Introduction
A Tender Ballad of Unwavering Affection: The Osmonds’ “And You Love Me”
“And You Love Me” is a track from The Osmonds’ 1972 fourth studio album Crazy Horses, released on MGM Records. The album, which marked a stylistic pivot into rock, entered the Billboard Top LPs chart on October 14, 1972. The song itself was written by Wayne Osmond—a principal member who shared songwriting duties with his brothers during this transitional period.
At the time, The Osmonds were evolving beyond their early image as a clean-cut family quartet turned quintet, propelled into stardom after signing with MGM and working under producer Rick Hall in Muscle Shoals. This phase followed their breakout pop hit “One Bad Apple” in 1971, which was closely connected to the Jackson 5’s bubblegum‑soul style.
Crazy Horses—which contained “And You Love Me”—was the Osmonds’ full embrace of a heavier, guitar‑driven sound. Though the title track was most notable for its rock edge, the album as a whole, and particularly Wayne’s songwriting contributions, reflected the brothers’ desire to expand their musical identity. Wayne’s credits on “And You Love Me” exemplify this creative evolution .
The song exemplifies the Osmonds’ melding of melodic pop sensibilities with the more mature, layered sound of early 1970s rock. While Crazy Horses is most renowned for its title single, “And You Love Me” contributes to the narrative of the group stepping into more complex and diverse musical territories.
Through “And You Love Me,” listeners can trace the journey of The Osmonds—from their barbershop‑quartet roots in Utah, through TV fame on The Andy Williams Show, to chart‑topping pop success, and finally to artistic experimentation with rock‑influenced albums such as Crazy Horses.