Stronger Than Before | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 29 August 2005 | |||
Recorded | February–June 2005 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | New-age | |||
Label | ONJ | |||
Producer |
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Olivia Newton-John chronology | ||||
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Stronger Than Before is the twentieth studio album by British-Australian singer Olivia Newton-John. It was first released by ONJ Productions and Hallmark on 29 August 2005 in the United States, where physical copies of the album were sold exclusively in Hallmark's Gold Crown Stores until 31 October 2005. This was followed by a digital and international release through ONJ and Warner Music in March 2006. An album of inspiration and encouragement to women who have dealt with cancer, Newton-John worked with Kim Bullard, Chong Lim, and Amy Sky on the ten-song collection.
Stronger Than Before is an album of inspiration and encouragement to women who have dealt with cancer (Newton-John herself survived breast cancer). The track "Phenomenal Woman" is based on Maya Angelou's 1978 poem and features vocal cameos from Patti LaBelle, Diahann Carroll, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Delta Goodrem, Amy Holland and Mindy Smith. The album also includes a new recording of her 1976 hit "Don't Stop Believin". The track "Can I Trust Your Arms" was composed by her daughter Chloe Rose Lattanzi as a gift for her mother. [1] Olivia had already composed "That's All I Know for Sure" for Chloe. [2] [3]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [4] |
In their review, Billboard praised the album, noting that "the timeless Olivia Newton-John indulges her many followers with a second album in as many years, following 2004's import Indigo, in which she reinterpreted songs by 11 powerful female singers. Stronger Than Before also has a specific aim: presenting songs of inspiration, courage and hope during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is tough picking premier tracks, because they all offer a hand to those seeking strength, whether through the fragile "Under the Skin" or the empowering "Pass It On." Newton-John, a 13 -year breast cancer survivor, gives her all to this lovely project - but then that's why she's been loved for 35 years." [5]
AllMusic editor Peter Fawthrop rated the album two stars out of five. He felt that "those who relish the profundity of gift card messages may find it deeply inspiring. Everyone else could scratch off the words to some of the songs and get a kindergartner to come up with something more meaningful." [4]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Stronger Than Before" |
| Chong Lim | 3:37 |
2. | "When You Believe" |
| Lim | 4:00 |
3. | "Phenomenal Woman" |
|
| 5:01 |
4. | "Under the Skin" |
| Sky | 3:18 |
5. | "Pass It On" | Lim | 4:35 | |
6. | "That's All I Know for Sure" |
| Lim | 2:53 |
7. | "When I Needed You" | Ben Thomas | Lim | 4:59 |
8. | "Can I Trust Your Arms" |
| Lim | 3:18 |
9. | "Don't Stop Believin' (2005 Version)" | John Farrar | Lim | 4:12 |
10. | "Serenity" |
| Sky | 4:02 |
Performers and musicians
Strings (tracks 1, 2 and 5–9)
Technical
Chart (2005–2006) | Peak position |
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Australian Albums (ARIA) [6] | 39 |
Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref(s) |
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United States | 29 August 2005 | CD |
| [7] |
Australia | 5 March 2006 |
| [4] |
Dame Olivia Newton-John was a British and Australian singer and actress. She was a four-time Grammy Award winner whose music career included fifteen top-ten singles, including five number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 and two number-one albums on the Billboard 200: If You Love Me, Let Me Know (1974) and Have You Never Been Mellow (1975). Eleven of her singles and fourteen of her albums have been certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Clearly Love is the sixth studio album by Olivia Newton-John, released in September 1975.
Come On Over is the seventh studio album by British-Australian singer Olivia Newton-John, released in March 1976. The album peaked at number two on the US Top Country Albums chart and number 13 on the US Billboard 200.
(2) is the eighteenth studio album by British-Australian pop singer Olivia Newton-John, released on 12 November 2002 in Australia. A duets album, the majority of tracks are with Australian artists, along with two American performers. The Peter Allen and Johnny O'Keefe duets are built around archive recordings, with new vocals added by Newton-John.
Making a Good Thing Better is the ninth studio album by British-Australian singer Olivia Newton-John, released in June 1977.
Gaia: One Woman's Journey is the fifteenth studio album released by Olivia Newton-John on 26 July 1994. For the first time, Newton-John wrote all the songs and co-produced the album.
The Rumour is the thirteenth studio album by Olivia Newton-John on 2 August 1988. The title track was written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin and features backing vocals and piano by John. The album featured the singles "The Rumour", "Can't We Talk It Over in Bed" and the Australian-only promo-single "It's Always Australia for Me", which was released for the Australian Bicentenary in 1988. This was also her first album not produced by long-time producer John Farrar.
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.
Back to Basics: The Essential Collection 1971–1992 is the third greatest hits album by English-Australian singer Olivia Newton-John, released on 9 June 1992 by Geffen Records. It is the first compilation to contain both her country and pop hits. The album contained four new tracks: lead single "I Need Love", US Adult Contemporary top-20 single "Deeper Than a River", "Not Gonna Be the One" and a cover version of Brenda Lee's 1960 US number one "I Want to Be Wanted". A tour was planned to promote the album, but had to be cancelled when Newton-John was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Back with a Heart is the sixteenth studio album by British-Australian singer Olivia Newton-John. It was released by MCA Nashville on 12 May 1998 in the United States. Her first album in four years, it marked her return to country music after two decades. The album peaked in the Top Ten Country charts in both the U.S. and U.K. In America, it was her first album to crack the Billboard Top Country Albums charts since Totally Hot in 1978.
The Hunter is the seventh studio album by Jennifer Warnes, released in 1992.
Indigo: Women of Song is the nineteenth studio album by British-Australian singer Olivia Newton-John. It was first released by Festival Mushroom Records on 17 October 2004 in Australia. An album of cover versions of songs previously recorded by female singers, it was entirely produced by Phil Ramone. Indigo: Women of Song peaked at number 15 on the Australian Albums Chart and was eventually certified Gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). In the United States, the album was issued under the title Portraits – A Tribute to Great Women of Song, featuring different artwork. The album was eventually released in Japan, 2006 under the Universal Music label.
Grace and Gratitude is the twenty-first studio album by Australian singer Olivia Newton-John. The album was released 25 August 2006 through EMI exclusively by Walgreens to benefit various charities of cancer and re-released on 14 September 2010 through Green Hill Records as Grace and Gratitude Renewed. A "pink" edition of the original album also was released in certain territories, with a two-track remix bonus CD.
Christmas Wish is the twenty-second studio album by British-Australian singer Olivia Newton-John. It is the second original album of Christmas music recorded by Newton-John after 'Tis the Season with Vince Gill, and the compilation partly from that, The Christmas Collection. It is her second album produced by Amy Sky. It features versions of classic Christmas songs and guest appearances from Barry Manilow, Jon Secada, Michael McDonald and others. In 2008, the album was re-released as a Target exclusive and included the bonus track "In the Bleak Midwinter".
A Celebration in Song is the twenty-third and final solo studio album by British-Australian pop singer Olivia Newton-John, released on 3 June 2008 by Warner Bros. in Australia. The worldwide release of the album was by EMI, on 2 September 2008. It is her second duets album, following (2), released in 2002 by Festival Mushroom.
Somewhere Down the Road is the seventeenth studio album by Christian music and pop music singer-songwriter Amy Grant, released in 2010. It is a unique album featuring eight new songs, a new recording of the song "Arms of Love", from her 1982 album Age to Age, and rounded out with three of Grant's previously released story-songs.
World Gone Crazy is the thirteenth studio album by American rock band The Doobie Brothers, released on September 28, 2010. It debuted at number 39 on the Billboard top 200 albums chart, their highest charting position since 1989. The first single is a remake of their 1971 debut single "Nobody". Tom Johnston states about the album "This album has been in the mix for five years, but we didn’t seriously start putting the nuts and bolts together until three years ago."
This Christmas is a Christmas album by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, released on November 9, 2012, by Universal Music Enterprises. The first time that Travolta and Newton-John worked together was on the musical film Grease (1978), in which they performed the songs "You're the One That I Want" and "Summer Nights". Both the film and the songs were a commercial phenomenon. This album is the first new artistic work they have done together since the 1983 film Two of a Kind. This Christmas is also the 25th studio album, following the 2008 release A Celebration in Song, and the third all-new Christmas album by Newton-John.
Liv On is a collaborative album created by Amy Sky, Olivia Newton-John and Beth Nielsen Chapman. The goal behind the album was to "create songs with a message of compassion and hope. They are for anyone facing a time of challenge in their life, whether it is grieving a loss – or on the journey to health and recovery." The album debuted at number 72 in Australia.
Friends for Christmas is a collaborative Christmas album by John Farnham and Olivia Newton-John. It was recorded at Playback Recording Studio in Santa Barbara, California, produced by Farnham's long-time music director Chong Lim, and released through Sony Music Australia on 11 November 2016 on CD and digital download. The album features well-known traditional holiday standards, by mostly American composers. It was re-released in 2017 with three additional tracks. Friends for Christmas was the final studio album released during Olivia Newton-John's lifetime.
In the ballad "Can I Trust Your Arms" Olivia added her own music to lyrics given to her as a Christmas gift by her daughter Chloe Lattanzi.