Osmondmania! Osmond Family Greatest Hits

Performer: The Osmonds
Producer: Danny Costa; Alan Osmond; Michael Lloyd; Mike Curb; Rick Hall; Sonny James; Mike Ragogna (Compilation)
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Producers includes: Rick Hall, Mike Curb, Don Costa, Alan Osmond, Michael Lloyd. Recorded between 1971 & 1973. Includes liner notes by Robyn Flans & Alan Osmond. Liner Note Author: Robyn Flans. The Osmonds were the first family of AM pop in the 1970s. This 28-song compilation collects tracks by the Osmond brothers, as well as Donny's solo work, Marie's solo work, and Donny & Marie together. The Osmond brothers had some really big hits, and their ten tracks here are littered with them. Songs like the joyous Jackson 5-inspired "One Bad Apple," the crazed, hard rocking "Crazy Horses," and the infectious "Down by the Lazy River" show a group with an energy and a strong sense of popcraft. Donny tended to go for the soft, teen idol type of sounds. His 12 entries on Osmondmania! feature cuddly tracks like "Puppy Love," "Young Love," and "The Twelfth of Never," and give a good idea why the little girls went wild for Donny. Marie clocks in with three country-influenced songs, including her smash, "Paper Roses." Her popular teaming with Donny found the pair exploring many styles of music, but they were mostly rooted firmly in AM pop. Three songs by the duo are featured, the cover of "Deep Purple" being a highlight. Osmondmania! is a nice summation of the work of the first family of '70s pop. The tracks are well selected and sequenced and Alan Osmond's liner notes are a nice touch. One has to wonder why Little Jimmy Osmond's ridiculous hit single, "Long Haired Lover from Liverpool," was omitted -- but only a little, since mostly one is too busy grooving along with the light and poppy sounds of the Osmonds. ~ Tim Sendra

Uncut (6/03, p.135) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Even Michael Jackson couldn't express teen angst and despair as grievously as Donny did on 'Puppy Love'...songs like 'I Knew You Well' and 'Hey Girl' go even deeper..."

They were plenteous and talented, and for a few years in the early 1970s the singing Osmond siblings--the clean-cut, Mormon-raised children of Olive and George Osmond--had America's prepubescent girls in a tizzy. They garnered their first exposure as a recurring act on Andy Williams's variety show in the '60s, and had their first chart success in '71 with the soulful "One Bad Apple," showcasing the lead vocals of 13-year-old heart-throb Donny Osmond. Many Top Ten singles followed, and Donny also had great success as a solo act. In the mid-'70s, youngest brother Jimmy Osmond stepped in as lead cutie, while Donny recorded--and starred in a mega-popular TV variety show--with the sole female Osmond sibling, Marie. The older Osmond brothers still occasionally perform, and both Donny and Marie have stayed in the public eye with various acting, singing, and writing projects over the years.

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