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John Farrar is a multi-talented Australian songwriter and producer who worked with Olivia Newton-John from 1971 to 1989 and wrote many of her number-one hit singles. As a guitarist, John was a former member of several rock and roll groups including The Strangers (1964–70), Martin Welch and Farrar (1970–73), and The Shadows (1973–76)
Early Years
John was born in Melbourne in 1946. He took up the guitar at age 12 just as rock & roll was making itself felt. He was gigging at 16 and in 1964 was offered a big opportunity to replace the lead guitarist in local band, The Strangers. The group was already very popular and got to play with visiting American artists Roy Orbison and the Beach Boys.
John’s next big break came when The Strangers were chosen as the resident backing band on the tv series The Go!! Show. John’s future wife, Pat Carroll, and their close friend, Olivia Newton-John also appeared on show as singers and in 1967 “Pat and Olivia” did a tour of the UK. John dated Pat Carroll and married her in 1970.
John Farrar and The Shadows
During 1968, The Strangers supported their idols, The Shadows and they asked John to come to the UK so John headed there and ultimately recorded six albums with them. By 1970, the Shadows (led by guitarists Hank Marvin and Bruce Welch) went on hiatus. Ever since their emergence in 1958 as a recording act with Cliff Richard, they’d been known primarily as an instrumental band.
The Shadows Reinventing themselves
With the arrival of John Farrar, Hank Marvin and BruceWelch decided to try reinventing themselves as a vocal group specialising in harmony. They became known as Marvin, Welch & Farrar. The trio’s self-titled album was released in 1971.
Enter Olivia Newton-John
The group recorded two more albums but ultimately their efforts fizzled, so they decided to reactivate The Shadows as a full-time performing unit. John Farrar became part of the expanded five-man lineup as a second lead guitarist. From 71 to 76, the guys were often employed as session musicians for Olivia Newton-John’s early albums.
Olivia Newton-John's career takes off
Olivia Newton-John and BruceWelch became engaged. Bruce and John became two of her main songwriters and producers. They co-produced and performed on her cover of Bob Dylan’s “If Not for You“. This single was a hit in the U.K. and the U.S. in 1971. The track was also a huge country music hit, laying the foundation for Newton-John’s future multi-market crossover acceptance.
The success of “If Not for You” generated interest in the singer from American labels. In 1973 Farrar and Walsh co-produced another single “Let Me Be There” which climbed to number six pop and Top Ten country, becoming Newton-John’s first gold single.
First Gold Single
The song “I Honestly Love You“, was originally intended as a cut on Peter Allen’s debut album. It went number one pop in 1974. (Allen recorded the song some years later.) John Farrar wrote Olivia’s next chart-topper too. Neither Farrar nor Newton-John believed it would be a hit, but it glided up to number one pop in 1975.
Have You Ever Been Mellow?
With the success of this latest hit, John Farrar and Pat Carroll relocated to the US. In 1976 Olivia’s “Come on Over” became her first number one country single. “Don’t Stop Believin’” followed but the Farrar/Newton-John team were feeling like they were beginning to stagnate creatively. They wanted another sound.
Searching for a new sound
Olivia ran into film producer Allan Carr at a dinner party. He asked her to play Sandy opposite John Travolta in his major movie adaptation of the stage hit Grease. As we all know, she agreed and John Farrar became even more widely known for the music he created for her.
You're the One that I Want
John Farrar also wrote “You’re The One That I Want” for the Grease movie. His two songs became the most successful on the soundtrack and huge hits when released as singles. You’re the One That I Want” by Travolta and Newton-John, went to number one pop in 1978.
The flop that was Xanadu
Olivia’s second film, Xanadu, was a commercial flop in 1980, but the soundtrack that was co-written and produced by Farrar and Jeff Lynne of ELO went platinum. Lik Grease, there were a number of hit single spinoffs. Farrar’s “Magic” went straight to the top spot.
Image Change and Physical
With the ’80s, Olivia slowly began to shed her squeaky-clean image. It was the height of the fitness craze and she and John Farrar pulled off a coup. John produced a song called “Physical.” He is also played lead guitar, bass guitar, syntheizer and sung background vocals. “Physical” reached and stayed at number one for 10 weeks in 1981.
Today
Since those days, John Farrar has semi-retired although he tells us in interivew that he still dabbles in songwriting today. He is still married to Pat Carroll and the pair are the parents of Phantom Planet bass guitarist Sam Farrar and composer and music producer, Max Farrar.
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Can you imagine Grease without ‘Hopelessly Devoted to You or ‘You’re The One That I Want’?. If Livvy hadn’t done Grease, John Farrar wouldn’t have been involved and so wouldn’t have written those songs.
John Farrar’s work with Olivia Newton-John is legendary. From the early country tinged and middle of the road ballads to the career defining Grease tracks to the lush Xanadu soundtrack and the biggest song of the entire decade of the 80’s, Physical, this man should be forever proud. If any of you have not listened to the Cliff Richard opus, “Heathcliff” penned by John Farrar and Tim Rice, then grab a copy immediately, it’s a much-underrated gem which features Olivia on 5 of the tracks! Congratulations on a wonderful career John.