Soul Kiss
Encyclopedia
Soul Kiss is the thirteenth studio album
released by Olivia Newton-John
in 1985. The sleeve contains photography by Helmut Newton
and Herb Ritts
.
, it was certified Gold in the U.S. and charted at #5 in Japan.
Opinions of the album are mixed among Olivia's fans, as some detractors see it as a continuation of her move into sexually suggestive territory begun four years earlier with "Physical
". Newton-John was pregnant at the time of the release and was therefore unable to promote the album, although many critics argue that the uncharacteristic sexual nature of the cover photographs were the real reason for the album's downfall.
.
Matt Lattanzi, her husband at the time, appeared in the "Soul Kiss" video.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
released by Olivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton-John AO, OBE is a singer and actress. She is a four-time Grammy award winner who has amassed five No. 1 and ten other Top Ten Billboard Hot 100 singles and two No. 1 Billboard 200 solo albums. Eleven of her singles and 14 of her albums have been certified gold by the RIAA...
in 1985. The sleeve contains photography by Helmut Newton
Helmut Newton
Helmut Newton, born Helmut Neustädter was a German-Australian photographer. He was a "prolific, widely imitated fashion photographer whose provocative, erotically charged black-and-white photos were a mainstay of Vogue and other publications."-Early life:Newton was born in Berlin, the son of Klara...
and Herb Ritts
Herb Ritts
Herbert "Herb" Ritts was an American fashion photographer who concentrated on black-and-white photography and portraits, often in the style of classical Greek sculpture.-Early life and career:...
.
Reception
Although the album was not nearly as commercially successful as her previous efforts and barely made the Top 30 on the Billboard 200Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, it was certified Gold in the U.S. and charted at #5 in Japan.
Opinions of the album are mixed among Olivia's fans, as some detractors see it as a continuation of her move into sexually suggestive territory begun four years earlier with "Physical
Physical (Olivia Newton-John song)
"Physical" is a song by Australian pop singer Olivia Newton-John, released in September 1981. The song was an immediate success, shipping 2 million copies in the United States, being certified Platinum, and spending 10 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, ultimately becoming Newton-John's...
". Newton-John was pregnant at the time of the release and was therefore unable to promote the album, although many critics argue that the uncharacteristic sexual nature of the cover photographs were the real reason for the album's downfall.
Singles
- The album's title song reached #20 on the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and Adult ContemporaryHot Adult Contemporary TracksThe Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States...
charts, Newton-John's last U.S. Top 40 Pop single to date in the U.S. and her second-to-last in Canada, and "Bubbled Under" the UK singles chart at #100. - The follow-up single, "Toughen Up," (written for Tina TurnerTina TurnerTina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
but rejected by her as inferior) failed to chart entirely except for a minor chart placement in Australia.
Track listing
- "Toughen Up" (Graham Lyle, Terry Britten) 3:51
- "Soul Kiss" (Mark Goldenberg) 4:32
- "Queen of the Publication" (John Farrar, Stephen Kipner, Tom Snow) 3:55
- "Emotional Tangle" (Farrar, Billy Thorpe) 4:05
- "Culture Shock" (Kipner, Paul Bliss) 3:52
- "Moth to a Flame" (Kipner, Bliss) 3:46
- "Overnight Observation" (Farrar, Snow) 4:27
- "You Were Great, How Was I?" (duet with Carl WilsonCarl WilsonCarl Dean Wilson was an American rock and roll singer and guitarist, best known as a founding member, lead guitarist and sometime lead vocalist of The Beach Boys...
) (Farrar, Snow) 3:46 - "Driving Music" (Kipner, Tommy Emmanuel) 3:41
- "The Right Moment" (Gerry RaffertyGerry RaffertyGerald "Gerry" Rafferty was a Scottish singer songwriter best known for his solo hits "Baker Street", "Right Down the Line", "Days Gone Down", "Night Owl", "Get It Right Next Time", and with the band Stealers Wheel, "Stuck in the Middle with You". Rafferty was born into a working-class family in...
) 3:44
- European and Japanese versions also contained "Electric" as the tenth track. In the USA "Electric" was the "B side" to the first single "Soul Kiss."
Personnel
- Olivia Newton-John: Vocal
- Christopher CrossChristopher CrossChristopher Cross is an American singer-songwriter from San Antonio, Texas. His debut album earned him five Grammys. He is perhaps best known for his Top Ten hit songs, "Sailing", "Ride Like the Wind", and "Arthur's Theme ", the last of which he performed for the film Arthur starring Dudley Moore...
, Katey Sagal: Vocal Backing - Larry CarltonLarry CarltonLarry Carlton is an American jazz, smooth jazz, jazz fusion, pop, and rock guitarist and singer. He has divided his recording time between solo recordings and session appearances with various well-known bands...
, John Farrar, Steve LukatherSteve LukatherSteve "Luke" Lukather is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, arranger, and record producer best known for his work with the rock band Toto. Lukather has played with many artists, released several solo albums, and worked as a composer, arranger, and session guitarist on more than 1,500 albums...
, Lee RitenourLee RitenourLee Mack Ritenour is an American jazz guitarist who has recorded over 42 albums, appeared on over 3000 sessions, and has charted over 30 instrumental and vocal contemporary jazz hits since 1976. One of his most popular songs was the smash hit, “Is It You” in 1981. Ritenour is considered to be a...
: Guitars - Mark Goldenberg, Steve Kipner, Greg PhillinganesGreg PhillinganesGreg Phillinganes is an active session keyboardist in Los Angeles, California. He is a graduate of Cass Technical High School, Detroit Michigan....
, Marcus Ryle, Tom Snow, Billy Thorpe: Synthesizers - Nathan EastNathan EastNathan Harrell East is a jazz, R&B and rock bass player and vocalist. East holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from the University of California, San Diego...
, Abraham Laboriel, Sr.: Bass - Vinnie ColaiutaVinnie ColaiutaVincent Colaiuta is an American drummer based in Los Angeles. Originally from Republic, Pennsylvania, he began playing drums as a child and received his first full drum kit from his parents at the age of 14...
, Carlos Vega: Drums - Paulinho Da CostaPaulinho Da CostaPaulinho da Costa is a Brazilian percussionist born in Rio de Janeiro, considered one of the most recorded musicians of modern times. Playing over two hundred percussion instruments, he has participated in thousands of recording sessions, Grammy Award-winning albums, hit songs, soundtracks, radio...
, Michael Fisher: Percussion - Tom ScottTom Scott (musician)Tom Scott is an American saxophonist, composer, arranger, conductor and bandleader of the west coast jazz/jazz fusion ensemble The L.A. Express.-Biography:Scott was born in Los Angeles, California...
: LyriconLyriconThe Lyricon is an electronic wind instrument, the first wind controller to be constructed.Invented by Bill Bernardi , it was manufactured by a company called Computone Inc in Massachusetts... - Ara Tokatlián: Pan FlutePan fluteThe pan flute or pan pipe is an ancient musical instrument based on the principle of the closed tube, consisting usually of five or more pipes of gradually increasing length...
- Strings Arranged By Jeremy Lubbock
Charts
| Album Charts | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Japan Album Charts | 5 |
| Australian Albums Chart | 11 |
| U.S. Billboard Charts | 29 |
| UK Charts | 66 |
| Singles Charts | Title | Peak position |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart | "Soul Kiss" | 12 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | "Soul Kiss" | 20 |
| U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart | "Soul Kiss" | 20 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | "Soul Kiss" | 28 |
| Canadian Charts | "Soul Kiss" | 25 |
| Australian Singles Chart | "Toughen Up" | 69 |
Video
Soul Kiss is a compilation of music and clips from the album Soul Kiss, featuring the singer Olivia Newton-JohnOlivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton-John AO, OBE is a singer and actress. She is a four-time Grammy award winner who has amassed five No. 1 and ten other Top Ten Billboard Hot 100 singles and two No. 1 Billboard 200 solo albums. Eleven of her singles and 14 of her albums have been certified gold by the RIAA...
.
Matt Lattanzi, her husband at the time, appeared in the "Soul Kiss" video.