The Ultimate 5th Dimension

by The 5th Dimension

Overview

The 5th Dimension were just about the most successful harmony group of the 1960s and The Ultimate 5th Dimension is easily the most comprehensive single-disc collection on the market. It documents the heyday of the group, mostly their late-'60s tenure with Johnny Rivers' Soul City label and a few tracks from their '70s stay at Bell, and it focuses on their singles -- their hit singles, that is. Each of the 20 songs here (the 21st track is a previously unreleased song, "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye") was a Top 35 hit or better. "Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In" and "Wedding Bell Blues" were their number one smashes; they also had four more Top Ten hits. Even more importantly, they had so many great songs. Their sunny harmonies and lush arrangements gave songs like Laura Nyro's "Sweet Blindness," Jimmy Webb's "Paper Cup," and Neil Sedaka's "Workin' on a Groovy Thing" a light, happy feel that makes them the very definition of "good-time oldies." The disc features liner notes with new interviews with original members of the 5th Dimension, rare photos, and improved sound and is compiled by the group's producer, Bones Howe. This collection is a perfect introduction to the group and should be on every pop music fan's wish list. Even if you already have all their first five albums (which Buddha so graciously reissued before going belly-up and BMG Heritage has kept in print), you will want this disc, since it distills their career into about an hour or so of pure, heavenly gold. ~ Tim Sendra

Product Details

Release Date:	01/27/2004
Label:	Bmg / Bmg / Sony Music / Sony Music Entertainment
UPC:	0886919864021
Rank:	259

Tracks

1. Aquarius/Let the Sunshine in; Aquarius\Let the Sun Shine In
2. Stoned Soul Picnic
3. Up, up and Away
4. One Less Bell to Answer
5. Sweet Blindness
6. Puppet Man
7. If I Could Reach You
8. Go Where You Wanna Go
9. Medley: The Worst That Could Happen/Wedding Bell Blues; the Worst That Could Happen\Wedding Bell Blues
10. Paper Cup
11. (Last Night) I Didn't Get to Sleep at All
12. Blowing Away
13. The Girl's Song
14. Carpet Man
15. Love's Lines, Angles and Rhymes
16. Ashes to Ashes
17. Save the Country
18. California Soul
19. Never My Love
20. Workin' On a Groovy Thing
21. Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The 5th Dimension   Primary Artist
Jimmy Webb   Guest Artist,Conductor,Keyboards
Tom Scott   Guest Artist,Flute,Saxophone
Victor Feldman   Guest Artist,Mallets
Hal Blaine   Guest Artist,Drums,Percussion
Ollie Mitchell   Trumpet
Marilyn McCoo   Vocals,Soloist
Pete Christlieb   Flute,Saxophone
Pete Jolly   Keyboards
Lew McCreary   Trombone
Ray Pohlman   Bass,Guitar
Rudy Stevenson   Guitar
Bud Brisbois   Trumpet
Ray Triscari   Trumpet
Mike Anthony   Guitar
Tommy Tedesco   Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm)
Michael Omartian   Piano,Piano (Electric)
Mike Melvoin   Piano (Electric)
Montego Joe   Congas
Artie Butler   Piano
Al Casey   Guitar
Gary Illingworth   Organ,Piano,Piano (Electric)
Catherine Gotthoffer   Harp
Zavier   Guitar (12 String Acoustic)
Mike Deasy Sr.   Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm)
Isaiah Jones   Piano
Andrew White   Bass
Bob Alcivar   Conductor
Bob Edmondson   Trombone
Chuck Findley   Trumpet
Jack Arnold   Mallets
Lanny Morgan   Flute,Saxophone
Larry Bunker   Bells,Congas,Mallets,Marimba,Percussion,Vibraphone,Temple Blocks
Gary Coleman   Mallets,Percussion
Billy Davis, Jr.   Vocals,Soloist
Jimmy Rowles   Piano,Keyboards
Joe Osborn   Bass,Guitar
Dennis Budimir   Banjo,Piano,Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm)
Louie Shelton   Guitar
Fred Tackett   Guitar
Larry Knechtel   Organ,Piano,Keyboards,Tack Piano,Piano (Electric)

Technical Credits

John D. Loudermilk   Composer
John Phillips   Composer
John Hudson   Product Manager
Valerie Simpson   Composer
Dick Addrisi   Composer
Rob Santos   Compilation Producer
Neil Sedaka   Composer
Ray Pohlman   Rhythm Arrangements
R. McNeill   Composer
Gerome Ragni   Composer
Marty Paich   Horn Arrangements,String Arrangements
Nickolas Ashford   Composer
Rene Deknight   Vocal Arrangement
Al Casey   Sounds
Nat Brandwynne Orchestra   Performer
Dorotheo Joyce   Composer
John Engstead   Photography
Kip Smith   Mastering
Mathieu Bitton   Design,Art Direction
Syd Orchestra Sharp   Performer
Bill Holman Strings & Brass   Performer
Randy McNeill   Composer
Robert Allan Arno   Liner Notes
Marc Gordon   Producer
Bob Alcivar   Arranger,Vocal Arrangement
Bob Irwin   Mastering
Bones Howe   Arranger,Engineer,Producer
Bill Holman   Arranger,Horn Arrangements,String Arrangements
Brian Potter   Composer
Burt Bacharach   Composer
Hal Blaine   Rhythm Direction
Hal David   Composer
Dennis Lambert   Composer
Howard Greenfield   Composer
Roger Atkins   Composer
Tony Macaulay   Composer
Jimmy Webb   Arranger,Composer
Laura Nyro   Composer
Galt MacDermot   Composer
James Rado   Composer
Don Addrisi   Composer
Johnny Rivers   Producer