- (This page is about the American vocal group of the 1960s and '70s. For the drum and bass act of the same name, see Fifth Dimension(2)).
The 5th Dimension is an American vocal group. Their music encompasses sunshine pop, pop soul, and psychedelic soul.
Formed as the Versatiles in late 1965, the group changed its name to "the 5th Dimension" by 1966. Between 1967 and 1973 they charted with 20 top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, two of which – "Up, Up and Away" (no. 7, 1967) and the 1969 number one "Medley: Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)" — won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year. Other big hits include "Stoned Soul Picnic" (no. 3), "Wedding Bell Blues" (no. 1), "One Less Bell to Answer" (no. 2), a cover of "Never My Love" (pop no. 12/Easy Listening no. 1), "(Last Night) I Didn't Get to Sleep at All" (no. 8), and "If I Could Reach You" (pop no. 10/Easy Listening no. 1). Three of their records reached the top ten of Billboard's Rhythm & Blues/Soul chart. Five of their 19 top 20 hits on the Easy Listening chart reached number one.
The five original members were Lamonte McLemore, Marilyn McCoo, Florence LaRue, Ronald Townson, and Billy Davis Jr. Their earliest recordings were on the Soul City record label, which was started by recording artist Johnny Rivers. The group later recorded for Bell/Arista Records, ABC Records, and Motown Records.
Links to Peel[]
In the late 1960s, the 5th Dimension were, like the Association, thought of as part of a new wave of American "progressive pop" groups, with a style based on strong melodies and vocal harmony singing rather than electric guitars. This made them more appealing to Radio 1 show producers than many of the psychedelic rock bands Peel was championing at the time, and they picked up some radio airplay from DJs like David Symonds and Kenny Everett. However, some British listeners thought their US hit "Up, Up and Away" was a drug song and because of the "psychedelic" implications of their group name, their version wasn't promoted in the UK. The song was a UK hit in a more middle of the road version by the Johnny Mann Singers.
The 5th Dimension became known for their interpretations of Jimmy Webb songs, especially on the 1967 LP The Magic Garden,[1] which was praised by critics such as Disc & Music Echo's Penny Valentine and, according to the singer's biographers, was a favourite of Nick Drake. Peel played a single taken from the album, 'Carpet Man' on his show in February 1968, according to available tracklistings on this site, but doesn't seem to have played anything else by them. Soon after that it became clear that the 5th Dimension were more of a showbiz act than a hippy group, especially when their version of "Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine In" from the Broadway musical about hippies, "Hair", was a UK chart hit. (It later became the theme tune of the ITV arts series Aquarius, which ran between 1970 and 1977; Peel's brother Alan Ravenscroft worked as a producer and editor on some episodes in 1974)[2]
Despite some chart successes in the 1970s and increased credibility with soul audiences, the 5th Dimension never became Peel favourites. In later years, he would disown their music on his programmes and on his 10 July 1997 (BFBS) described them as a "rather drizzly disco ensemble from the late 1960s".
Shows Played[]
- 11 February 1968: Carpet Man (7") Liberty