The 5Th Dimension-The Age Of Aquarius (1969)

The 5th Dimension are considered one of the most formidable vocal groups in history. They achieved around twenty hits on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1966 and 1976, with the distinction that their style was more closely related to the flower power movement than to the Motown sound (all of its members were African American). Their lineup consisted of singers Billy Davis Jr., Florence LaRue, Marilyn McCoo, Lamonte McLemore, and Ron Townson, while the backing band featured guitarists Mike Deasey, Bill Fulton, and Tommy Tedesco, drummer Hal Blaine, bassist Joe Osborn, and keyboardist Pete Jolly, among other prominent session musicians from the Los Angeles area. Their captivating voices, upbeat and relaxed pop, and great compositions written by people like Jimmy Webb, Gene Raskin, and Laura Nyron propelled them to the pinnacle of the quintessential hippie genre of the late sixties, thanks to major hits such as “Go Where You Wanna Go” (1966), “Up-Up and Away” (1967), “Ticket To Ride” (1967), “Stoned Soul Picnic” (1968), “California Soul” (1968), “Weeding Bell Blues” (1969), and “Medley: Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)” (1969). The latter, a cover of the song from the musical Hair, which would catapult them to worldwide stardom, was included on their fourth album, “The Age Of Aquarius”, achieving tremendous success on the world charts and earning them two Grammy Awards. This album also featured an irresistible collection of songs, all of them covers, such as “Blowin’ ”, “Away”, “Workin’ On a Groovy Thing”, “Those Were The Days”, “Sunshine Of Your Love”, “Let It Be Me” or “Wedding Bell Blues”, performed with those fascinating voices, supported by intoxicating instrumentation and bathed in attractive winds, the only hint of soul that brought them closer to their black origins.