The 5th Dimension

This is a rather interesting band. They seem to awkwardly bridge "oldies" and "rock music." I know them well for "Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In," and I love that gospel-funk. I won't judge anyone who knows it exclusively from the Forrest Gump soundtrack. I knew it was from Hair, but I was never really clear on if they did it in the Broadway version or if they were doing a cover. Turns out they do a lot of covers, and with the light opera and show tunes thrown in there it can get a little scholocky. At times it reminds me of that 1960s versions of American Idol or Glee Club antics - they do a bunch of medleys. Their impressive voices are all certainly front-and-center, but at times it gets a bit too brash. I did find myself turning them down on more than one occasion. Apparently there sound was dubbed "Champagne Soul," and I can't shake the notion that is sanitized for white people's consumption. They made a bunch of TV appearances in the 60s like on Ed Sullivan and other TV Specials. Even when it's political it's sort of politely defiant. So at times it is super cheesy. It is occasionally reminiscent of elevator music or what might be labeled "A.M. Gold." But at other times it is funky and gruff and fun- good for a retro-dance party.  Some of those covers work well, such as when they do "Ticket to Ride" or "Sunshine of Your Love," but other covers are totally unnecessary and seem too cleaned up.

Their first hit was a cover of The Mammas and The Pappas own "Go Where You Wanna Go," which charted better than the original, but their breakthrough is "Up, Up, and Away" (1967) from the album of the same name. It's a fairly grating song and the album is more of the same. Next, The Magic Garden is more interesting, thematically consistent to a degree that it is practically a concept album (written entirely by Jimmy Webb) and one of their best. "Weeding Bell Blues" was another hit; it's not my favorite, but it's another one for one's Wedding playlist. The next couple albums are good too, but eventually they slowly lose whatever slight edge they started off with. Their late 70s albums are not great. Living Together, Growing Together was particularly egregious with high levels of saccharin- their cover of "Day By Day" from Godspell is almost intolerable.

Yet heir 1971 live album is great and includes a noteworthy version of "Ode to Billie Joe" (originally by Bobbie Gentry), and  "Shake your Tambourine" is a forgotten classic- a  funky song done well. (It was originally by Bobby Marchan - a fascinating character in his own right who after some R&B hits returned to New Orleans to work as a female impersonator and MC, was involved in booking and promoting early bounce and hiphop - including for DJ Jubilee's Take Fo Records, and he was also involved in the formation of Cash Money Records! I was wondering if he was the first guy to say, "Shake your moneymaker," but that might be Elmore James.)

Despite the great dance moves and costumes in this clip, it gives a good sense of their hokey show-tunes take on these song. The "Love" medley is hard to take, but this clip does ends with a rollicking version of  Shake Your Tambourine"

Although their first three albums came out on Soul City Records, then a few on Bell Records, in 2005 someone called Classic World Productions, who went bankrupt the same year despite a diverse catalog of mostly oldies, put out a 5th Dimension album called Live! Plus Other Rare Studio Recordings. The live stuff is good, but the "rare studio recordings" oddly represent some late incarnation of the band that is more heavily influenced by soul and disco.  

And then two of the members went on to form Ashford & Simpson.

They reunited for a tour in 1990 and 1991! Morbid curiosity would have been more than enough to get me to that show. As of 2016 original member Florence LaRue is still touring as one version of the act. As of matter of fact her sold-out show got a good review and she took some time out to show she still cares about love, peace, and happiness - in a good way, really. Meanwhile, original members and real-life married couple Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis tour with their own version of the band.

Sure, I could have listened to these guys under "F," but here is where they were listed by Google Play so here is where I will listen to them. That's how it works- mostly out of my hands. All in all, it was a interesting journey through the long and mostly-tolerable music career of a band I would never have otherwise heard so completely. No regrets... OK, maybe a few.