25 Hits Special Collection

Despite those supposedly funny cracks through the years about the Osmonds' milk-and-honey over-sweetness, few can argue they didn't turn out music that contains a chapter all its own in rock and country annals. But this one, billed as Marie's best (which they certainly are), also pairs her with brother Donny for all those timeless duos, and we get an absolutely delightful life of music from the gal whose first recorded single ("Paper Roses") gave her a No. 1 hit at age 12. Along with Marie's solo hits into her adult career ("There's No Stoppin' Your Heart," "You're Still New To Me," "Meet Me in Montana") there are some hidden gems, many of them country-oriented like "Big Hurts Can Come (From Little White Lies)," "True Love Lasts Forever" and a terrific cut of Anita Bryant's "My Little Corner of the World." Of course, a Marie anthology isn't really one without brother Donny, and the brother-sister smash duos are all here ("I'm Leaving It All Up to You," "Deep Purple, "Morning Side of the Mountain"). You don't have to be an Osmond fan to savor this collection, a terrific anthology from a tremendously gifted singer whose range from country to rock is astounding. If you're in the market for maybe one of the best of collections of Marie by herself and with Donny, this is a must-have.