It’s 1972. The Osmonds are basically the American equivalent of the Partridge Family but with more teeth and better hair. They are the "clean-cut kids from Utah." They do variety shows. They sing about "One Bad Apple" and puppies. Then, out of nowhere, they drop a track that starts with a screeching wah-wah pedal that sounds like a literal stallion screaming in a blender. It’s heavy. It’s loud. It’s Osmond Brothers Crazy Horses, and it completely shattered every single expectation the music industry had for them.
Most people today remember Donny as the teen idol or Marie as the country-pop sweetheart. But for a brief, glorious moment in the early seventies, the brothers decided they were done with the "bubblegum" label. They wanted to rock. And not just "soft rock" or "light pop-rock." They went full-tilt proto-metal.
The Sound That Confused a Generation
When you first hear those opening notes, you honestly don't think it's The Osmonds. You’d be forgiven for thinking it was Deep Purple or maybe even an early Black Sabbath B-side. The riff is chunky. It’s dirty. Alan, Wayne, Merrill, Jay, and Donny (who played that iconic, screaming organ part) weren't just playing at being rockers; they were actually doing it.
The song was a sharp pivot. Usually, the band relied on outside songwriters or producers to craft their "safe" image. But "Crazy Horses" was written by Alan, Wayne, and Merrill Osmond. They had something to say. They were tired of the "Donny-mania" overshadowing the fact that they were a tight, self-contained band that had been performing together since they were toddlers.
The lyrics aren't about romance. They aren't about holding hands. They are about air pollution. Seriously. In 1972, the brothers were looking at the smog-filled skylines and the "smoking" exhausts of muscle cars—the "crazy horses"—and wrote an environmental protest song. It was surprisingly ahead of its time. While other bands were singing about sex and drugs, the clean-cut kids from Provo were shouting about the destruction of the ozone layer and the death of the environment.
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Why the UK Loved It More Than America
It’s a weird quirk of music history. In the United States, Osmond Brothers Crazy Horses hit number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100. Respectable, sure. But in the United Kingdom? It went to number two. The Brits absolutely ate it up.
There’s a theory among music historians—folks like Dave Thompson who have written extensively on the era—that the UK audience was more receptive to "glam rock" and "hard rock" crossovers. While Americans wanted their teen idols to stay in their lane, the British youth saw the heavy riffs and the shiny jumpsuits and recognized it for what it was: high-energy rock and roll.
The song became a foundational track for future rockers. You’ll find covers by everyone from The Mission to KMFDM. Even Westlife, the Irish boy band, covered it, though their version lacks the raw, serrated edge of the original 1972 recording. Jay Osmond’s drumming on this track is particularly insane. He hits those skins with a level of aggression that you just didn't see coming from a guy who spent his weekends on The Andy Williams Show.
The Gear and the "Screech"
If you talk to any guitar nerd about this song, they’ll eventually bring up the "screech." That high-pitched, neighing sound that punctuates the riff. For years, people argued about how they did it. Was it a synthesizer? A special pedal?
Actually, it was a Whammy-like effect achieved through a Hammond organ and a distorted Leslie speaker, combined with some aggressive guitar technique. It wasn't a sample. It was a physical manifestation of the band's frustration. They were "screaming" through their instruments because they were tired of being treated like puppets.
Merrill Osmond’s vocals on this track are a far cry from the smooth crooning of "Love Me For A Reason." He’s rasping. He’s growling. He’s pushing his voice to the absolute limit. It’s a masterclass in blue-eyed soul meeting hard rock. Honestly, if you played the vocal stems for someone without telling them who it was, they’d guess a veteran blues-rocker every single time.
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Breaking the "Bubblegum" Curse
The industry didn't know what to do with them. Because they were The Osmonds, some radio stations refused to play it. They thought it was a joke or a gimmick. But it wasn't. It was the sound of a band finally finding their pulse.
The album of the same name, released in late '72, followed suit. It was experimental. It had soul influences, hard rock edges, and intricate vocal harmonies that were closer to The Beach Boys on steroids than anything on Top 40 radio.
Yet, the "brand" of The Osmonds was so strong that it eventually pulled them back. The fans—the "Osmondmaniacs"—wanted more ballads. The record labels wanted more Donny solos. The heavy rock era of the Osmond Brothers was short-lived, which is probably why "Crazy Horses" stands out like a sore thumb in their discography. It’s a beautiful, loud, distorted sore thumb.
Critical Re-evaluation in the 21st Century
For a long time, the song was a "guilty pleasure." Then, something shifted. In the early 2000s, garage rock revival bands began citing it as an influence. Music critics started looking back at the 1970s and realized that the Osmonds were actually incredible musicians who happened to be marketed as heartthrobs.
In 2017, when the band was celebrating their 50th anniversary, "Crazy Horses" was the song everyone wanted to hear. It hasn't aged a day. The production, handled by the brothers themselves along with Michael Lloyd, is crisp and punchy. It doesn't have that thin, tinny sound that a lot of 70s pop records suffered from. It feels heavy even by today's standards.
There is a certain irony that the most "wholesome" family in showbiz wrote one of the most aggressive riffs of the decade. But that’s the magic of it. It proves that talent isn't one-dimensional. You can be a Mormon kid from Utah and still have a bit of the devil in your guitar fingers.
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What You Should Do Next
If you’ve only ever known them for "Puppy Love," you need to re-calibrate your ears. Here is how to actually appreciate this weird piece of rock history:
- Listen to the Original 1972 Studio Version First: Don't watch the live videos yet. Just put on some good headphones and listen to the separation of the instruments. Pay attention to the bass line—it’s deceptively complex.
- Watch the 1972 Live Performances: Find the clips of them performing it on European TV. The energy is frantic. They are jumping around in white jumpsuits, looking like they’re about to start a riot. It’s a fascinating contrast between their "look" and their "sound."
- Check Out the "The Plan" Album: If you liked the vibe of "Crazy Horses," their next album The Plan is a full-on prog-rock concept album about their faith and the meaning of life. It’s bizarre, ambitious, and musically stunning.
- Listen to the Covers: Look up the version by the band "The Mission." It shows how easily the song translates into the goth-rock and alternative scenes.
The story of Osmond Brothers Crazy Horses is a reminder that you should never judge a book by its cover—or a band by their dental work. They were real rockers who just happened to be really good at being pop stars too. The song remains a high-water mark for 70s rock, a strange anomaly that somehow makes perfect sense once you realize the sheer amount of talent behind those matching outfits.
Key Takeaway for Music Collectors
If you are hunting for vinyl, try to find an original MGM Records pressing of the Crazy Horses LP. The gatefold art and the heavy-duty sound of the original analog master provide a much grittier experience than the sanitized digital remasters found on most streaming platforms today. It’s a piece of history that proves the Osmonds were, for one shining moment, the heaviest band in the world.