"Hold On" by Donny Osmond

Song#:  4053

Date:  09/30/1989

Debut:  89

Peak:  73

Weeks:  7

Genre:  Pop

Pop Bits:  Osmond's self-titled '89 album turned into a significant comeback that rescued his nearly dead music career. The resuscitation arrived via the #2 hit "Soldier of Love" along with its #13 follow up "Sacred Emotion." To keep Osmond going down the comeback trail, this next single was released, which featured smooth jazz sax player Dave Koz. Unfortunately, it didn't catch on nearly as well and stalled in the bottom half of the Pop chart. However, another track from the album, "I'll Be Good to You," would get to #10 at AC. The album would make it to #54 becoming Osmond's best solo result since 1973.

ReduxReview:  This was a pretty good choice for a single from the album. It had the right sound for a late 80s pop hit with its catchy chorus and contemporary production. I think the issue was that the tune wasn't as strong as "Soldier of Love" and in a way it kind of sounded like that track as well. So it had a been there/heard that feel. Still it was a good pop tune and should have done a bit better on the chart.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  With Osmond's album becoming a hit, of course his label, Capitol, wanted a follow up. Osmond went back into the studio with songwriters/producers Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers, who had worked on most of the tracks on the previous album including "Soldier of Love." The trio came up with four tracks for Osmond's next LP Eyes Don't Lie including the first single "My Love Is a Fire." That tune would do fairly well getting to #21 Pop. Two more singles wouldn't fare as well and that left the album halting at a low #177. Those results brought an end to Osmond's late 80s comeback period. However, the popularity and professional boost it provided opened up new doors for Osmond. He would spend a couple years starring in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in Toronto and Chicago. He would also star in the 1990 film version of the show. Later in 2006, he would take over the role of Gaston in the Broadway production of Beauty and the Beast. Osmond also got a new recording contract with Decca and released five albums including 2007's Love Songs of the 70s, which made it to #27. In 2009, Osmond would join the cast of the popular competition TV show Dancing with the Stars. He would end up winning the competition. Two years earlier, his sister Marie had been on the show. She finished in third.

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