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I Need Love (Olivia Newton-John song)

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"I Need Love"
Single by Olivia Newton-John
from the album Back to Basics: The Essential Collection 1971–1992
ReleasedJuly 1992
GenreSynthpop
Length4:32
LabelGeffen Records
Songwriter(s)Steve Kipner, John Lewis Parker
Producer(s)Giorgio Moroder
Olivia Newton-John singles chronology
"Grease: The Dream Mix"
(1991) 		"I Need Love"
(1992) 		""Deeper Than a River""
(1992)

"I Need Love" is a song recorded by Australian singer Olivia Newton-John, one of four new tracks recorded for the compilation album, Back to Basics: The Essential Collection 1971–1992 and released as the first single from the record. The song was produced by Giorgio Moroder and written by Steve Kipner who had also penned Newton-John's hits "Physical", "Heart Attack" and "Twist of Fate". The song was a minor hit in the U.S. and U.K. and was later covered by Australian group Girlfriend.

In an interview with Billboard, Newton-John mentioned that the song was an attempt to raise awareness about AIDS, "we need to rethink relationships. It's not wise to jump into bed with people indiscriminately. In fact, it's down right suicidal."[1]

Critical reviews

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In their review of the single, Billboard stated that "Lovely Livvy is back and has teamed with disco pioneer Giorgio Moroder for a potent pop-dance track. ONJ's distinctive vocal style, matched with a well crafted song could add to a major comeback hit"[2]

In their review of the album, Deseret News singled out the track as "the best" of the four new tracks, due to the production by "discomeister" Giorgio Moroder, with an upfront dance beat and saucy lyrics that hint it's a sequel to her biggest hit of all, "Physical."[3]

Smash Hits' review was more lukewarm, rating it two out of five stars, commenting that "while she's lost none of her sensitivity, what she's gained is a soft dance beat and a moody ballad. It's OK, but it's no "I Honestly Love You"".[4]

In their 2022 posthumous Top 10 list of the best Newton-John songs, The Guardian ranked the track at number 8, stating "it's such an underrated single and rightly deserves a revival or at least another listen", praising its "sultry, come-hither vocals, pared-back instrumentation and sleek production from the "godfather of electronic music", Giorgio Moroder."[5]

Charts

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Chart performance for "I Need Love"
Chart (1992) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA Charts)[6] 109
UK Singles (OCC)[7] 75
US Billboard Hot 100[8] 96
US Cash Box Top 100[9] 68
US Hot Dance Club Songs[10] 44
US Dance Singles Sales[11] 28
Canadian Adult Contemporary (RPM)|[12] 29
Norwegian Airplay Charts [13] 10

References

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  1. ^ "Dance Trax" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. No. 6 June 1992. p. 70. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  2. ^ "Billboard Recommended LP's" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. No. 30 May 1992. p. 70. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ "4 RETROSPECTIVES ARE FILLED WITH TIME-TESTED HITS". Deseret News. 6 July 1992. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  4. ^ "I Need Love review - Smash Hits". www.onlyolivia.com. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  5. ^ Waldegrave, Kate (14 August 2022). "Olivia Newton-John's 10 best songs – sorted!". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  6. ^ "Response from ARIA re: Olivia Newton-John singles chart history, received 19 October 2017". Imgur.com. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  7. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  8. ^ "Olivia Newton-John Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  9. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending July 25, 1992" (PDF). Cash Box. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  10. ^ "Olivia Newton-John | Biography, Music & News". Billboard. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  11. ^ "Olivia Newton-John | Biography, Music & News". Billboard. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  12. ^ "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 8 August 1992. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  13. ^ "National Airplay" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 33. 15 August 1992. p. 14. Retrieved 8 July 2024.


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