|
|
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superfine collection of 70s AM radio champs, May 12, 2003
It's difficult to listen to the Osmonds' hits without initially hearing a bubblegum version of the Jackson 5. But given how catchy their songs were (and how much the Jackson's early hits leaned towards bubblegum in the first place), that's more of a compliment than a criticism. The Osmonds were a hugely talented clan, and they spent a decade sharpening their act as a family unit before pop stardom came calling. Ensemble songs like "One Bad Apple" and "Down By the Lazy River" show off their high-wattage star power, and the solo works of Donny and Marie successfully expanded the family's catalog into teen pop and country.Donny's adolescent voice held many of the same charms as Michael Jackson's, and his Mormon upbringing brought a rather interesting twist to songs such as "Sweet and Innocent," in which he sings "I love the little wiggle in your walk / the way you cuddle on my shoulder / but you're too young to know the score / so come back when you're older" (one has to wonder how much younger the song's object of affection could be than the 13-year old singer!). His hits tended to ballads, including a #1 remake of Steve Lawrence's 1963 hit "Go Away Little Girl" (written by Brill Building legends Gerry Goffin and Carole King), a Teen Beat ready renewal of Freddie Scott's "Hey Girl," adolescent-voiced takes of Johnny Mathis' signature "The Twelfth of Never" and Sonny James' classic "Young Love," and an unusually double-tracked vocal reworking of Nat "King" Cole's 1951 hit, "Too Young." Marie Osmond worked the pop and adult contemporary charts in a country vein with "Paper Roses" and a cover of Connie Francis late '50s hit, "Who's Sorry Now." She even found crossover success on the country charts with "In My Own Little Corner of the World." Throughout the entire Osmonds' catalog the productions are sharp, with lively horn charts, well-crafted string arrangements, and, most naturally, perfectly sung backing vocals. This disc's generous track count does a stellar job of collecting the family's "Osmondmania" chart highlights. Included are all ten of The Osmonds hits (including self-penned songs like "Down by the Lazy River," "Crazy Horses," and the surprisingly heavy "Hold Her Tight" and "Crazy Horses"), Donny's chart run from 1971-73 (missing are his 1976 recording of "C'mon Marianne" and his 1989 comeback "Soldier of Love"), Marie's successes from 1973-75 (missing is her 1977 hit "This is the Way That I Feel"), and Donny & Marie's duet successes from 1974-76 (missing are 1976's "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing," and 1978's "(You're My) Soul and Inspiration" and "On the Shelf"). Two noteworthy omissions: Little Jimmy Osmond's lone hit, "Long Haired Lover From Liverpool," and Donny & Marie's signature (though non-charting) songs from their variety show, "I'm a Little Bit Country / I'm a Little Bit Rock 'n' Roll" and "May Tomorrow Be A Perfect Day." With a running time of 79:55, however, there was simply no room for bonus tracks! The chronological track ordering shows just how impressively the Osmond's interwove success in different combinations. Donny and Marie were recording solo hits at the same time they were scoring with duets, and Donny was still helping power The Osmonds on the charts. Robyn Flan's liner notes include generous helpings of quotes from Alan and Donny Osmond, and additional notes by Alan provide some interesting tidbits from the inside of Osmondmania. It all adds up to a stellar single disc Osmonds collection!
|
Donny Osmond shares his favorite music with Amazon customers. See all artists' picks on our Music You Should Hear page.
DVD ~ The Osmonds
DVD ~ Donny Osmond
~ The Osmonds
is one of The Osmonds' 
