Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ahead of Their Time!!!, June 19, 2008
In Crazy Horses and The Plan, The Osmonds began their departure from the bubblegum music they were known for and started to seriously rock!!!
They wrote their own songs.
Something that they had wanted to do for a long time but was held back by their handlers at their time.
Their lyrics were contemplative and sophisicated.
"The Plan" is what Alan Osmond called "The Concept Album".
It talked about revelations and last days, about wars, about God, about who are we, where are we here, and where are we heading.
It was an album of serious reflections.
"Crazy Horses" was well known for its pollution issue and on that note, the Osmonds were well ahead of their time.
That song has since been covered by many other bands and it demonstrates that The Osmonds, while many were still so unwilling to give them their due credit, so many were still so willing to imitate.
Buy this cd before it become unavailable like the original releases.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Buy with confidence., May 4, 2008
When I heard that the Osmonds back catalogue was finally to be released on CD I was overjoyed. However, over the last few years I've been badly let down by supposed 'remasters' of other artists older titles, so until I actually heard the Osmonds albums, I couldn't get my hopes up too much...
Well, 'Crazy Horses/The Plan' is the first of the batch to arrive and I have to say I couldn't be happier. I haven't heard the former album in years so in anticipation of the CD I played the vinyl album recently and was amazed to discover how good it still is and that I could remember all the lyrics!
The sound is excellent on 'Horses' and even more so on 'The Plan'. I have the superb 2001 Curb release which sounded pretty good but it's even better here. Really crisp and clear. Of course, with albums of this vintage, it's not entirely perfect. I heard the odd 'dropout' here and there (on the first line of 'Crazy Horses' and the last line of 'Goin' Home' stood out) but they've still done a brilliant job and I doubt anyone will be disappointed.
Sleeve artwork is decent with a biog of the group and the story behind both albums along with a few old 7" picture sleeves. All the original LP artwork isn't there, though.
So, one down, hopefully lots more to go! I'm really looking forward to the rest, particularly Donny's and this is a wonderful start.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Finally!, June 10, 2008
Finally! The Brothers' fourth and fifth studio albums, respectively, The Crazy Horses/The Plan disc represents, by far, the most sophisticated music of the band to that point. I remember being caught off-guard the first time I listened to the Crazy Horses LP, listening a second and third time to be sure I'd heard right the first time. This was defintely NOT J-5 Lite or teenybopper bubblegum. Even now, listening to the entire album for the first time in over 30 years, the organic feel seems very honest and pure, from a band playing just because it feels good to play. Everybody recognizes "Crazy Horses", with its classic organ intro, driving rhythm, and signature guitar riff, and the chugging opening bars of "Hold Her Tight" (perhaps borrowed from Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song", although the melody's power pop sound and lyrics take the song in a different direction), but there are several other hidden gems here. Borderline country-rocker "Life is Hard Enough Without Goodbyes", with Merrill's rapsy lead vocal, haunting guitar intro and hook, and the longing of the harmony vocals, should've been released as a single (or at least covered by the Eagles). The tender ballad "And You Love Me" captures the euphoria of being in love while showing admirable restraint, and "Utah" is a partying garage-band homage to their home state. "That's My Girl" might almost be a love song from a father to a daughter. The only throwaway in the bunch is "Julie", which ends the LP on a weaker note than it deserves, but the point of "Big Finish" is well-taken. The days of "One Bad Apple" are long gone.
The Plan was reissued a few years back, but its inclusion with Crazy Horses on this cd makes sense, for it helps show this inexplicably underrated band at its creative zenith. A concept album, The Plan reflects the band's spiritual journey, although the lyrics on most of the songs are ambiguous enough to be interpreted in a secular way. "Let Me In" showcases Merrill's soaring lead tenor over a lush arrangement of background harmony, while "One Way Ticket to Anywhere" is driven forward by Jay's insistent drumming and gruff (and underused) lead vocal. "Darlin'" is arguably one of the greatest pop love songs ever recorded. Wayne's baritone lead and foreboding guitar perfectly suit the dark, apocolyptic "Last Days", which is immediately followed by the hopeful, breezy "Goin' Home".
The packaging and notes are a notch above previous Osmond reissues, which is appropriate considering this is a milestone year for the Osmonds as an entertainment icon. The sound quality is excellent (I believe these tracks were taken from the original masters, although that's not obvious from the notes).
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by The Osmonds 
