The Forgotten Gem: A Mature Plea for Enduring Connection in the Teen Idol Whirlwind
Ah, the 1970s. For many of us, it was a time of bell bottoms, variety shows, and a relentless musical machine powered by five perfectly coiffed brothers from Utah: The Osmonds. While the spotlight usually falls on the exuberant, bubblegum hits or the dramatic rock leanings, there is a quiet, soulful gem in their catalog that often gets overlooked, a song that speaks volumes about the maturity they were striving for. That song is “Take Love (If Ever You Find Love)”, and its story is less about chart-topping frenzy and more about a heartfelt message trying to pierce through the noise.
A Deep Cut from the Soul-Searching Years
The song “Take Love (If Ever You Find Love)” did not have the global chart fireworks of their earlier mega-hits like “One Bad Apple” or “Crazy Horses.” It was an album track, initially released in 1975 on the album The Proud One, an LP that followed their successful pivot toward R&B and blue-eyed soul, epitomized by their cover of “Love Me For a Reason” (a U.S. Top 10 and U.K. No. 1 hit). This period was crucial for The Osmonds. After the unexpected commercial dip of their ambitious 1973 concept album, The Plan, the brothers were trying to prove they were artists capable of more than just teen idol fanfare.
The story behind this era of their music is one of transition and growing up in public. While younger brother Donny Osmond continued his solo dominance, the main band—led by the powerful vocals of Merrill Osmond—sought a more sophisticated sound. “Take Love (If Ever You Find Love)”, penned by the gifted Michael Lloyd, fits perfectly into this groove. It’s a gorgeous, slow-burning ballad, drenched in rich arrangements that echo the depth of Philadelphia soul, a million miles away from the snappy pop of their early days. It’s Merrill’s voice, warm and earnest, that carries the weight of the song, sounding like a man who has genuinely lived and learned, not just a teenager singing from a script.
Meaning: The Importance of Cherishing Connection
The song’s meaning is laid bare in its title, a simple, profound piece of wisdom: Life is often empty and lacking, and when that rare, true connection comes along, one must seize it and hold it tight.
“Life without loving is no life at all, When there’s no one to help you up, whenever you fall.”
For an audience that had watched The Osmonds grow up—from their barbershop quartet days on The Andy Williams Show to their full-blown rock star status—this song offered an emotional anchor. It wasn’t just disposable pop; it was a reflective piece on the fundamental human need for connection, delivered by singers who were, despite their fame, still just family men wrestling with the immense pressure of their career.
The song resonates with an older, more reflective listener because it acknowledges the difficulty of simply existing (“But days never ending with nothing to share…“) and elevates love from a fleeting feeling to a crucial lifeline. It was a soulful promise from the brothers to their fans that, despite the whirlwind of showbiz, the simple, true things—like family and genuine affection—were what mattered most. It’s a warm embrace in a world that was starting to feel increasingly cynical and fragmented, a mature message of hope wrapped in a beautiful, velvety arrangement.
While the single “The Proud One” from the same album provided the primary commercial push, “Take Love (If Ever You Find Love)” remains a testament to The Osmonds’ often-underestimated musical talent and their ability to tackle mature themes with sincerity. It’s a track that reminds you of slow dances, holding hands a little tighter, and realizing that sometimes, the true treasures in a band’s catalog are the ones that never made it to the Top 40.