The 5th Dimension found a cool, clean middle-ground between the protest-free aspects of the peace movement and the hippest aspects of Las Vegas glitz. In a way, one could draw a curious comparison with Abba, who – with one fewer member – came along later with a similar co-ed super-group vibe. In a sense, the 5th Dimension was actually ahead of its time; because in the late ‘60s – long before Prince, in a different fashion, broke across stylistic barriers – for an African American band to play harmony pop was as radical as the Rolling Stones singing the blues. The difference, of course, is that pop music, regardless of who’s doing the performing, has never been as respected as rock.
The 5th Dimension’s image, like that of the Stones, was never at odds with their sound. In a way, their soaring vocals were an aural, emphatic metaphor for universal harmony and breaking down the cultural, musical divides between people of all races. Does that sound naïve? If that’s the case, we could all use a little naiveté. But mainly, it was just great entertainment.
The combo had many hits, the best-known of which is probably 1967’s “Up, Up and Away.” Written by a 20-something newbie named Jimmy Webb, its lyrics were rumored to be about the world observed through a marijuana high. Actually, the song’s strong point – along with the soaring melody – is the lyrics’ simple ambiguity. It’s nothing at all, for example, like the Jefferson Airplane’s hopped-up “White Rabbit.” The 5th Dimension was a singles band, after all, who just happened to be recording in the era of acid-rock. Their other hits included “Wedding Bell Blues,” “(Last Night) I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All” and “Stoned Soul Picnic.” The 5th Dimension got their material from the very best songwriters of the day, including Webb, Burt Bacharach and Laura Nyro. And at times they actually – in a soft way – fit in with the psychedelic zeitgeist. 1967’s Magic Garden is an overlooked pop-concept artifact, an album that might somehow be viewed as the 5th Dimension’s Pet Sounds. In the late ‘70s, the combo, minus Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr., signed to Motown Records, where they made good music but didn’t enjoy the same success. In different line-ups but always retaining original vocalist Florence LaRue, the band continues to tour – a fact that only underlines the timelessness of their music.
Tomorrow – Thursday, March 18 – at 11 a.m., the 5th Dimension, three of whose founding members were born in our city, will receive a long-deserved star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame. The ceremony will take place on Delmar across from the Moonrise Hotel. On hand will also be Charles Glenn, the talented St. Louis vocalist who has toured with the group on many occasions, and practically deserves to be referred to as the 6th Dimension.
Jordan Oakes is a local journalist who has written for publications such as St. Louis Magazine and the Christian Science Monitor. He has strong opinions that begin to atrophy if he doesn't exercise his right to express them. Tune in every Wednesday for another installment of Mediatribe - and if you missed last week's post, click here.
