The bright, driving sound of a family act shedding its past and embracing a thrilling, uncertain future.
For those of us who came of age in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the name The Osmonds evokes a whirlwind of memories: screaming fans, matching jumpsuits, and a sudden, electrifying shift from barbershop innocence to bona fide rock-pop stardom. Among the early tracks that marked this pivotal transformation is the vibrant, catchy single “Movin’ Along.” More than just a song, it serves as a musical snapshot of a young group from Ogden, Utah, taking its first serious steps away from the cozy confines of The Andy Williams Show and onto the frenetic, unforgiving stage of mainstream American pop music.
Crucially, “Movin’ Along” was a single released in August 1970 (on MGM Records), right on the cusp of the monumental success that would soon sweep the family to global fame. This particular song did not chart in the US Billboard Hot 100, nor is it listed among their major UK chart entries, as it was immediately overshadowed by the single that followed a few months later: “One Bad Apple,” which would rocket to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks in 1971. Because of this, “Movin’ Along” became the energetic, almost prophetic B-side or regional single that laid the groundwork. It’s the sound of the engine starting just before the spectacular liftoff, a true collectors’ piece for those who remember the initial buzz.
The song’s meaning is perfectly reflected in its title and driving tempo. It’s an infectious, up-tempo burst of energy, lyrically and musically embodying the group’s journey: a statement of relentless, unstoppable forward momentum. Written by the brothers themselves, this track—and others like it—began to showcase the older Osmond boys’ ambitions (Alan, Wayne, and Merrill) to be more than just a clean-cut variety show novelty. It was the moment they moved from merely performing songs to writing and owning their sound. The spirit of “Movin’ Along” is pure, youthful determination; the group was leaving the past behind, embracing a new, rock-influenced, R&B-tinged sound, and refusing to look back. It signaled that The Osmonds were not merely a creation of television producers, but a talented, multi-instrumentalist band with a point to prove.
For fans who were young in the 70s, listening to “Movin’ Along” today stirs a genuine feeling of nostalgia for that simpler, yet rapidly changing, era of pop. It reminds us of a time when the entire family—all handsome brothers with impeccable harmonies—could command the cultural spotlight. The track’s punchy instrumentation and the unmistakable blend of their voices, led by the soaring, passionate vocal of Merrill Osmond, capture that moment of transition—the sound of Osmondmania being born. While “One Bad Apple” was the commercial breakthrough, “Movin’ Along” was the artistic declaration, the sound of a family saying, “We’re here, we’re real, and we’re not going anywhere.”
That early ’70s determination and ambition—captured so vividly in this track—is what made The Osmonds the music phenomenon they were, successfully transitioning from children’s television to teen idols, and eventually even tackling progressive rock concepts with their album The Plan. “Movin’ Along” is the spark plug that ignited their run.