A thrilling, funk-infused moment where the squeaky-clean pop family demonstrated their surprising musical maturity.
Do you remember that electric moment in the 1970s? The one when the darling, wholesome, barbershop-singing Osmond Brothers from Utah, the same boys who charmed us all on The Andy Williams Show and filled teen magazines with their toothy grins, suddenly grew up and learned how to funk? We had seen their transformation from the pure pop of “One Bad Apple” into the harder rock territory of “Crazy Horses,” but there was always an expectation that they would eventually retreat to the safety of teen idol fare. That’s why the B-side track “Fever”—released in 1974—remains such a potent, thrilling surprise in their sprawling discography. It wasn’t a single in its own right in the U.S., but the sheer energy of the track, buried on the flip side of the massive, slick ballad “Love Me for a Reason,” signaled a profound, if temporary, musical awakening.
To speak of chart positions for “Fever” requires looking at its partner. “Love Me for a Reason,” the A-side of the MGM single, was the massive hit from their 1974 album Love Me for a Reason. That single was a global phenomenon, peaking at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and famously hitting No. 1 in the UK, proving the family’s international star power. “Fever” was the B-side, the record you flipped over out of curiosity after falling for the lead track. And what a contrast! While “Love Me for a Reason” was a smooth, orchestral soul-pop confection, “Fever” was a raw, driving slice of funk-rock that sounded like a band straining against their own carefully managed image.
The story behind this shift traces back to the period following their ambitious 1973 concept album, The Plan, where the older brothers—Merrill, Alan, and Wayne—sought to redefine themselves as serious rock musicians. “Fever” is a testament to this period of musical self-determination. It is the sound of a band, not a manufactured group of pop singers, and it’s a song about passion.
The meaning of “Fever,” penned by Denny and Letty Jo Randell, is simple: it’s about a relentless, physical compulsion toward love. It’s a groovy, frantic declaration of being so smitten that one is quite literally burning up. Unlike the polite, sugary confessions of love found in early Donny Osmond solo hits, this song sizzles. Merrill Osmond’s lead vocal here is a gritty, soul-infused performance, backed by a tight, complex instrumental arrangement where each brother—Jay’s crisp, propulsive drumming, Alan’s rhythm, Wayne’s guitar work—contributes to a palpable sense of groove. For those of us listening back in the day, spinning the record and hearing this vibrant B-side, it felt like an insider’s secret: a moment where the boys truly rocked and managed to shake off the ‘bubblegum’ label with pure, undeniable musical muscle. It’s a joyous blast of ’70s swagger that still makes you want to get up and move.