Donny & Marie - Winning Combination/Goin' Coconuts

2008 digitally remastered two-fer from the ever-smiling pop duo featuring two albums on one shiny disc. Winning Combination and Goin' Coconuts (the soundtrack to their less-than-stellar motion picture of the same name) were both released in 1978. Includes the American hit singles '(You're My) Soul And Inspiration' and 'On The Shelf', both of which hit #38. Like all of the Osmonds-related reissues, this features original album artwork, pictures of related singles sleeves and great, detailed liner notes by Phil Hendriks. 7Ts. Album Description

Glad I Bought This!

I don't think I'll buy the other Donny & Marie albums now available on CD, but I've been trying to get "On The Shelf" for a while. "Winning Combination" and "Goin'Coconuts" were my favorite D&M albums, so buying this CD seemed like a good idea. It was! I STILL don't like "You Never Can Tell," but I had forgotten how good these albums are! I have no regrets about this purchase.

Unlike the reviewer who says the songs have been changed, I didn't hear a difference. There is a MAJOR improvement in the sound quality over that of the LP's, so maybe that is what the reviewer is referring to. The sound is now crystal clear. August 17, 2008

So excited to buy this!

I bought the Winning Combination album when it was first released and waited all these 20 odd years to finally own the CD! Also watch the Goin' Coconuts movie so this is all so deja vu for me.. fabulous buy and great sound... August 9, 2008

sure would be nice to have been beter

For any of you out there who did away with your record player, and lp's being re-released on cd are your only way to ever re-living your younger days, this cd will be perfect. But, for those of us who still held on to our record players, and so forth, this cd may not excite you too much. Yes, I am happy that most of the Osmonds cds have been re-released on cd, but let me just give my honest feedback of why I did not give this a 5-star rating.

Firstly, referring to WINNING COMBINATION, the title track starts with a 4 drum beat intro, which, on the original LP, it did not have. Then, "Best of Me" starts of with Donny "wooing" right away, and on the original LP he does it 10 seconds later (roughly). The horns section on that same song is also shortened. Basically, the song has been chopped. Sorry, but it's true. Let's go on to "Sold on You." The ending fades out slightly shorter than the LP version. And lastly, "Sure Would Be Nice." That song has been remixed. The vocals have a reverb effect.

I wish these albums would have been re-released as they originally were, without shortening the songs, and without adding effects to the vocals. I just named the songs in specific which were toyed with. I was afraid to hear more ugly changes, so I inserted my personal copies that I made of transferring my well-maintained Osmonds lps onto cd format. No let down there.

In the future, maybe we can rely on Japanese imports of these very same cd re-issues. They always have a way of going "all out" with their packaging and doing the artists justice. Just look at the re-issued Elvis cds; released as their original lp replicas in cd format. The same goes for Jobraith, The Smiths, Elvis Costello. You pay an arm and a leg for those little gems, but they are well worth it.

Can you imagine buying a re-released Marie Osmond THIS IS THE WAY THAT I FEEL cd released as as an lp replica? Just imagine pulling the cd out of the paper sleeve which shows the (back then) latest other available Osmonds records. The obi would be the icing on the cake. July 28, 2008

End of an era?

Back in 1977, Brian Holland (of Holland, Dozier, Holland) produced and co-wrote what would be Donny Osmond's last album for 10 years. 'Donald Clark Osmond', one of the few albums not included in the 7ts CD release campaign, was a poor, dull affair lacking in memorable songs that often didn't suit Donny's voice. It actually did worse than 'Disco Train', which is a better album, believe it or not!

Sadly, Holland also took it on himself to do a similar 'favour' for Donny and Marie's 'Winning Combination' LP, arguably their worst effort to date. Like 'Donald Clark Osmond', 'Winning Combination' strives for a more mature, soulful sound but is let down by incredibly weak songs. Poor Marie's voice is forced into an annoying, 'little-girl', squeak on much of the album and Donny doesn't fare much better at the top of his range on the shrill, though mercifully short, tunes. the only (minor) hit single, '(You're My) Soul And Inspiration' is by far the best track and D&M's slightly reworded cover of the Osmonds' 'Sure Would Be Nice' is good too, but the rest of it all sounds the same, and not in a good way.

Obviously I realise the album is (bizarrely) a fan fave but I've had the LP for 30 years so you can't say I didn't give it a try! Nice sleeve, though!

'Goin' Coconuts' from 1978 is much better to my ears, more of a traditional D&M album with lots of covers and a good helping of charm. 'On The Shelf' was the only hit but it's one of their best singles and is far more soulfull than anything on the previous album. Marie's showed nerve by covering 'You Don't Have To Say You Love Me', and did a good job, too,and Donny's take on 'Baby, Now That I've Found You' is excellent. In fact, 'side one' of the album is pretty much
perfect and 'side two' starts well with 'Let's Fall In Love' After that, though, it goes a bit downhill with 3 tracks from the 'Goin' Coconuts' movie which I never got to see (was it any good?) I have to say that 'Doctor Dancin' must have been a an out-take from the 'Disco Train' sessions, it would fit really well on that LP! Closing the album is a good version of 'You Never Can Tell' and a pointless instrumental of 'May Tomorrow Be A Perfect Day'.

So, there you have it. I should add that, as usual, 7ts have done a superb job remastering these albums. They sound incredible and while I certainly never took to 'Winning Combination', it sounds fabulous, at least technically, here. July 22, 2008

Great Osmond Classic

I'm very happy to have these recordings on Cd now. I liked every song on these albums that were not put on any of the greatest hits compilations. Great to have all my favorite old music!!! July 21, 2008

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