Donnie & Marie Osmond

[buckaroo]

"On The Shelf" (1979)

Just saw them singing this on an old edition of UK music show Top Of The Pops. It rang a few bells for me. Would it qualify as disco?

[usagi-san]

Hi Buckaroo, yes I think it is disco, and was an underrated song. I like their music very much. It was on the "Goin' Coconuts" movie soundtrack and at least one collection. How did you manage to see that "Top Of The Pops" episode? In 1992 I asked Donny if he was going to do any more movies. He said he had no plans to. I said he hadn't done any snce "Goin' Coconuts" with Marie. He said, "We want to forget about that one." I would also suggest their previous albums "Featuring Songs From Their Television Show", "New Season" and "Winning Combination."

[buckaroo]

Hi Buckaroo, yes I think it is disco, and was an underrated song. I like their music very much...How did you manage to see that "Top Of The Pops" episode?

I have many music clips, shows, and videos that I've recorded over the years.
Dig those matching red outfits!! :lol:

[Cory Ander]

regarding "Winning Combination"....I think I finally figured this out. Since much Motown music was directed to and bought by pop audiences it probably seemed logical for Brian and Eddie Holland to work with one of the most popular pop acts of the day (1977) when they left Motown (if other Motown producers like Smokey, Norman Whitfield or others tried this I'm not aware of it). After listening to the album I'd say the actual songs, arrangements and productions are great, right up there among Motown's best. But they sure deserved more distinctive vocalists than Donny and Marie who simply don't lend the songs much personality. Marie Osmond does her very best Diana Ross impersonation (especially on "Angel Love") and there's a straightforward disco track, "I Can't Do Without You", but it still seems a odd mismatch. 3/26/2011

[PierreConstantin]

Oddly enough the "On the shelf" vinyl doesn't say Donnie & Marie Osmond but only "D & M".

[the disco kid]

They did the same stunt years later when Donny Osmond released "Soldier Of Love", there was no name was on the promo 12"s that were sent out..they didn't want DJ's to be swayed by the fact it was Donny Osmond...it's a good song, but they record execs didn't think club DJ's would play it if they knew who it was.

[langlang]

OH GOD, PLEASE!! donny and marie are cutesy or at least they were. and one bad apple was pretty good,but they should just fade into obscurity gracefully instead of still hanging on after all these years. i'll take the dragon and toni tennille over these hacks anyday!

[kdavid13]

I'm not a fan of the Osmonds and I'd never heard "On the shelf" and then someone on this very forum brought it up and I've been in love with the song ever since.
It should be noted that a few other tracks on the "Goin' Coconuts" soundtrack are also disco friendly.

[the disco kid]

"I,I,I" by The Osmonds is definitely Disco, and pretty damn good as well...produced by the Brothers Gibb no less.