Up Up & Away / The Magic Garden / Stoned Soul Picnic / The Age of Aquarius

Well, we've got the usual five-star and one-star reviews. As with most product reviews, these are best dismissed, leaving -- well, nothing. Hence this review:In the late 60s and early 70s, you could not listen to top-40 music without hearing The Fifth Dimension [henceforth 5D]: Billy Davis Jr, Marilyn McCoo [who later hosted Solid Gold], Florence LaRue, Lamonte McLemore, Ron Townson. They looked and sounded like the middle-class Baby Boomers they were, and thus were both influenced by and architects of the styles of the time. Their selling point was to be a black version of an already-successful white vocal group [the Mamas and the Papa]; they were actually better, and their gorgeous 5-part vocal harmonies made virtually anything sound great. This compilation chronicles their start.Up, Up And Away --- Obviously, we've got the title hit, which is how new-artist albums were usually made: a successful single [or two], with the remainder being filler. The other single was "Go Where You Wanna Go", an actual Mamas/Papas tune whose message didn't resonate for 5D, but when you're hungry for success you take what's given you. Other flower-powery stuff also appears, plus the usual ups & downs of love, but more tellingly a couple Jimmy Webb numbers.Now, Jimmy Webb was a rising star among songwriters at the time, having scored a surprise hit writing the ambitious "MacArthur's Park" for Richard Harris. Webb was clearly influenced by the increasingly-sophisticated structures and harmonies being used by Brian Wilson. 5D were the perfect band for him to write for, and he accepted the responsibility of writing and arranging their entire second album [with the exception of one Beatles song left over from the first album's sessions].The Magic Garden -- This was the album I got this compilation for: a concept album detailing the rise/fly/crash of an ultimately disastrous relationship, all written by Jimmy Webb. In terms of commercial success, it's the least of these four albums, with no real hits (despite releasing a couple tracks as singles). In terms of ambitious songwriting, however, it's an incredible standout -- attempting far more than it can actually manage, but impressive just for trying. Orchestrations are interspersed between the actual songs, which themselves work surprisingly well, considering their experimental nature. Carpet Man, The Worst That Could Happen, Paper Cup -- these are songs that stay with you, even though they didn't do well commercially. This is still a favorite album of Billy Davis and Marilyn McCoo.At the end of disc one are some decent early singles, interesting in terms of the band's development toward these first two albums but fairly dull after the power of The Magic GardenStoned Soul Picnic -- the third album finds them better aligning their strengths and interests with the commercial market -- less ambitious, but more convincing. Laura Nyro's songs served them particularly well, as McCoo sang virtually the same as Nyro but more smoothly. A solid all-around album, made of the kind of material that could use the word "groovy" with genuine enthusiasm.The Age of Aquarius -- Well, this is the one that finally put them over: the sound, the style, the songs -- it's all here. Big hits, strong arrangements -- the big payoff for their meandering adventure, all of which paved the way to this.Then disc two ends with a bonus track from each of the second two albums, which is nice -- but really, you won't need them. By the time you've been through Aquarius, you'll have your money's-worth and then some.After this, 5D continued their success -- making Portraits, which is sometimes described as their finest album, and continuing to make major hits. Lead vocals would be shared more with Florence LaRue (who definitely deserved it), and the band would eventually split into two viable identities. But here's what they sounded like when they were still struggling on the road to success; for my money, a lot of it is just as worthwhile as what they did once they got there.

This is a great collection for any fan of the 5th to have. All four of their albums for Soul City Records are packaged together. Raven is doing a great job of packing several great lp records onto a minimal number of cds. This makes it easy for me when traveling as I can now carry one package instead of four to listen to on the road. Less space and great music to boot."The Age of Aquarius" was actually the first album that I ever owned and I bought all the others as I could.Hopefully Raven will be able to get the rights to all the 5th's Bell recordings for a similar release.

With this 2-CD set and the other set Raven has issued,we finally get all the Studio 5th Dimension Albums,in 4 Jam-Packed Discs! This Volume covers the Soul City/Liberty Years,with Bonus Tracks,too,all of which was on individual Buddha/Arista/BMG Distribution CD's,all at $12 each! The way better price here is more saner,price-wise! Quality,too,is better as well! These also came out as Twofers on Collector's Choice Music as well,but those,as well as the Individuals have been OOP for Years,so,grab this one before it,too,gets pulled! Raven Australia.

You can't beat the value of this CD. The first 4 LPs by the Fifth Dimension in one package. All the LPs are good. They have been out of print for years and it's good to see them available again. Hopefully this company (ravenrecords) will come out with the rest of the Fifth Dimension catalog in the future.

A fun vocal band that had a few hits of Laura Nyro songs. Styled after The Mamas and the Papas, with soul.

When I ordered this CD it did not have a list of the songs on it. The one song I wanted was "Couldn't sleep at all last night" is not on it. A few songs I like but the rest of them I've never heard and don't care for them. Stupidly I opened the CD and can't return it. I don't think it is worth the money but stuck with it....

I love it brings back many memories...

Item was delivered as advertised

フィフス・ディメンションは、アソシエイション、ハーパーズ・ビザールと共にメジャーソフトロックの3大巨頭と言えると思いますが、彼らの特徴は何と言ってもメンバー全員が黒人だったということです。ソフトロックと呼ばれるジャンルでは意外と黒人グループは少なく、彼らも初期の初期の段階では、モータウン的なＲ＆Ｂをやっていたらしく、それがたまたまジョニー・ウェッブという稀代のソングライターと出会い、ソウルフルでありつつも洗練されたソフトロック的展開へと移行していったことは奇跡的とも言えます。この二枚組は、そんな彼らの60年代後期から始まる1ｓｔから4thを２枚のＣＤに完全収録し、さらにボーナストラックまで加えた超お得盤です。オーストラリアのＲＥＶＥＮというレーベルから出ていますが、どれも名盤と言える出来なので、それぞれ１枚づつで購入するよりもずっとお得です。３枚目からは作家陣に若き日のローラ・ニーロも加わり、サウンドはハル・ブレインら西海岸の鉄壁の布陣で、完全に分業化が成り立っていて、何しろ今顧みても、豪華です。彼らのスタートは、黒人版ママス＆パパスだったらしいですが、確かにその線を狙っていたことは分かるものの、その洗練度具合は、完全に本家を超えてしまっています。

The collection comprises the first four albums released by the 5th Dimension. One of the best vocal groups of all time. Excellent intricate harmonies and the majority of their biggest iconic hits are featured. Love it!

old and new at the time what a sining quality

Good soul of 60s