bag of soft rockers and ballads. Beautifully packaged and well crafted, the collection should more than satisfy her faithful followers, although there's little here that promises to expand that following."

Cashbox stated that "Olivia Newton-John’s commercial track record is undeniable, and Soul Kiss should be another retail and radio coup for the vocalist. With fast movers like the title track and biting cuts like “Queen Of The Publication," Newton spreads her musical wings a bit, and with help from musicians like Lee Ritenour, Tom Scott and Steve Lukather, look for the highly polished “Soul Kiss” to be a hot seller during the Christmas rush."

AllMusic editor Joe Viglione retrospectively found that Soul Kiss "seems a bit contrived...Olivia seems to have abandoned her strongholds, adult contemporary and country, her superstar status not worthy of this temporary image, a transition which needed stronger material for this big a change." He also called the album "as a whole, [...] one of the weaker links in Olivia's remarkable chain.

At the time of the album's release, Newton-John was pregnant and not available for any in-person promotion of the album or its lead single. Although the album was not as commercially successful as her previous efforts, it peaked at No. 29 on the Billboard 200 in the United States, and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It charted at No. 5 in Japan; and peaked at No. 11 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart.

Track listing

All tracks produced by John Farrar.

1. "Toughen Up"    Graham Lyle/Terry Britten   3:51
2. "Soul Kiss" Mark Goldenberg 4:32
3. "Queen of the Publication" John Farrar/Steve Kipner/Tom Snow   3:55
4. "Emotional Tangle"  Farrar/Billy Thorpe   4:05
5. "Culture Shock"  Kipner/Paul Bliss  3:52
6. "Moth to a Flame" Kipner/Bliss      3:46
7. "Overnight Observation"  Farrar/Snow  4:27
8. "You Were Great, How Was I?" (duet with Carl Wilson) Farrar/Snow   3:46
9. "Driving Music" Kipner/Tommy Emmanuel   3:41
10. "The Right Moment" Gerry Rafferty 3:44
11. "Electric" Keane/Landau/Gordon   3:49
12. "Soul Kiss" (Extended 12" remix version) Goldenberg 7:01

Issued in a gatefold card replica LP sleeve ('papersleeve') with folded insert and obi.

Recording information:

Recorded And Mixed At Moonee Ponds Studios

Orchestra Recorded At Ocean Way Studios

Allen Sides – recording, mixing

Tim Wilson – recording assistant, mix assistant

Larry Brown – additional recording

Rik Pekkonen – additional recording

Bernie Grundman – mastering at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, California)

David Lee Roth "Crazy From The Heat (EP)"

Crazy from the Heat is a 1985 EP by American rock musician David Lee Roth. His debut solo recording, it was released while Roth was still lead singer for Van Halen, though he parted ways with the band several weeks later and launched a solo career. The EP is certified platinum by the RIAA, having sold more than one million copies in the United States.

Crazy from the Heat consists of cover versions of songs of a decidedly dissimilar style from Roth's previous work with Van Halen. The song "Easy Street" was originally recorded by The Edgar Winter Group, while "Coconut Grove" was originally recorded by The Lovin' Spoonful.

The medley of "Just a Gigolo" and "I Ain't Got Nobody" is based on Louis Prima's 1956 medley combining two pre-World War II songs. This version peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100, supported by a well-received music video. Roth's version of the well-known Beach Boys' hit "California Girls" peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, the same position that the Beach Boys' original rendition reached 20 years prior.

According to the EP's liner notes, the cover picture of Roth was shot in the Seychelles Islands.

Roth used the title of the EP for his 1997 autobiography, Crazy from the Heat, and his future solo song "Goin' Crazy" uses the line "Goin Crazy... from the heat."

Track listing

1. "Easy Street" Dan Hartman 3:45
2. "Medley: Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody" (Arranged by Sam Butera) Irving Caesar, Leonello Casucci / Roger Graham, Spencer Williams 4:39
3. "California Girls" Brian Wilson, Mike Love 2:50
4. "Coconut Grove" John Sebastian, Zal Yanovsky 2:52

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Christopher Cross "Christopher Cross"

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