I can remember hearing The 5th Dimension Up Up And Away on the radio way back in 1967 and thinking it was a nice song, but I was really into stuff like Hendrix, Pink Floyd, The Who, Motown, and Stax, so that light easy listening music wasn't really going to feature on my turntable. Plus, just think what my friends would say if it did! Then I heard the groups second album Magic Garden and was blown away. If ever I get round to compiling a definitive list of my favourite albums it is sure to have a space, but more about that LP later.
The 5th Dimension continued to release music that had a wide appeal. I was exposed to the singles by my radio. Singles like: * Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In * Stoned Soul Picnic * Wedding Bell Blues * (Last Night) I Couldn't Get To Sleep At All
They picked songs by some great writers: * Laura Nyro * Jimmy Webb * Burt Zachariah and Hal David * Ash ford And Simpson * Neil Steak * Paul Williams * Harry Nelson
The combined voices of Marilyn McCoo, Billy Davis, Jr., Florence Laue, Ron Townson and Lamont Gilmore made the best of any material they chose to record.
I am much older now, and my tastes haven't changed but I have allowed them to be free of the restrictions caused by peer pressure. So I was pleased to find that a 6 CD collection of The 5th Dimensions recordings for the Soul City and Bell labels has been issued by Edsel.
This anthology celebrates 60 years of the 5th Dimension, and contains the groups 10 albums with 25 bonus tracks. All remastered, and some never seeing the light of day until now.
The albums are: * Up, Up And Away * The Magic Garden * Stoned Soul Picnic * The Age Of Aquarius * Portrait * Love's Lines, Angles & Rhymes * Live!! * Individually & Collectively * Living Together, Growing Together * Soul And Inspiration
The bonus tracks include some live performances, and both sides of the groups very first single released as The Versatiles.
The package includes a booklet with interviews with the members of the group, and people involved with their work which provides the reader with an insight to the history of the 5th Dimension and the recordings.
This much music is a lot to take in and will provide many hours of listening. The highlight of the box set is the inclusion of their second album, Magic Garden. An album that has never received the attention it deserves. Jimmy Webb wrote the all of the songs, except the Lennon and McCartney Ticket To Ride. I regard the Magic Garden as a masterpiece, but the listening public thought otherwise. Luckily for the group their next release, Stoned Soul Picnic, did much better.
I find it difficult to put a label/genre to the 5th Dimension's oeuvre. It is not soul, and yet, it is not pop. I have seen the term “Champagne Soul” used. I'm still working on that as I listen to the music.
You can hear some of the songs in The Groove Yard visit 218
And for a full track listing, and other information, go to the Cherry Red Records website.