I’m a GenXer so my generation of music tends to be the 1980’s, especially the years 1983-88; a time when I listened to nearly every music genre that I could.
I’m an old GenXer, though, born in 1967, so while I’m not old enough to have gone to the discotheques, my musical memories do span the entire disco era. If the song made it to the radio, I remember it if I liked it. And on many days, I am as likely to hum, sing, or even perform a song from the 1970’s as I am likely to do a song from the 1980’s.
Here’s a song from the 1970’s that I have loved since it’s release in late 1976.
One of the ultimate roller skating songs that was always on permanent rotation at the roller skating rink.
I knew at the time that Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. were former members of The Fifth Dimension. I knew a few of their songs. I have known their iconic anthem of the late 1960’s, “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” all of my life.
A song that’s guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
Adam Reader. the “Professor of Rock,” interviewed Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. in 2019 (still married after 53 years!) about how The Fifth Dimension came to sing not one but two songs from the iconic 1960’s musical Hair.
The Fifth Dimension in 1969. (From L to R: Florence La Rue, Ronald Townson, Billy Davis Jr, Lamonte McLemore, Marilyn McCoo)
The Fifth Dimension was already both commercially and critically successful beginning with their Top 10 hit “Up, Up, and Away,”a tune written by Jimmy Webb (who was to later forget the recipe of the cake that was left out in the rain!) which won 5 Grammy Awards in 1968.
Later that year, The Fifth Dimension scored another Top 10 hit with the Laura Nyro penned “Stoned Soul Picnic” from the album of the same title (#3 pop, #2 R&B)
The Fifth Dimension performed at the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival and were one of the acts featured in the Oscar-winning documentary, “Summer of Soul.”
Here’s a couple of my other favorite songs by The Fifth Dimension.
This one I didn’t remember.
This one I did remember a little and found myself humming a little bit.
Frying eggs will never be the same.
After I tell you who we are and what we do here at Top Comments, two additional songs; one by The Fifth Dimension and one by Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. (after they left The Fifth Dimension) that became monster hits...although not by them.
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In March 1976, The Fifth Dimension released the group’s first record after Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. left the group, with Florence La Rue singing lead.
Of course, another version of “Love Hangover”— the one by Diana Ross— was released as a single on the same day and the version by Ms. Ross charted #1 pop, #1 soul, and #1 dance.
The Fifth Dimension’s version of “Love Hangover” peaked at #80 on Billboard’s Hot 100; the last Hot 100 single of The Fifth Dimension’s career.
From what I have been able to gather, the Diana Ross version was released first on her 1976 album Diana Ross but Motown decided to release another song from that album as the follow-up to her #1 hit Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To)
The Fifth Dimension heard “Love Hangover” and rushed to record it and it hit the airwaves then Motown released Ms. Ross’ version “Love Hangover.”
Personally, I think that both songs are about equal at the slow-tempo portion of the some but Ms. Ross absolutely nails the bridge to the faster tempo and through the dance portion of the song.
But...yeah, without the Ross’ version of the song, I think that The Fifth Dimension’s “Love Hangover” would have been a hit.
Marilyn McCoo’s and Billy Davis’ second album, Marilyn & Billy, was not the commercial and critical success that their first album was but that album did have the original version of a monster hit of the 1980’s.
And...well...
I like both versions of the song. A LOT.
Fifth Dimension member Lamonte McLemore is also an acclaimed photographer as well as one of the original members of The Fifth Dimension.
But really...in these oft-depressing times, I needed a little something to pick up my mood and thinking about and playing The Fifth Dimension, one of my favorite groups, did pick up my mood a bit.
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