Artist	Song
the osmond brothers	make the music flow
the osmond brothers	i've got loving on my mind
the osmond brothers	flower music
the osmond brothers	mary elizabeth
the osmond brothers	i can't stop
the osmonds	one bad apple
the osmonds	think
the osmonds	catch me baby
the osmonds	flirtin'
the osmonds	sweet and innocent
the osmonds	she makes me warm
the osmonds	chilly winds
the osmonds	double loving
the osmonds	if you're going to leave me
the osmonds	we never said forever
the osmonds	keep on my side
the osmonds	love is
the osmonds	down by the lazy river
the osmonds	yo-yo
the osmonds	hold her tight
the osmonds	girl
the osmonds	what could it be
the osmonds	we all fall down
the osmonds	crazy horses
the osmonds	one way ticket to anywhere
the osmonds	it's alright
the osmonds	mirror, mirror
the osmonds	goin' home

Comment:

The Osmonds?!? Sure, we've all joked about their white-bread wholesome image, the lightweight candy-coated pop hits and those matching body-hugging jumpsuits. The Rolling Stone Record Guide said their records should be melted. It's doubtful that they'll ever be inducted into the Rock `n' Roll Hall of Fame, even though they've been in the music biz for fifty years (they're reuniting for two concerts in Las Vegas in August to celebrate the milestone). So why devote a mix to these guys? Cheeseball image and critical bashing aside, these siblings recorded some pretty worthwhile tunes, incorporating elements of bubblegum, baroque pop, country, hard rock and soul. Sure, not all their songs hit the mark (some of their stabs at heavy metal fall a little flat), but these 28 tracks should hopefully demonstrate that these brothers gave the world some first-rate material during their glory years.
This mix includes several of their late 60s singles, as well as selections from the first five MGM albums: The Osmonds (6-10), Homemade (11-15), Phase III (16-19), Crazy Horses (20-24) and the obligatory Mormon concept album, The Plan (25-28). Only the latter got a proper CD reissue - you'll have to scour the thrift store record bins to get your hands on the others. They're not difficult to find, as the Osmond clan has sold more than 70 million albums. Some of the hits are here, not because I felt obligated to include them, but because they're excellent songs in their own right. Can anyone resist the temptation of "One Bad Apple" or a spin of "Yo-Yo"? Who cares if they're Jackson 5 rip-offs. The title track, a Cowsills' cover, could be my favorite of the bunch. It's a catchy slice of Hollies-like popsike featuring their trademark harmonies. My music snob friends are always shocked when I tell them it's the Osmonds after playing it - and then they ask to hear it again.
Thanks go out to honorary Osmond, Barrydali, who provided some technical help. So you want a quiz? Of course you do. Identify the smiling faces on the cover from left to right. First correct answer gets a copy - and a case of tooth whitener.

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