The Fifth Dimension - Wedding Bell Blues (Woody Allen Special - 1969)
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- The Fifth Dimension's unique sound lay somewhere between smooth, elegant soul and straightforward, adult-oriented pop, often with a distinct flower-power vibe. Although they appealed more to mainstream listeners than to a hip, hardcore R&B audience, they had a definite ear for contemporary trends; their selection of material helped kickstart the notable songwriting careers of Jimmy Webb and Laura Nyro, and their biggest hit was a medley from the hippie musical +Hair, "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In." The group's soaring, seamless harmonies were given appropriately sweeping, orchestrated period production by Bones Howe, which often placed their records closer to California-style sunshine pop. That's actually part of the reason why the best singles from the Fifth Dimension's heyday of the late '60s and early '70s still evoke their era with uncanny precision.
The Fifth Dimension began life in Los Angeles in 1965 as the Versatiles. Lamonte McLemore, Ron Townson, and Billy Davis, Jr. all grew up in St. Louis, and moved to Los Angeles independently of one another; each was trained in a different area -- jazz, opera, and gospel/R&B, respectively. Marilyn McCoo was the first female singer to join, and she was soon augmented by Florence LaRue; both were ex-beauty pageant winners who'd attended college in the L.A. area. Their demo tape was rejected by Motown, but after a one-off single for Bronco, they caught the attention of singer Johnny Rivers, who'd just set up his own label, Soul City. Rivers signed the group in 1966 on the condition that they update their name and image, and thus the Fifth Dimension was born. Their first Soul City single, "I'll Be Lovin' You Forever," was a flop, but a cover of the Mamas & the Papas' "Go Where You Wanna Go" climbed into the Top 20.
Budding young songwriter Jimmy Webb ("Macarthur Park," "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," etc.) supplied the Fifth Dimension with their breakthrough hit, 1967's "Up, Up and Away." An ode to the pleasures of flying in a beautiful balloon, the song became the group's first Top Ten hit, peaking at number seven, and went on to sweep the Grammy Awards, taking home five total (including Record of the Year and Song of the Year). Its success pushed the Fifth Dimension's first album, also titled Up, Up and Away, to gold sales status. The group stuck with Webb for its second album, The Magic Garden, which featured only one non-Webb composition; it produced a couple of minor hits in "Paper Cup" and "Carpet Man," but nothing on the level of "Up, Up and Away." Their third LP was thus more diverse, featuring several compositions by another up-and-coming songwriter, Laura Nyro. The title cut, Nyro's "Stoned Soul Picnic," went all the way to number three in the spring of 1968, selling over a million copies and putting Nyro on the map. The Nyro-penned follow-up single, "Sweet Blindness," also reached the Top 20.
The Fifth Dimension's success peaked in 1969 when the group caught a Broadway production of +Hair, and immediately decided to cut a medley of two songs from the show. "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" was a monster hit and grew to become one of the era's defining pop records; it spent six weeks at number one, sold a whopping three million copies, and won the group its second Record of the Year Grammy. Accompanying LP The Age of Aquarius went gold and nearly hit number one, and their Nyro-penned follow-up single, "Wedding Bell Blues," followed its predecessor to number one as well. The song was something of a mirror of real life; Billy Davis and Marilyn McCoo were married that year, and Florence LaRue also married group manager Marc Gordon.
Their album sales began to taper off, and their vocal arrangements now tended to spotlight soloists rather than unified harmonies. McCoo emerged as a focal point, singing lead on the 1972 Top Ten hits "(Last Night) I Didn't Get to Sleep at All" and "If I Could Reach You." They proved to be the group's last major successes; another Bacharach tune, 1973's "Living Together, Growing Together," barely made the Top 40, and the following year's Soul & Inspiration LP marked the end of their relationship with producer Bones Howe. 1975's Earthbound was another full-length collaboration with Jimmy Webb, and much like The Magic Garden, its thematic unity failed to produce a significant hit single. It was also the last album by the original lineup; McCoo and Davis left the group to form a duo, and scored a big hit in 1976 with "You Don't Have to Be a Star." ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide
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One of the most beautiful women to ever walked on the planet
Beautifully said…. My knees get weak at her soul crushing singing
@@JohnGalt99999totally agree!
One of the first songs I loved… at 3 years old!
I loved her too. She is beautiful.
"And that's a fact"
Loved this song when I married my wife of 52 years after getting back from Vietnam.
Wow man. How many unarmed children did you kill?
Whooha. God Bless.
The two ladies are New Jersey's finest
people today fail to realize that TALENT if you really have it is TIMELESS . this 52 year old video STILL makes people feel good when they see it . her talent , her oura never ages . it endures . it puts nikki , beyonce , cardi , all to shame .
Spot on ✔ I just can't see Marilyn McCoo singing WAP!
You are on the money !!!
You are so correctmundo . 63 and getting younger, on this end. Should be in the hall of fame and some. "All fact".
This song is mine & my husband - Bill's song. We had dated for several years, but he would never pop the question. I called a local radio station on his birthday & asked them to play it, which they did. We got married the following month.
Beauty talent and pure class that’s what the fifth dimension is and will always be. We don’t have anything like this anymore and it’s a shame love from all of us on Staten Island New York. Thanks for the upload you guys.
Do you have something against commas??
@@DeborahManiscalco One of the biggest essence of music in our time.All fact and nothing but the facts. "She and the band,they REIGNED".
The Fifth Dimension were #1 on mine & sister's birthdays with the songs then. Tomorrow marks mom gone 12 years from this life. Pray for her reposed soul.
her voice is so whole, full, pure, and excellent. she has a warm, sweet, nurturing singing and talking voice. I like also her diction and the way she pronounces, and enunciates words. her singing technique is superb and her singing soft smooth, mellow, and oh so flawless. Shes beautiful, talented, elegant, classy. She's a total package.
As long as she looks and sound white!! You have issues!!
She always said she has "a voice like a school teacher." Cracks me up.
No doubt a MAGA RACIST LIKE TRUMP
She also was a good actress. She did a bit of TV work ( not talking about Solid Gold ) which she co host.
You said it. She is the whole package. Flawless.
Marilyn has an absolutely flawless voice, and delivery as smooth as silk. I loved everything about this group.
*👍Great voice... Beautiful song.*
great song always loved it a masterpiece and timeless
I would love for her and Karen Carpenter to sing together! Wonder if they did?
He has such a beautiful smile .
@@tonyr.5111 beautiful woman too
This Is The Epitome Of A True And Beautiful Woman ... ❤
It really doesn't get better than this. The 5th Dimension had such versatility, musicality, and class, they were the best, IMO.
Good luck finding this high level performers today .
agreed, but 5 is an odd number, and someone always got left behind to play with themself.
They were definitely unique in that era of music. They all had great voices, but hers stood out the most.
One of the smoothest beautiful voices of our generation.
She is so beautiful! Still married to Bill, too. This group was a class act!
My mom introduced me to this group, I instantly liked them!!!
Yes!!!😊
God so beautiful. Had a powerful crush on her when I was a kid...still do.
Bill isn't his name, it's Billy Davis Jr.
Sometimes my kids will latch on to a song I’m listening to. My 17 year old daughter loves this song.
Billy Davis knew never to let that beauty slip through his fingers. And now they’re married 55 years.
Always loved the 5th Dimension!
One of the most under recognized voices in music history. Marilyn is peerless and unlike her contemporaries can still belt every note 50 years later and still GORGEOUS!
She may be the most beautiful girl ever
She has the best voice ever. You right very underrated .
im sorry folks but there is nothing underated or unrecognized about maryln mccoo! She is a bonafied legend!! This was frank sinatra's favorite group.
Why does every UA-cam video have people remarking the performer in underrated (or under recognized), Most likely you weren't alive then, and didn't know they were huge stars.
"Summer of Soul" says it all. She's still stunning.
Beautiful songs by a beautiful singer and her band-Marilyn McCoo
Marilyn McCoo The most beautiful girl in Music with the most amazing voice..look at her face. Not one of these pop stars today can compete with her..
There is no one in this sad world we live in now that has even an Oz of her talent.
What an incredibly talented and classy lady. I feel so sorry that young people today aren't exposed to this kind of music or performer.
thedjc100 I love this song a lot and totally agree, most of my classmates don’t know any old songs 😂
This is real music! I am soo glad these were my high schoo years! 😉❤l
The bar is set so incredibly low for today's performers that mediocre singers are hyped as outstanding. It really irks me.
thedjc100 me too, but I'm educating my children. My 18yr old listens to Teddy Pendergrass, Etta James, is obsessed with what we in the UK call Northern Soul (Gloria Jones, The suspicions, Edwin Starr etc) So far, so good but more parents need to stop trying to be down with the kids by listening to what the kids like. Instead they should play Friends of Distinction's Going in Circles & 5th dimension's Wedding bell blues full blast all around the house. Tough love, but eventually the kids will see the light and never listen to Lady GaGa again.
Allison Johnson.....I changed my mind about Lady Gaga when I saw a TV special she did with Tony Bennett. Lady G is quite an impressive jazz singer and prefer her that way. The young kids ' musical tastes are still in their infancy and they will learn to choose better once peer influence on their choices wanes.
Who could ever refuse a proposal from Marilyn McCoo? She is an absolute knockout to this day.
Apparently back in the day, Bill was a huge commitmentphobe and this song was written by a friend to steer him in that direction. It worked. Marilyn and Bill have been happily married for 53 years!
Marilyn must be one of the most beautiful, talented artists EVER! Bless them both, still together, wonderful couple. Grew up listening to the 5th Dimension in the 60s. They all just gelled so well, harmonies to die for. Always a class act.
They (Marilyn McCoo and Bill Davis) were married in the year 1969, they are still married to this day! Beautiful couple
She must have talked him into it. Smart fellow.
@@amadeusamwater She was the one who initiated their relationship. This is info from an interview they did.
Don't ever marry someone named Bill!
@@Rhaspun Because he liked her
They were bandmates long before they ever got romantically involved. Then it was "why not go on a date since we're together so often?" It made sense from a career point of view and it seems to have worked out for them.
She is perfect and deserved so much more respect from the media. She had more talent than any of these so-called "A" list stars of today.
She's not a democrat so they hate her. You have to align with anything democrat to get recognition. It's like a cult nowadays.
Speak on it!
It doesn’t hurt that she’s a gift to the Eyes!!!
Who is « she »?
Keep saying it. A real lady like Jayne Kennedy.
Marilyn is the voice of the generation. She was wonderful.
Definitely one of the most beautiful people in the world physically and vocally
This is when there was real talent and classic music. Wonderful 😊.
Agree
💯
You know a singer is great when their live performances sound as good if not better than the studio version! A great voice!
I once heard her sing paul williams "loneliness" alone without music I fell in love with her then.
Two great voices ♥️❤️
they are probably lip syncing. Most tv shows they did.
@@anthonyfoutch3152 Not a chance. You could always tell lip syncing back then because they always sang to their released recordings and the song just faded with no discernable end. This is live. There's a definite live ending not on the hit record.
@@rickw1100 They probably prerecorded this live earlier before the live broadcast with the studio band. Then, they lip-synched to the recording when the show was broadcasting live in case of any glitches with the choreography and staging. So yes it is a "live" recording. This was common during that time.
What a great year for music, cars, space exploration and just about everything else '69 was!
Marilyn McCoy was not only beautiful but also had a great voice
Marilyn's voice is so clear and beautiful this is the music of AM radio back in the 60s and 70s
Marilyn, along with Whitney & Aretha, were my absolute favorites
Marilyn. Absolutely gorgeous. Then - and now.
I married a man named Bill 38 years ago!! This song played at our wedding!
Wish that music would come back.
God. What a voice.
God....take me back to the 70s and leave me there....I'll be just fine.
Marilyn's voice is straight from heaven.
Oy! Me, too, and I am gay. Did you ever hear the 5ths version of "Ode to Billy Joe"?
Thank you Laura Nyro. One of the Great song writers in History!
Finally someone credits the composer! Laura was a one-off!!
When I was a young man,about 11 years old,I first heard the song Aqarius and the effect it had on me at the time stayed with me to this day.I am 65.
I can say the same thing. I'm 61 last month.
I’m right there….60 years old. Heard this in my parents house and went down my own path through Iron Maiden, et al….and I am right here in 2024 mixing it all up…..5th Dimension is awesome!
❤ me too ...a generational song like no other 👏👏👏
A great big powerful voice and attractive women. Kudo's to the rest of the group. The 60's music still going strong..
No tattoos, cheesecake outfits, profanity, sexual overtones, provocative lyrics, etc. Just a straight song with class, PERIOD!!!
She's wearing a minidress
@@jonathanwashington6083, and she was gorgeous in it...
Bruce Scott amen Bruce! Tattoos on women,,,,yuck!
@@jonathanwashington6083 so did every other young women in the 60s,,,if you are from that era you will know!!
@@doloresdemar2347 Which shows that the whole "they didn't dress skimpy back then" nostolgia filter is bogus.*
*And even if they did, so what? They're nothing wrong with singing in a minidress....in ANY decade.
Love the 60s hairstyles and fashion.
What a beautiful woman!!! What a voice!!! Puts theses no talents of today to shame!!
Thanks Emily and Richard Gilmore for for introducing me to this master piece
What an absolute sweetheart of a performer....Marilyn McCoo!
At the tender age of twelve, this song defined the promise of marriage for me. And how utterly fitting that she and Billy are still going strong, itself a testament to eternal optimism!
How could he resist?
She's a perfect 10!
A 54 year old song. Never gets old!
SO RIGHT!!)
One of the most stunningly beautiful woman of all time and a voice to match the looks! Luckily the same with her class and intelligence...
Its her diction and enunciation. Every word syllable and phonic is perfectly pronounced. She's perfection
and she made many edictions, as well.
I'd take her also. She is absolutely gorgeous. Love this woman ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Class, Beauty and Talent, amazing
Her perfect voice and their harmony... cannot hear this enough.
Marilyn's voice gives me goosebumps.
Marilyn was beautiful, what a voice. Great group. Can we go back ??.
A beautiful woman, a beautiful voice. Brings back so many memories. Where ever you are Ms Marylin, Thank you.
Wonderful and timeless.
Oh God Yess.... Marilyn.. I Am So in Love... That Voice The Amazing Grace And Immense Beauty.. She's Just Magical ☺☺😘😘💘💘💘💘
Marilyn's voice is one of the best voices I've ever heard. Just incredible !
A beautiful song, sung by a beautiful woman, with a beautiful voice!
Classic voice and looks.
The thing about the Fifth Dimension is that they always look like they're having such a good time performing. That, and the fact that their songs, arrangements, voices, and harmonies are fantastic.
just like 'the mamas and the papas' but that was drugs...and maybe adultery and incest.....
One of the best women singers ever!! - beautiful voice.
The lady simply oozes class
John C I loved her when I was a kid back in the late 60s and still do. Told my mom I wanted to marry her and my mom said she was different(skin color hint hint) from me. Told her I didn’t care she was so beautiful and had the best voice I ever heard.
Yes. I remember the group and the song from early 1970 when it was a hit over here in the UK, I was 13 at the time and I agree, She was, maybe even still is, a very easy Lady to have a 'Crush' on.
THE FIFTH DIMENSION WAS A BLESSING ♡♡♡
now this is REAL harmony !!! The 5th dimension was a true class act; maybe it's just me but isn't today's music missing a whole lot of something?
Today’s music is awfull , 60’s 70’s and 80’s will never be beaten , I was born in 1965 and those Decades for Music were outstanding 👌👌👌
Kent, I think today's so called music is missing a whole lot of everything. Sad.
Marilyn McCoo would certainly be in my top 5 female vocalists of all time, her clarity is spot on !!!
It’s missing soul. That’s what happened when everybody let corporations buy out everything in the 70’s and the 80’s
She is so incredibly beautiful in every way
Fantastic and what a lucky man Bill is ….classy and beautiful Marilyn
What voice with great back up singers
Reminds me of my youth, riding around the city in my parent's car listening to WABC AM radio. We took ot for granted how much good music we were exposed to.
Same here! WABC-AM was the best! 🙂
Wish I could go back to that time, yes it was special😥
We thought good music would never end... Boy were we wrong!
I, too, was a WABC radio fan at the time of the British Invasion.
To KIM ALONZO I read your comment about listening to WABC AM77 and of the 5TH DEMENSION SONG video your comment was on! If you did not know there are all original WABC 77 RADIO RECORDINGS with DAN INGRAM/CHUCK LEONARD/COUSIN BRUSSIE/RON LUNDY and all the rest of those guys from WABC 77AM RADIO and you can hear them by typing in to the keyboard on cell phone or computer:WABC AIRCHECKS:DISC JOCKEYS (you can type in the year you remember like:5TH DEMENSION,1969,CHUCK LEONARD and so on! Theres also a great aircheck about one hour long from JIM NETTLETON during the evening hours of OCTOBER 1969! with:SUGAR SUGAR/GREEN RIVER/I,D WAIT A MILLION YEARS/EVERYBODYS TALKIN/TRACY and theres the TOP 100 OF 1970/CHUCK LEONARDS TOP 100 OF 1968 and tons more**ENJOY AND THANKS FOR YOUR COMMENT*********
Marilyn so beautiful and so talented. ❤
Another reason why I miss the 1960s.
Real talent that did not rely on fake gimmicks or computerized enhancements.
Give me groups like this.
Talented and beautiful!
Yes indeed! And the way she speaks with those eyes... expressive and hypnotic!
Marilyn's voice gives me the chills. So beautiful.
She is amazing
What a beautiful woman, with the voice of an Angel.
Marilyn never got the fame she deserved for her incredibly perfect vocals due to the fact that she was just too pretty and because of her skin tone she didn't fit the norm in her day thank goodness that's all changed now I adore the Fifth Deminsions ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Timeless music... Marilyn and Florence were 2 beautiful and classy women....
She brought new meaning to the word talent
Five members of this band sound like a huge choir, just beautiful.
Beautiful Marilyn!
Laura Nyro wrote it, but The Fifth Dimension knocked it out of the ball park! Awesomw!
she made a ton of money off of it; and she didn't have to sing or even show up.
What a Voice!
She was beautiful talented and pure class and fully dressed I grew up with this group and they will always have a special place in my 💓
Unforgettable!!!!! The biggest hit that I remember that summer!! Awesome!
This is talent America! World! God given talent and class! 1969 I was 14 and enjoyed her talent! Still do!
Saw them play at The Hollywood Bowl in 1970. I’m from South Dakota, believe me it was a big deal. Love this group.
She’s always been fabulous!!
Class act. Sure miss this kind of talent mingled with grace.
A positive vibe that I remember from this era, and appreciate.
She's gorgeous
Off the charts talent.
One of the Best group's of the late 60s !!! Also Class !
Best music of the 60s
She was so beautiful and still is...
Marilyn McCoo Had Such a Beautiful Strong Voice.She is So Pretty Also 😍
One of the greatest groups of the 60's. Just listen to those voices. REAL VOICES! No auto tune.
She sings the hell outta this song. Still pops today as fresh and vibrant as in '69.
C'mon man! Who does this anymore..Not a chance. What talent and arrangement. Lovely voice.
A Magnifcant Voice!.
Beautiful song, written by Laura Nyro, and sung by beautiful and talented Marilyn McCoo and the 5th Dimension. Billy Davis Jr. and Marilyn McCoo were married in July 1969, the same year Wedding Bell Blues was recorded and reached #1.
Happy 50th Anniversary Marilyn and Billy! 🥂
love it greetings from germany