The Magic Garden/Up, Up And Away (CD)

• Category:  Music  »  R&B  »  Soul
• Format: CD   Learn more about the CD format using Tower WIKI.
• Release Date: August 7, 2007
• Label: Collectors' Choice
• UPC: 617742077827
• WAPI (Tower ID): 107315135
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• Tower.com Sales Rank: #72071 in Music (See Top 100 Music Bestsellers)
• #3588 in R&B (See Top 100 R&B Bestsellers)
• #365 in Soul (See Top 100 Soul Bestsellers)

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Personnel: Tommy Tedesco , Joe Osborne (guitar); Larry Knechtel (piano, keyboards); Hal Blaine (drums, percussion).

Liner Note Authors: Gene Sculatti; Johnny Rivers .

Recording information: Sound Recorders Studio, Hollywood, CA; Western Recorders Studio 1, Hollywood, CA.

Illustrator: Wayne Kimbell.

Photographer: George Rodriguez .

In 2007 -- perhaps in observance of the quintet's 40th anniversary -- those rulers of reissues at the Collectors' Choice Music label licensed and restored the entire 5th Dimension classic ten-title back catalog onto six CDs. This two-fer contains their debut, Up, Up and Away (1967), and follow-up, The Magic Garden (1968). Added as bonus tracks are a trio of rare, single-only sides -- including the A- and B-sides of "I'll Be Loving You Forever," b/w "Train Keep on Movin'" by the pre-5D Versatiles. Plus, "Too Poor to Die," which was the flip of their debut single -- a cover of "Go Where You Wanna Go" -- that made it all the way into the Top 20 pop chart. Behind the scenes, Johnny Rivers -- founder of the 5D's Soul City Records label and a hitmaker in his own right -- was assembling a team of top-shelf, all-star musicians, producers, and arrangers to support Lamonte McLemore, Ron Townson, Billy Davis, Jr., Marilyn McCoo, and Florence LaRue's equally masterful vocals. The end result would sound like a more soulful and funkier version of the Mamas & Papas. The instrumentalists were handpicked from the infamous Wrecking Crew led by Hal Blaine (drums). Jimmy Webb's widespread influence is evident, ranging from contributing nearly half of the material to his full-bodied orchestral arrangements. They are especially notable on the 5D's timeless take on Webb's own "Up, Up and Away," as well as Tim Hardin's "Misty Roses" and the Willie Hutch ballad "Learn to Fly." Although from the standpoint of sales and airplay, the conceptual Magic Garden (1968) may not have achieved the same notice as its predecessor, it was an artistic leap with a considerable degree of merit. Webb conceived of the project on a somewhat grander scale along the line of other "concept" pop platters of the era. The Beatles' "Ticket to Ride" stands out of place among the remainder of the Webb-penned songs, such as "Carpet Man," "The Worst That Could Happen," "Paper Cup," and the criminally underrated ode to isolation on "Orange Air."

Those looking to replace their well-worn vinyl copies of either album should be pleased with the audio quality -- which matches that of the short-lived editions that were issued on Buddha Records in 2000. In fact, the major disparity between the two is that Mike Ragogna's liner notes have been replaced with new essays from Gene Sculatti. ~ Lindsay Planer

This two-fer contains the 5th Dimension's debut Up, Up and Away (1967) and their follow-up, The Magic Garden (1968). Added as bonus tracks are a trio of rare sides -- including the A- and B-sides of "I'll Be Loving You Forever" b/w "Train Keep on Movin'" by the pre-5D combo, the Versatiles (sic). Plus, "Too Poor to Die," which was the flip of their debut 45 -- a cover of "Go Where You Wanna Go" -- that made it all the way into the Top 20 pop chart. Behind the scenes, Johnny Rivers -- founder of the 5D's Soul City Records label -- was assembling a team of top-shelf all-star musicians and producers to support Lamonte McLemore, Ron Townson, Billy Davis Jr., Marilyn McCoo, and Florence Larue's equally masterful vocals. The end result would sound like a more soulful and funky version of the Mamas & the Papas. The instrumentalists were handpicked from the infamous Wrecking Crew led by Hal Blaine (drums). Jimmy Webb's widespread influence is evident, ranging from contributing nearly half of the material to his full-bodied orchestral arrangements. They are especially notable during the 5D's timeless take on Webb's "Up, Up and Away," as well as Tim Hardin's "Misty Roses" and the Willie Hutch ballad "Learn to Fly." The Beatles' "Ticket to Ride" stands out of place among the remainder of the Webb-penned songs, such as "Carpet Man," "The Worst That Could Happen," "Paper Cup," and the criminally underrated ode to isolation "Orange Air." ~ Lindsay Planer

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