GLOBALRPH MUSICATLAS

Suddenly

Olivia Newton-John & Cliff Richard | Artist Essentials

Olivia Newton-John / RECOMMENDED SELECTION 19

First released: 1980 (year verified)

Original 1980 studio recording

MusicAtlas editorial note: The two clear voices alternate gently before blending over the unhurried studio backing.

YouTube opens a title-and-artist search. The selected recording and date are identified below.

Release evidence and recording details

First released: 1980 (year verified)

The original studio recording was released in 1980 and belongs to the original Xanadu program. Year precision does not assign an album day to a single or a later reissue.

Recording: Original 1980 studio recording
Credit: Olivia Newton-John & Cliff Richard
Role in this collection: Co-lead vocalist with Cliff Richard

Original album: Xanadu
Original album association; the supported year is not an exact worldwide release day.

Xanadu - reviewed original licensed program
The licensed program identifies the original 1980 studio or soundtrack performances and their individual released credits. Only the reviewed original program is used; expanded bonuses, alternate mixes, later remakes and inherited parent dates are checked separately. Year precision does not assert an exact earliest album or single day. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

In the yearly lists

These are listening-list appearances, separate from the first-release date.

The actual retained original hit context and reviewed solo or full duet credit identify the selected studio performance. Earlier original years remain before later annual appearances. Original soundtrack performances, later remakes, expanded mixes and concerts are separate recording contexts.

Xanadu - reviewed original licensed program
The licensed program identifies the original 1980 studio or soundtrack performances and their individual released credits. Only the reviewed original program is used; expanded bonuses, alternate mixes, later remakes and inherited parent dates are checked separately. Year precision does not assert an exact earliest album or single day. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

Olivia Newton-John - xanadu with electric light orchestra original catalog
The official page identifies the 1980 soundtrack and Electric Light Orchestra collaboration. Its displayed August date is not treated as the first soundtrack or single day; the licensed program documents earlier availability in the same year. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

ARTIST BACKGROUND

About Olivia Newton-John

Olivia Newton-John was born in Cambridge and grew up in Melbourne, where television talent shows helped launch her singing career. After performing in Britain, she recorded If Not for You with producers Bruce Welch and John Farrar. Her repertoire moved through country and pop, while Grease paired her screen performance with songs including Hopelessly Devoted to You. Physical and the film Xanadu extended her later pop career.

Artist background sources

Olivia Newton-John - official career biography
Cambridge/Melbourne background, talent shows, British performing work, If Not for You production, country/pop career, Grease, Physical and Xanadu. The outdated present tense, incorrect US-album-debut claim, personal medical history and sales rankings are omitted. | Retrieved 2026-10-17

Profile reviewed: 2026-10-17. Artist background does not establish a song's creative origin or release date.

Continue listening

Recommended positions express one editorial listening sequence. They are not measured quality scores.

ALL 66 ANNUAL COLLECTIONS

1960-2025. Each year contains 150 selections.

All 66 years
Show every year by decade
MusicAtlas homeComplete year indexAll 50 artist quizzesReturn to top