"The Rumour"
Single by Olivia Newton-John
from the album The Rumour
B-side	"Winter Angel"
Released	April 1988
Recorded	1987
Genre	Pop pop rock
Length	3:55
Label	Mercury
Songwriter(s)	Elton John Bernie Taupin
Producer(s)	Elton John James Newton Howard
Olivia Newton-John singles chronology
"The Best of Me" (1986) "The Rumour" (1988) "Can't We Talk It Over in Bed" (1988)

"The Rumour" is a song recorded by Australian singer and actress Olivia Newton-John for her thirteenth studio album of the same name (1988). It was released as the album's lead single in April 1988 through Mercury Records. The song was written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, and it features backing vocals and piano by John.

Critical reception

A reviewer from Cash Box said that "The Rumour" is "the snappiest tune that Olivia's done in a long stretch and she rises to the occasion delivering a heartfelt performance."^[1] Jonh Wilde from Melody Maker wrote, "Okay, I'm not trying to suggest that she's The Monkees or anything, but when she gets rocking like this, it's 23 skidoo and away before you know it. Stars like this are not going cheap. We have to give in. It's our duty. I'm entirely serious about all this. Boom, boom, boom. That's me humming the second verse."^[2]

Personnel

• Olivia Newton-John – lead vocals, backing vocals
• Elton John – digital piano, lead and backing vocals
• James Newton Howard – additional keyboards, additional synthesizer, drum programming
• Davey Johnstone – guitar
• Neil Stubenhaus – bass
• Carlos Vega – drum overdubs
• Lenny Castro – percussion
• Kim Hutchcroft – baritone saxophone
• Gary Herbig – tenor saxophone
• Dan Higgins – tenor saxophone
• Lew McCreary – trombone
• Bill Reichenbach Jr. – trombone
• Gary Grant – trumpet
• Jerry Hey – trumpet
• Bruce Roberts – backing vocals

Charts