Those Awesome OSMONDS! SPAZ reviews their catalog on 7Ts/Cherry Red!

THE OSMONDS

Their '70s albums On CD

In the past, The Osmonds' recorded output has been poorly represented by a slew of collections.  Thankfully, 7Ts/Cherry Red Records has rectified this situation by releasing the band's eight albums on four separate 2fers.  They are available NOW!

By Stephen SPAZ Schnee

Regardless of what you may think of The Osmonds' music, they were (and are) a cultural phenomenon. Even if you can't remember all the lyrics, chances are you can name at least one Osmonds song off the top of your head right now.  And "I'm A Little Bit Country, I'm A Little Bit Rock 'n' Roll" only partially counts (that was a Donny & Marie song, not a bonafide Osmonds recording).  It's been over 30 years since their heyday, yet they have become part of Pop music history.

I am surprised that I had more than one argument in the early '70s when the subject of The Osmonds Vs The Beatles came up. How could anyone possibly think The Osmonds were bigger than The Beatles?  Can you believe that this argument came up a few times over the course of a year or two.  Mainly from my big sister Dana.  No, scratch that: EVERY argument in regards to The Osmonds being bigger than The Beatles were with my sister Dana. But she was 11, I was 9... what did I know? Maybe she meant that they were bigger in terms of the number of group members?  There were five Osmonds but only four Beatles... If that was the case, then she was right all along!  I must write her an apology letter someday...

But for a few golden years in the '70s, The Osmonds were one of the most popular musical groups on the planet.  Not only did the five brothers release a slew of singles and albums, but Donny had a successful solo career that ran concurrently with The Osmonds' golden years.  Later on, sister Marie chalked up some solo success, as did little brother Jimmy, but when Donny & Marie began performing as a duo, everyone else took a backseat as their radio hits translated into a hit TV show and a not-so-successful movie, Goin' Coconuts in 1978.  By the time the '80s rolled around, the Osmond family remained active in the entertainment industry but they never again achieved the amazing popularity they experienced in the early part of the '70s.

It all began in the early '60s when Merril, Alan, Jay and Wayne performed as a barbershop quartet.  While they achieved a respectable amount of fame during this period (due to TV appearances on The Andy Williams Show and other variety programs), it wasn't until Donny joined a few years later that people began to take notice.  The boys insistence that they become a Rock band fell upon deaf ears for the latter part of the '60s, but by 1970, the quintet had released their self-titled debut Pop album and Osmondmania began to take shape...  

NOTE: Since Donny was being groomed for solo success, most of the lead vocals on The Osmonds' albums were handled by Merrill, although all the brothers were involved in backing vocals, co-lead vocals and arrangements. The various solo albums from Donny, Jimmy and Donny & Marie are also available through 7Ts/Cherry Red but this feature focuses on the original Osmonds albums of the '70s.

(Available on CD coupled with Homemade)

THE OSMONDS (1970)

The brothers' potential was enormous, but which Pop road should they travel?  Since commercial success was not guqranteed, the label sprinkled their debut album with a variety of styles, hoping that one of them would stick.  "One Bad Apple", with it's soulful, Jackson 5-like Soul groove, was the song that put The Osmonds on the map. Were the Osmonds being groomed as a 'white' version of the J5?  That may be the initial concessus, but this album shows that they were more than "One Bad Apple".  There's Country, Gospel, Rock, Easy Listening and many more styles rubbing shoulders with the Soul-lite vibes of "One Bad Apple". Their "Motown Special" medley avoids sounding anything like the J5, surprisingly enough. "Sweet And Innocent" was, oddly enough, a Donny solo single that was shoehorned onto the album, which was a brilliant move.  One of the poppiest and most delectable tracks on the album, it is every much "... Apple"'s equal even though it doesn't travel the same musical ground.  "Find 'Em, Fool 'Em and Forget 'Em" veers towards heavy, Gospel and Blues-inflected Rock that they would eventually perfect two albums later. The album's closer, "Flirtin'", is the album's sole mis-step with it's blatant retread of the "One Bad Apple" blueprint.  Otherwise, The Osmonds is a fine introduction to a group of talented young lads who were soon going to take over the world...

(Available on CD coupled with The Osmonds)

HOMEMADE (1971)

While Homemade may have sold quite well, the album is essentially a complete rewrite/retread of their self-titled debut. If you love that album, you'll either love this or be frustrated that the brothers were not able to stretch out a bit more and show how versatile they were.  There are some high-points, such as the breezy "Carrie", their delicious trademark harmonies on "Chilly Winds", the Country vibe of "The Promised Land" and the lighthearted early '70s groove of "She Makes Me Warm".  Album closer "Sho' Would Be Nice" is an emotionally moving end to an album that is still a worthy addition to your collection, but, to be honest, its a half-hearted and unimaginative duplication of their self-titled album. To be fair, the music business is notorious for playing it safe and 'giving the people what they want'.  I just wish that labels realized that we don't want the same thing over and over. Some things never change...

(Available on CD coupled with Live)

PHASE III (1971)

Phase III is when The Osmonds took control of their production, added more self-penned material and transformed from a good Pop band to a great one. While the single "Yo Yo" remained from an earlier recording session, the rest of Phase III was Osmond-controlled and this was the album that should earned them a huge dose of critical respect. Instead, the critics treated it like just another Osmonds album. While, on the surface, that might have been the case, Phase III was a Rock album made by a a group of talented musicians and vocalists who were already pigeonholed as a cheesy Pop act. Almost any other band in 1971 would have killed to have an album opener like "Down By The Lazy River". Even when the band adds a little Funk into the mix like on "Business", it clicks and never sounds awkward. "Love Is" is a touching Beatle-esque ballad that could have fit right in with the Fab Four's late '60s recordings. "He's The Light Of The World" is a religious rocker that is as catchy as anything the devil released that year. "Yo Yo" is delectable, funky, catchy and joyous. "My Drum" is a riff-heavy rocker that Deep Purple could have cut in the '60s. While the tapes have not held up well over the years, the album still sounds raw and energetic where it wants to, yet not entirely removed from their earlier bubblegum recordings. As good as Phase III is, their best studio album was yet to come with Crazy Horses...

 

(Available on CD coupled with Phase III)

THE OSMONDS LIVE! (1972)

Let's be honest: I'm not a fan of live albums... period.  I have Elvis live albums because he is Elvis, but I have to say that I don't own many live albums in my collection at all. With that being said, listening to The Osmonds Live some 40 years after the last time I heard it brought back some memories.  As the story goes, most of the boys had a cold during the show but they went ahead and recorded it anyway.  They went back into the studio when they were feeling better and added vocals on top of many of the recorded performances, which makes the lead vocals sound double-tracked... which they are!  The energy of the performance is still there and they perform some covers that are not found on any of the studio releases, so that makes it a worthwhile purchase.  But its a live album and I'll leave it at that...

(Available on CD coupled with The Plan)

CRAZY HORSES (1972)

Crazy Horses was the first truly great Osmonds album and remains one of the finest Pop/Rock albums of the early '70s, although you probably won't find it on many critics' lists, then or now. From the opening Rock strut of "Hold Her Tight" to the CCR-like groove of "Utah", the solo McCarney-esque "Girl" and the legendary Hard Rock crunch of the title track, Crazy Horses is one hell of an album. It's such a shame that the band were already pegged as a teeny bopper band because Phase III and Crazy Horses proved that they were so much more than that.  "What Could It Be" could have been a Hudson Brothers hit ala "So You Are A Star". The bluesy rock of "Life Is Hard Without Goodbyes" is actually quite beautiful with Merrill's impassioned vocals. The whole album rocks from beginning to end.  In fact, the band adds a snippet of "One Bad Apple" into "Big Finish" in order to remind you that this is the very same band. If anything, this is the album that the teenage girl would have been able to share with her brother or boyfriend without them feeling embarrassed.  But then again, I have never felt embarrassed about loving The Osmonds! And if you want to hear what you've been purposely missing for 40 years, then give this one a spin! Crazy Horses is not just a great Osmonds album, it's a great album period!

(Available on CD coupled with Crazy Horses)

THE PLAN (1973)

The Osmonds had gone from strength to strength, building up a catalog of hit albums, each of them better and more successful than the last.  By this time, they weren't just massive in the U.S., they were international superstars!  Because of their strong Mormon faith, the band felt it necessary to focus their creativity on an album that celebrated the journey of life.  They weaved in elements of their beliefs and The Plan was born.  Unfortunately, their teen audiences weren't prepared for a concept album such as The Plan.  Wrongly accused of being an album about Mormonism, The Plan is still a fine album but it finds the brothers stepping away from their crazy Rock shenanigans of '71 and '72.  That's not to say that The Plan doesn't rock... because it does - but only in certain places. Obviously a labor of love, The Plan found the Osmonds giving back to the teachings that had kept them centered and focused during the good and bad times. The boys' harmonies have never sounded better and, while the material may not be up to the standards of the last few albums, The Osmonds were forging a path of their own. The boys took a gamble that unfortunately did not pay off commercially and it was their first real 'flop'.  The album does include some great tracks like "Let Me In", "Movie Man", "One Way Ticket To Anywhere" and others, but the focus was more on the message than the music. On The Plan, the Osmonds grew up, but their fans didn't. 

(Available on CD coupled with I'm Still Gonna Need You)

LOVE ME FOR A REASON (1974)

After The Plan, The Osmonds' musical focus began to change.  While the album cover may have promised a visit into Philly Soul territory, that was only a small part of where the boys were heading on this album.  A return to form in many ways, the first half of Love Me For A Reason was more of a Rock album than the hit title track would lead you to believe.  "We're Having A Party", "The Girl I Love", "Ballin' The Jack" and a few other tracks would not have sounded out of place on Phase III. The second half of the album focuses on their more soulful side. "Peace" is a funky Disco offering that still retains the brothers' Pop harmonies. "Fever", "I Can't Get Next To You" and "Sun Sun Sun" are credible Funk workouts that really capture the versatility of the band. The album is a real treat, although not as focused as their previous albums.  With this album, they weren't sure which direction to follow so they just did what they wanted and split it pretty much down the middle.  The highpoint of the album is, of course, "Love Me For A Reason", their finest ballad to date.  The harmonies on the chorus are heart-melting and the song is warm and lovely.  If this song was the only thing The Osmonds ever recorded, they'd still be as fondly remembered as they are now.  A stunner. 

(Available on CD coupled with Love Me For A Reason)

I'M STILL GONNA NEED YOU 

(AKA THE PROUD ONE) (1975)

Released as The Proud One in the U.S. and I'm Still Gonna Need You in the UK, this full length would prove to be the Osmonds final album as a group in the '70s.  They would then step aside and let Donny and Marie become the focus of their entertainment empire. While the Love Me For A Reason album only toyed with their Philly Soul influences, this is the album where it would come to the fore.  Gone were all the Rock moves of their Phase III/Crazy Horses period, replaced here with a light Philly Soul sound mixed with a laid back Pop sound that focused on their vocals.   It's definitely an Osmonds album, but far more mellow than ever before.  But don't let that stop you from giving it a spin because it is quite a lovely piece of work.  The songs are almost on par with "Love Me For A Reason", especially "I'm Still Gonna Need You".  But maybe that was the plan... since "Love Me... " had been such a big hit, why not go in that direction!  And guess what?  It works.  There are no big hits here, but there are plenty of delicious Pop songs that will soothe your aching soul.   They really sound focused on this album and their harmonies are top notch... but I think I already said that.  For a 'final' album, its a real beauty.  Perhaps a Crazy Horses II would have been preferred, but there is really nothing to fault on this album.  It deserves a big hug and a sloppy kiss.  Then again, that's what my sister Dana thought Donny deserved from her!

Peace, love and Osmonds,

Stephen SPAZ Schnee

AVAILABLE NOW!

An EXCLUSIVE Interview with DONNY & MARIE OSMOND!

A LITTLE BIT DONNY,

A LITTLE BIT MARIE:

An EXCLUSIVE Interview with

DONNY & MARIE OSMOND

By Stephen SPAZ Schnee

     For decades now, the Pop/Rock landscape has been littered with one-hit wonders, disposable popstars and manufactured teen idols that come and go at an alarming rate. While the names and faces have constantly changed over the years, very few of these artists have broken the mold and had a lasting effect on the music scene. The Osmonds are one of those rare acts that have transcended genres, time and space and have become true Pop icons.

     From their pre-Donny days as a quartet known as The Osmond Brothers in the ‘60s to their massive success throughout the ‘70s, The Osmonds came in many shapes and sizes. There was The Osmonds (Donny, Merrill, Wayne, Jay and Alan) plus Donny’s enormously popular solo career, followed by sister Marie with little brother Jimmy getting in on the act, too. But perhaps the most popular Osmond act was the collaboration between Donny and Marie.

     From their first appearance on vinyl to their hit TV show, Donny and Marie became the most popular brother/sister duo in music history. (OK, so The Carpenters may have sold more records, but their names and faces are not as instantly recognizable.) The brothers Osmond may have set the stage so many years before, but Donny and Marie brought the Osmond family name into more households than any AM radio was capable of doing. Donny and Marie became the faces of a generation.

     Now, 30 years since they last entered a recording studio, Donny and Marie Osmond are back with a live show in Las Vegas and a new album, simply titled Donny & Marie. Stephen SPAZ Schnee caught up with the duo and found them both to be as humorous and down-to-earth as ever…

SPAZ: Your new album is just about ready to hit the streets. How are you feeling about things at this point?

MARIE OSMOND: Happy that it’s finally available to the tons of fans who have asked for a new Donny & Marie album….since, well…1980, when I was three years old!

DONNY OSMOND: I am very excited about this album. It is one of the most important albums of my career as Marie and I make a comeback.

SPAZ: It’s been roughly 30 years since you last recorded an album together. What took you so long and why did you feel that now was the right time?

DONNY: It took 30 years for our lawyers to come to an agreement! Marie wanted top billing, but its Donny & Marie - hello!

MARIE: After my older brother’s did their 50th Anniversary Celebration tour, which all of us performed at, Donny and I were given the opportunity to do a show for six weeks in Las Vegas. We both agreed to it, thinking that it would be a one-time only type of show. The tickets flew out of the box office and we got an offer to extend for a year, and then another year. Many of the audience members started requesting that we do another album together, so this is for all of them.

SPAZ: The album features a slew of great songwriters including a track written by Carol King, Babyface and Carole Bayer Sager. How did you go about choosing the songs for the album?

DONNY: We chose the songs based on the fact that they were great songs written by great songwriters.

MARIE: Donny & I both put in our two-cents about the songs we’d love to record. There was no shortage of great music to choose from, so we picked the songs we thought went best with that unique sound that is a “sibling” thing, kind of like The Carpenters… you have a more natural blending on the harmonies.

SPAZ: There’s a great version of the Country and Pop chestnut, “I Swear”, written by Frank Myers and Gary Baker. You also do a handful of other tracks co-written by them. How did that come about?

DONNY: The songs were chosen by three people, Marie, (producer) Buddy Cannon, and myself. We narrowed the list down from 200 songs and "I Swear" made the cut.

MARIE: We wanted to record a couple of the big classics, like “I Swear.” Gary Baker played bass and Frank Myers played guitar for years with me when I toured with Country music. In fact, they wrote “I Swear” when they were on the road with my show. I remember when they played it for me, backstage one evening. I said, “That’s a fantastic song.” I tease them now by saying “If touring with me was your muse for that song, then you should have let me record it first!” They are both really good friends of mine. Friends of Donny’s, too, I guess, but they like me a whole heck of a lot more!

SPAZ: The album is a true collaboration between the two of you, yet there are moments that are purely Donny and purely Marie. Were there songs that one of you felt strongly about that didn’t make the album because it didn’t musically fit in with the rest of the tracks?

MARIE: No, we both got to have our favorites on the album. I was thrilled to be able to record a song that my son, Stephen James, wrote: “I Can’t Wait to Love You.” Buddy Cannon brought us the best possible selections.

DONNY: Marie wanted more Marie songs and I of course, wanted more Donny songs. Thank goodness Buddy Cannon was there to be the arbitrator.

SPAZ: You both sound great on the album, perhaps the best you’ve ever sounded. Do you still try to challenge yourself, vocally, when you record and perform?

MARIE: All of our earlier recordings together were done when we were teenagers. Our voices have definitely matured over the years. We’ve also both done extended-run Broadway shows and tours. We’ve had to stay vocally in shape to keep performing and that’s been a great blessing to me.

DONNY: Every album is challenging in its own way, but recording with Marie was a pleasure because our voices blend so well. It's almost like we're related.

SPAZ: While the album definitely leans towards a modern Country sound, there are elements of Rock, Pop and Soul on the album as well. What was your mindset when you went into record the album?

DONNY: A little bit Country, a little bit Rock and Roll. Wait...that sounds familiar!

SPAZ: You have an enormously popular show in Las Vegas. Were you tempted to do a glitzy, Vegasy album before settling on the idea of a Country Pop album?

DONNY: You never know how an album is going to turn out until you start making it. The concept, right from the beginning, was to make a record that appeals to a large audience.

SPAZ: There’s talk of you taking your show on the road. Will it be doing essentially the same show you do in Vegas or will you be shaking things up a bit?

DONNY: The show we perform on the road this year will be a variation of the Vegas show, but from a big picture view, our show at the Flamingo is still the flagship.

MARIE: We decided that the new album was a good way to offer something new to the many fans who couldn’t make it to Vegas to see the show. We did a Christmas version of the show on Broadway last December and will take a new holiday version of the show to the Oriental Theater in Chicago this December, as well as New Year’s in Detroit. This summer, the Vegas show tours to Toronto in July for two weeks.

SPAZ: How much of the new album are you incorporating into the live show?

DONNY: The live show has a way of evolving over time, so more and more of the album will be put into the show as time goes on. Right now we are opening the show with "Vegas Love."

MARIE: We just added in two songs from the album: “Vegas Love” and “Good Life.”

SPAZ: While both of you have made albums over the past three decades, how do you feel about the modern recording process? Does it seem easier than 10, 20, 30+ years ago?

DONNY: The recording process can change as much as it wants to but at the end of the day, it's the song that matters. As the old saying goes, "If it's' not in the grooves, you don't have a hit record."

MARIE: There’s no doubt that new technology has made recording more cost effective. If you have to, you can lay down the tracks instrument by instrument. However, I miss the feeling that there was when you were all together in the studio and recorded live. It’s hard to match the feeling of singing along with the strings, horns, percussion and the musicians all there next to you. It was a more emotion-filled way to record. So now an artist has to be mindful of keeping the true intention of the song when it is produced with modern technology.

SPAZ: Most of your chart contemporaries from the early ‘70s have faded from public consciousness. What do you attribute your longevity to?

MARIE: Donny and I are both hard workers and I think we understood, early on, right after the ABC variety show, that to have longevity in a career an entertainer needs to be flexible and reinvent themselves and grow. If I do anything that’s unique, it’s that I sing many styles of music: from Pop to Country, Rock to Broadway, inspirational to operatic, which is my latest passion.

DONNY: I would like to think that we give our audiences a lot of variety. Many people have told me after seeing our show in Vegas that it's more that what they expected.

SPAZ: Much of the Osmonds legacy seems rooted in strong family ties plus the fact that you two, as well as your brothers, have remained very honest, open and down to earth. Would you agree?

DONNY: Family is so important. In this business it is necessary to stay down to earth and grounded.

MARIE: Our parents gave us a strong work ethic and mutual respect was always a part of that. Donny and I can work with each other five nights a week because of that respect. Our mother demonstrated that love and compassion for your family, friends and fans was top priority and our Dad was a perfect role-model on delivering what you promise to your co-workers and to your audience.

SPAZ: How do you feel about the crop of young talent that has come in your wake including everyone from Hanson and the Jonas Brothers to Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber? The entire Osmond clan set the bar pretty high all those years ago…

DONNY: Enjoy the roller coaster ride. It's going to get bumpy!

MARIE: There are a lot of very talented people in the world who never get a national/international platform. So, for anyone to get their shot, I hope they consider themselves blessed. Sometimes, you don’t realize it until you can look back a bit. Donny and I consider ourselves so fortunate to have shared the stage with the most incredible performers of their time: Andy Williams, Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, Paul Lynde, Tina Turner, on and on.”

SPAZ: What’s next for Donny & Marie?

MARIE: You can find us in Vegas for this summer and fall, and then on to Chicago for our holiday show at the Oriental Theater in December.

SPAZ: What is currently spinning on your CD and DVD players?

MARIE: I have a playlist on my iPod of my favorite songs and they encompass a variety of styles from the 60’s through today. Some of the greats like: “Killing Me Softly,” by Roberta Flack, “Sailing,” by Christopher Cross, Judy Garland, The Bee Gees, Gladys Knight, Barbra Streisand, Garth Brooks, Christina Aguilera, Lady Antebellum, Adele. The stage songs of Kandor & Ebb. Music brings back great memories.

Thanks to Donny & Marie Osmond

Special thanks to Kevin Farrell, Michelle Gayhart and Dana House

DONNY & MARIE OSMOND

DONNY & MARIE

5.3.11