[Cross-posted to In Medias Res]
The Osmond Christmas Album came out 45 years ago today, on December 18, 1976. I’m talking the original double-LP, of course, not the corrupt CD version which cut all of Merrill’s and Jimmy’s songs and was released 15 years later. For American Mormons of a certain age, the original–all 20 tracks of it–was an essential part of the holiday canon. It generated intense discussions of Mormon-specific trivia (was Donny singing to his then-girlfriend Debbie on “This Christmas Eve”?), gave rise to heated debates about family rules (surely, because it was the Osmonds and it was the holidays, we could play “Sleigh Ride” on Sundays, couldn’t we?), and required parental intervention as arguments broke out over who was better at picking up and dropping the needle without scratching the vinyl when it came to skipping over “If Santa Were My Daddy” (which, of course, everyone did). Consider the comments your space for your own or your family’s Osmond Christmas stories. Or, if you don’t have any (or at least not any for public consumption), you can always listen to the full thing here. (Or watch the 1976 special, broadcast the day before the album was released. Man, Paul Lynde wasn’t remotely Mormon, but I think he kind of loved our tribe.)
By Common Consent, a Mormon Blog 
I just came back from the extended family Christmas party on my mom’s side. One of our important Christmas traditions is to break out the inflatable guitars and microphones and rock out to Sleigh Ride as loudly as possible.
PBS and BYU showing 20 years of MoTab choir concerts – wondering if the Osmonds feel marginalized that they have never been featured…
My husband and I just watched the 1976 Osmond Christmas Special last night. It was so fun to see again the type of show we grew up with as kids. Sadly, I missed out on actually owning the Christmas album.
I don’t think those haircuts would have passed muster with any bishop in the 1970’s.
Besides the in family discussions / arguements about what is appropriate on Sundays (seems that would be more disruptive than the actual music), I thought who releases an album of Christmas music a week before Christmas?
I still have that album and still play it every year. I also watched the 1978 Osmond Christmas special a couple of days ago and plan to watch a few more before the season is over. I guess that says something about me. I’m not sure what…