With their smooth blend of upbeat soul and pure sunshine pop,
the 5th Dimension had a bright run of hits in the late '60s for
Johnny Rivers'
Soul City record label, including 1967's
"Up-Up and Away," 1969's
"Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In," and a trio of fine covers of
Laura Nyro songs with 1968's
"Stoned Soul Picnic" and
"Sweet Blindness" and 1969's
"Wedding Bell Blues." Rivers sold
Soul City Records to
Bell Records in 1970 and the group's recording contract transferred to
Bell in the deal, and while
the 5th Dimension continued to track quality material, the hits began to dry up -- they did release yet another fine
Nyro song,
"Save the Country," in 1970. This two-disc, 36-track set collects the best sides from the group's
Soul City and
Bell Records run, a period spanning 1967 to 1975. ~ Steve Leggett