Donny & Marie On The Shelf

[needlefingers]

Donny & Marie did a disco song called On The Shelf.

I always liked this light disco-pop song from them, but it didn't get much anywhere. It's from the lp Goin' Coconuts, which is also a film, one I never saw.

Here is the song



....and a video of them performing it live in concert.




Some questions I have..

Do you know the song?

Do you like the song?

Would it have been more popular if performed by someone else?

Would like to hear from somebody who saw the film. Is the song sung on screen?

[drlove]

I actually like the song, and it's notable in their career for being the final tune by ANY of the Osmonds in the '70s to make the Billboard Pop Charts (# 38 in 1978). Donny went on to make a notable pop chart comeback in 1989-90, with sis Marie enjoying a country chart comeback of her own in the mid-80s.

I have Goin' Coconuts on VHS (I know, I know, quit laughing), but haven't seen it in years, so I'm not certain where the song fits in. Movie, though, was a BIG OLE BOMB, and essentially killed off any film career hopes for Donny & Marie, who were (at the time) enjoying a wildly successful run on television with their 1976-79 variety show. TRIVIA: Marie turned down the lead in 1978's Grease because of the tart-yourself-up-to-win-the-guy character arc of her role. What a decision: "No" to Grease, but "Yes" to Goin' Coconuts :icon_eek:

[Salsoul1975]

Needlefingers, "On The Shelf" by Donny & Marie is one of their best tracks ever! There should've been an extended 12" 5-minute plus version of this song because the melody alone is pure pop-disco heaven! It even managed to squeak into the Top 40 in November, 1978 (peaking at #38). Marie's vocals were sublime, and Donny had already reached his mature singing level. I never saw the movie "Goin' Coconuts" either, but this is one of their overlooked songs, IMO. Another song worth seeking out is their rendition of "(You're My) Soul And Inspiration", another Top 40 song from January, 1978. Like "On The Shelf", the arrangement is terrific and D & M's vocals really cut through. I think Holland-Dozier (or one of them) worked with D & M at this time.

[needlefingers]

I have found most of the movie on youtube, but not the ending or the part where/if they sing On the Shelf. But after looking and scimming through what is there, it looks like The Brady Bunch/Hawaiian Vacation meets Hawaii Five-O.

And I agree Salsoul1975, it really was worthy of an extended mix. By '78-79, the DJ's are pretty much in charge of the club playlists now, and I'm thinking that playing Donny and Marie was not their bag. Before then, customers would complain to bartenders, waitresses and club management when a DJ wouldn't play a song. But by the late '70's, the DJ rules and management knows that. I think that's a good thing, but I'm sure that is at least part of the reason this song doesn't take off. Because it is very good in melody and arrangement. The lyrical metaphors might be a little sappy, but that doesn't bother me too much. I do think the song builds nicely and "grooves" in a beautiful way.

[Cdnbob]

This has kind of been talked about before in other threads but On The Shelf appears at the very start of the Goin Coconuts movie - actually Donny & Marie are seen dancing and singing the song as the opening credits play on screen. The song is from the Goin Coconuts album - it was the final D&M album and the album was produced by Mike Curb and Michael Lloyd for Mike Curb Productions (yes the same Mike Curb who was governer of California at one time). The song is written by Steve Voice and Pete Yellowstone. The song also appeared in sheet music format (I have this).

The American release 7 inch single was PD14510, the album was on Polydor PD-1-6189, it was arranged by John D'Andrea and is credited to ATV Music Group and a KOLOB Production - KOLOB was the Osmonds own record label (KOLOB is from the Book of Morman which supposedly was a planet in our solar system that was destroyed). The 7 inch single was backed by Certified Honey (which never appeared on any Donny & Marie albums). There was a 12 inch single release which was credited to D&M (not Donny & Marie) as part of marketing gimmick to ensure airplay for the song.

The track listing for the album is as follows:

Side One
On The Shelf
Don't Play With The One Who Loves You
You Don't Have To Say You Love Me (Marie solo of the old Dusty Springfield song)
Baby Now That I've Found You (Donny solo of the old song)
Gimme Some Time

Side Two
Let's Fall In Love
You Bring Me Sunshine
Fallin In Love Again
Doctor Dancin'
You Never Can Tell (the old Chuck Berry song)
May Tomorrow Be A Perfect Day (new version)

The movie of Goin Coconuts was a major bomb for them. It was only in theatres for about 5-7 days and died a quick death. As an Osmond fan myself, the movie is quite bad, but its fun to watch because of that fact. As to the track itself, its one of my favourite D&M songs and my favorite bit of the song is the ‘took, took, took, took it away’ bit and the chorus.

Here's the lyrics to the song:

You took my love and you threw it away
Gave you my heart and you took it that day
Took took took took it away
Took took took took it away
And I want it back

Went for a drive just the other day
I left my car and they towed it away
Took took took towed it away
Took took took towed it away
And I want it back

I'm like a dog without a bone
I'm like a house that's not a home
I'm like a watch that nobody wants to wind
(I've got all the time now)
I'm like a lock without a key
Nobody wants to lean on me
I'm so lonely, lonely without you
Back on the shelf am I baby

Went to a party 'cause you said you would go
I sat around but you didn't show
No no no you didn't show
No no no you didn't show, no no

I ring your house I don't get no reply
Well I don't know I think you're telling me lies
Ti ti ti telling me lies
Ti ti ti telling me lies oh oh
(repeat chorus)

FYI, Holland Dozier Holland worked with Donny & Marie on the Winning Combination album released in 1977.

[needlefingers]

I would have to say you are wrong about them playing On The Shelf during the opening credits, as this is what I have found....



I do like this disco-y opening though.

Maybe you mean the closing credits, which I have not seen yet?

Thanks for the album info. I like Mike Curb. :icon_mrgreen: I remember The Mike Curb Congregation singing Burning Bridges.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8JPk...eature=related

[Salsoul1975]

I also think Mike Curb had something to do with the Four Seasons' 1975 comeback; didn't he produce and/or arrange "Who Loves You" and "Decmeber 1963 (Oh What A Night)"?

[needlefingers]

Oh, now I hear the song playing after they leave the stage and are at the dressing table.

[needlefingers]

Here's Mike Curb's bio.


Mike Curb - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[remicks]

Here's the lyrics to the song:

You took my love and you threw it away
Gave you my heart and you took it that day
Took took took took it away
Took took took took it away
And I want it back

Went for a drive just the other day
I left my car and they towed it away
Took took took towed it away
Took took took towed it away
And I want it back

I'm like a dog without a bone
I'm like a house that's not a home
I'm like a watch that nobody wants to wind
(I've got all the time now)
I'm like a lock without a key
Nobody wants to lean on me
I'm so lonely, lonely without you

Leeeeft on the sheeeelf am IIII , ba-by
Leeeeft on the sheeeelf am IIIII

Went to a party 'cause you said you would go
I sat around but you didn't show
No no no you didn't show
No no no you didn't show, no no

I ring your house I don't get no reply
Well I don't know I think you're telling me lies
Ti ti ti telling me lies
Ti ti ti telling me lies oh oh
(repeat chorus)

FYI, Holland Dozier Holland worked with Donny & Marie on the Winning Combination album released in 1977.

I quite like it. This certainly had potential ....just a remix using more instrumental !!! .....perhaps a little too Tony Orlando & wordy structurally and it offers sort of a mixed sentiment .... this upbeat arrangement & so cheerfully sung .... about being a loser !! :icon_eek: :icon_confused:

I think there's one especially shining disco moment ... unfortunately its all of two lines (:icon_exclaim:) where D&M change out their vocal delivery ....
It's right at 1:30 in the youtube clip

Had the entire song been done using that smoother breathier delivery : .... = club hit !!

:icon_biggrin: :icon_mrgreen:

*****

[Cdnbob]

I would have to say you are wrong about them playing On The Shelf during the opening credits...

Needlefingers you're right. Me bad. I was going by memory as I haven't seen the movie in a few years and my memory was obviously wrong. Sorry about that.

The weird thing about the late 70's Osmond releases is that when their songs were released they seemed to move up the charts quite quickly but after about 7 or 8 weeks the songs seemed to stall around the top 30's mark for some odd reason. If I recall correctly this happened to both D&M's releases, the brothers releases and Donny's releases from about 1976-79. (Jimmy didn't release any albums during this time. His last solo release was in 1975 and then there wasn't another North American solo release until 1986.)

Just checked the Cashbox charts for 1978 and On The Shelf peaked at #53 (week of Nov 25/78) according to them and was on the Cashbox charts for 10 weeks total. Don't know what it reached on Billboard?

[Salsoul1975]

The weird thing about the late 70's Osmond releases is that when their songs were released they seemed to move up the charts quite quickly but after about 7 or 8 weeks the songs seemed to stall around the top 30's mark for some odd reason. If I recall correctly this happened to both D&M's releases, the brothers releases and Donny's releases from about 1976-79.

Just checked the Cashbox charts for 1978 and On The Shelf peaked at #53 (week of Nov 25/78) according to them and was on the Cashbox charts for 10 weeks total. Don't know what it reached on Billboard?

"On The Shelf" reached #38 on Billboard's Hot 100 on November 25, 1978.

You are right about Osmond releases climbing no higher than the low 30's on the Billboard charts from 1976-79. Donny's "C'mon Marianne" (a great rendition, IMO) reached #38 in July, 1976. Marie's "This Is The Way That I Feel" reached #39 in June, 1977. The Osmonds' "I Can't Live A Dream" reached #48 (or #46, can't remember which) in October/November, 1976. D & M's "(You're My) Soul And Inspiration" peaked at #38 on January 21, 1978.

[Cdnbob]

"On The Shelf" reached #38 on Billboard's Hot 100 on November 25, 1978.

You are right about Osmond releases climbing no higher than the low 30's on the Billboard charts from 1976-79. Donny's "C'mon Marianne" (a great rendition, IMO) reached #38 in July, 1976. Marie's "This Is The Way That I Feel" reached #39 in June, 1977. The Osmonds' "I Can't Live A Dream" reached #48 (or #46, can't remember which) in October/November, 1976. D & M's "(You're My) Soul And Inspiration" peaked at #38 on January 21, 1978.

Do you know what chart position Donny's Holland-Dozier-Holland produced "You Got Me Dangling On A String" charted to? And did anything from the Osmonds, Maurice Gibb produced, album "Steppin Out" chart?

[Cdnbob]

FYI out of curiousity, here is a review of the "Goin Coconuts" album from Billboard Magazine...

DONNY & MARIE
Goin' Coconuts
Producer(s): Mike Curb, Michael Lloyd, the Osmonds
Polydor PD16169 / Genre: POP
Originally reviewed for week ending 9/30/78

The brother-and-sister duo begins the new season of its popular ABC-TV variety show this month and here has an album with much the same broad demographic appeal: included are songs by both Chuck Berry ("You Never Can Tell") and Harold Arlen ("Let's Fall In Love"). Four of the songs here are from Donny & Marie's upcoming "Goin' Coconuts" movie, including the single and three originals by Alan, Wayne and Merrill Osmond. The rest of the songs, all of which have sleekly arranged orchestra backings, range from an oldie and good singles candidate ("You Don't Have To Say You Love Me") to new tunes by such contemporary pop tunesmiths as Michael Lloyd and Tony Macauley. Best cuts: "On The Shelf," "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me," "Gimme Some Time." Dealers: Merchandise around tv show.

[disco-disc]

Hi Guys /Salsoul1975....
IN CASE YOU MISSED THE EARLIER POST, by Cdnbob, THIS TRACK 'ON THE SHELF' WAS ON 12"- UNDER THE NAME D&M, AND IS A GREAT TUNE.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE THE OSMONDS 12" I, I, I,...
:icon_biggrin:

[needlefingers]

Here it is on ebay.

And it is extented a bit.

D&M DONNY & MARIE OSMOND On The Shelf RARE 1978 PROMO - eBay (item 180321165482 end time Jan-22-09 11:35:26 PST)

[Cdnbob]

Hi Guys /Salsoul1975....
IN CASE YOU MISSED THE EARLIER POST, by Cdnbob, THIS TRACK 'ON THE SHELF' WAS ON 12"- UNDER THE NAME D&M, AND IS A GREAT TUNE.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE THE OSMONDS 12" I, I, I,...
:icon_biggrin:

Well being an Osmond fan I'm biased but I recommend the Osmonds "Steppin Out" album. The whole album is pretty good and its got quite a good disco feel to it bar the last track on side 2 which is a country song (which I've always considered an early hint on where the four brothers were going musically). The last time I saw a copy of "I,I,I/You're Mine" up for sale it was going for over $350 as the 12 inch was only ever released as a promo.

[Cdnbob]

Here it is on ebay.

And it is extented a bit.

D&M DONNY & MARIE OSMOND On The Shelf RARE 1978 PROMO - eBay (item 180321165482 end time Jan-22-09 11:35:26 PST)

If you pick this up, note that the writing on the sleeve is neither Donny's or Marie's signature.

The "Goin Coconuts" album is on E-Bay here:
http://cgi.ebay.ca/Donny-Marie-Osmon...1%7C240%3A1318
Osmonds "Steppin Out" on E-Bay here:
http://cgi.ebay.ca/The-Osmonds-Stepp...1%7C240%3A1318
And the 12 inch single see here currently going for $345...
http://www1.gemm.com/item/OSMONDS/I-.../GML858288117/

[kdavid13]

I was never into the Osmonds although I remember watching the family's Christmas specials...anyway.
Ever since I heard On the shelf - I've been looking for it and yesterday as I was record shopping I managed to find a US copy of the album.

I was surprised to see that there is more than one disco cut on the album - Baby now that I found you,Gimme some time (slower yet so funky),Don't play with the one who loves you,You bring me sunshine,Doctor dancin' (not unlike Paul Jabara's Dance) and the brief May tomorrow be a perfect day also qualify as dance/pop.