The song was produced by John Farrar and written by Steve Kipner and Terry Shaddick, who had originally intended to offer it to Rod Stewart.

[4] "Physical" was an immediate smash hit, shipping two million copies in the United States, where it was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and spent 10 consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, which tied the record of most consecutive weeks at number one on that chart.

The song's suggestive lyrics, which even caused it to be banned in some markets, helped change Newton-John's longstanding clean-cut image, replacing it with a sexy, assertive persona that was strengthened with follow-up hits such as "Make a Move on Me", "Twist of Fate" and "Soul Kiss".

[6] The song's guitar solo was performed by Steve Lukather, best known as a founding member of the American rock band Toto.

[10][11] "Physical" has received positive reviews from music critics since release, with some of them calling it "good-naturedly sexy" and "an eighties gem".

[16][failed verification] "Physical" rose to number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 in November 1981 and stayed there for 10 weeks (the most of any single in the 1980s[17]), remaining until the second half of January 1982.

[citation needed] "Physical" achieved great success around the world, reaching number seven in the United Kingdom, where it was certified Silver.

[20] However, the song was censored and even banned by some radio stations as a result of its sexually suggestive content, such as the line "There's nothing left to talk about, unless it's horizontally"[citation needed].

The accompanying music video for "Physical", directed by Brian Grant, features Newton-John in a tight leotard trying to make several overweight men lose weight.