The 5th Dimension – California Soul from the Soul City 45

This week is kind of hectic, as the Asbury Park 45 Sessions are on Friday. Unfortunately, Dan from the Budos, our Guest Selector had to bow out due to another commitment, but have no fear, we have a new guest, one Dave Withers. I’m planning an all Daptone night (including Dan) in the future, so I’ll let you know when that happens. Here’s a recent find of a favorite tune of mine. There are many versions out there, the most popular and most expensive being Marlena Shaw. This is another cover of the Ashford and Simpson song, and it’s a great Soul side. Check out “California Soul” by the 5th Dimension on Soul City Records.

Originally called The Versatiles, the group began in 1965. Based out of LA by way of St. Louis, Ron Townson, Lamonte McLemore, and Billy Davis, Jr, plus Marilyn McCoo were shopping demos. They were rejected by Berry Gordy and Motown, but soon landed on Johnny River’s label Soul City after a side on Bronco. McCoo, replaced by Florence LaRue, would get a hit on a B side of their first Soul City release, a cover of the Mamas and the Papas “Go Where You Want To Go.” Known best for their 1967 song “Up, Up, and Away” (written by Jimmy Webb), this Soul, Pop, and hippy combined group would go on to a few Grammys with that side and go on to score a string of hits. Besides Webb, they would also use another songwriter, Laura Nero,, and catch a hit (and notoriety for Nero) with “Stoned Soul Picnic”. In 1969 a medley from the Broadway show Hair, “The Age of Aquarius/ Let The Sun Shine In” would help define a whole generation and score them another Grammy. Shortly after, Johnny Rivers would sell Soul City to Bell, where the 5th Dimension would go on to put out more records. Here the band would churn out some Burt Bacharach hits, go back to their 60’s style music, change their line up in 1975, and continue to make music well into the 1980’s. It’s clear that their best music was behind them, however a reunion would take place in the 1990’s. Marilyn McCoo would go on to make a name for herself as a solo artist.

California Soul, if you haven’t heard of it before (but I’m sure you have) is simply that, pure Soul. This version is great because it’s got a decent amount of harmonizing in it. This, coupled with the horns and subtle string section make it another keeper. On the whole, no matter who is singing it, Brenda and the Tabulations, The Undisputed Truth, Marlena Shaw, or the 5th Dimension, there is no denying how catchy this tune really is.

Like a sound you hear
That lingers in your ear
But you can’t forget
From sundown to sunset
It’s all in the air
You hear it everywhere
No matter what you do
It’s gonna grab a hold on you

It will grab a hold of you. A perfect version of a great tune to get you over the middle of the week. Like I said earlier, I will be live on WLFR 91.7 tomorrow night with Jack the Ripper on Devil Dick’s Forward to the Caves radio show, as well as spinning 45’s at the AP 45 Sessions on Friday night. Come on out if you can make it! See you Friday! Keep Diggin’!