Introduction:
“That’s My Girl” is a song by the American family music group The Osmonds, a staple of the early 1970s pop and rock scene. It was released in 1972 on their fourth studio album, Crazy Horses. The song, while not as widely recognized as its hard-rocking A-side counterpart, “Crazy Horses,” played an important role in the album’s overall sonic identity and reflected a key transitional period for the group. The Osmonds, who had initially found fame as a wholesome, bubblegum pop and teen idol phenomenon, were actively attempting to mature their sound and establish themselves as a credible rock band. This album, and “That’s My Girl” specifically, provides a window into this pivotal moment in their career. The song’s genre can be best described as pop-rock, a sound that showcased the group’s harmonious vocal abilities while also incorporating more electric instrumentation and a slightly harder edge than their earlier work.
The year 1972 was a transformative time for The Osmonds. They had already achieved massive commercial success with a string of hits like “One Bad Apple” and “Down by the Lazy River.” However, they were no longer content with being exclusively defined by bubblegum pop. They were keen to write and perform their own music, pushing against the polished, family-friendly image that their record label, MGM, had carefully crafted. The album Crazy Horses was the culmination of this desire for artistic control. It was a conscious shift toward a hard rock and heavy metal sound, a move that surprised many critics and fans alike. “That’s My Girl,” though a more melodious track on the album, fit into this new sound by bridging the gap between their established pop identity and their nascent rock aspirations. The song’s musical texture features a driving rhythm section and layered, powerful vocals that still resonate with the harmonies that defined their earlier sound.
While the song “Crazy Horses” was the album’s lead single and made the most noise on the charts, “That’s My Girl” was its B-side, and its inclusion highlights the band’s versatility. The album Crazy Horses itself was a significant commercial and critical achievement. It peaked at number 14 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in the United States and was certified Gold by the RIAA, demonstrating that their fan base was willing to follow them into new musical territory. In the UK, the album reached an even more impressive number 9 on the Official Albums Chart. The success of the album as a whole, a project that was much more a band effort than their previous work, was a profound achievement for The Osmonds, proving that they could write, arrange, and produce their own material successfully.
The creation of Crazy Horses was largely a self-contained effort by the Osmond brothers. Alan, Merrill, and Wayne Osmond were responsible for writing the tracks, including “That’s My Girl.” This level of creative autonomy was a major step for the group and is a key part of the song’s history. The music was a departure from the orchestrated pop of their past and was a reflection of the band members’ personal tastes, which leaned heavily toward the rock music of the era. They cited influences ranging from Led Zeppelin and The Who to James Gang, and these influences are subtly present throughout the album’s tracks. The pop-rock sound of “That’s My Girl” may not have been as aggressive as the title track, but it carried the same spirit of independence and musical self-determination.
The lyrics of “That’s My Girl” are a testament to the classic themes of love and devotion that were a hallmark of The Osmonds’ music. They are earnest and straightforward, a contrast to the more socially conscious and metaphor-heavy lyrics of the title track. The song’s message is one of admiration and praise for a significant other, using simple yet effective imagery to convey deep affection. This lyrical style, coupled with the band’s clean-cut image, allowed them to maintain a connection with their original fanbase while still exploring a more rock-oriented musical landscape. The song is a perfect example of their ability to combine a sincere, heartfelt message with a more dynamic and intricate musical arrangement.
The achievements of “That’s My Girl” are intrinsically tied to the success and legacy of the Crazy Horses album. Although it was not a charting single on its own in the US, its role as the B-side to the hit “Crazy Horses” meant that it was widely circulated and heard by millions of listeners. The album’s strong chart performance in both the US and the UK, along with its Gold certification, serves as the primary achievement for all the songs it contains, including “That’s My Girl.” It was a bold statement from the group that they were more than just teen idols; they were musicians with a genuine passion for rock music and the ability to execute it with skill. The legacy of “That’s My Girl” and the Crazy Horses album as a whole is that of a pivotal, courageous move by a family band to redefine their sound and prove their artistic merit. It’s a song that represents a key transition from their bubblegum past to a more rock-infused future, forever marking a significant chapter in their storied career.