The 5th Dimension

Live reviews

• The 5th Dimension

  Caught the 5th Dimension on their “50th Anniversary Tour” at Cache Creek last night. Though Florence LaRue is the only member of the original quintet still performing with the group, they have maintained their smooth, “wall of sound” harmonic vocal blend. The set opened with an energetic cover of Earth Wind & Fire’s “September,” followed by the Motown classic “My Girl” (with Temptations choreography). Next up was the 5th Dimension’s own “Workin’ On A Groovy Thing,” which I’d never seen the group perform live before. (Full disclosure: I’m a life-long fan of the 5th Dimension and have seen the group in concert several dozen times over the decades, going all the way back to the original lineup in the 70s; in fact, they were my first concert ever.)

  A medley of the group’s hit singles followed, giving each member of the quintet a chance to shine. Leonard Tucker delivered a soaring version of “The Worst That Could Happen,” followed by Patrice Morris demonstrating her vocal powers on “Last Night I Didn’t Get To Sleep At All.” Florence LaRue capably handled the leads on “Wedding Bell Blues” and “Never My Love,” both of which featured Marilyn McCoo on the original recordings. Tenor Willie Williams then led the group through a dramatic reading of Jimmy Webb’s “MacArthur Park.”

  After that dramatic moment, the group shifted gears with what they described as “the 5th Dimension’s party song,” Laura Nyro’s “Stoned Soul Picnic,” during which Florence wandered out into the audience and enlisted a couple of volunteers to come onstage and dance with the group. Of course, their dance moves weren’t necessarily slick, but it was good natured fun. The group’s first big hit, “Up, Up And Away,” followed.

  After all that dancing, diva Florence LaRue had to sit down for a minute (Hey, she’s nearly 75—she’s entitled), so the group perched on stools and launched into their “rain” medley, once again giving each member of the quintet a solo spotlight: Bass Floyd Smith on “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head,” Leonard Tucker on “I Wish It Would Rain,” Willie Williams on “Rainy Days & Mondays,” and Patrice Morris on “I Can’t Stand The Rain.” The quintet’s elegant harmonies were featured to gorgeous effect on James Taylor’s “Fire And Rain” and the medley closed with Florence LaRue’s bluesy lead on “Stormy Weather.”

  The set closed with a pair of the 5th Dimension’s biggest hits, featuring Florence LaRue’s tearful (literally) rendition of Bacharach/David’s “One Less Bell To Answer” and the set closing “Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In,” which had the crowd out of their seats dancing and singing along. All in all, a great show by a classic group, showcasing their talents “Individually and Collectively” (to paraphrase the title of an old 5th Dimension LP).

  My only complaints about this show have to do with the venue itself: It’s inconvenient (a 100 mile drive each way from my home in the Bay Area and the Cache Creek resort enforces a baffling policy of refusing to allow Saturday overnight stays!) and poorly soundproofed (during quieter moments of the performance, you cannot help but hear the din from the adjacent casino).

  Read more

  Report as inappropriate

  by ahg703

• If you need a reminder of the true power of the human voice, you have to check out The 5th Dimension. The vocal group rose to prominence in the late 60s and early 70s with their jazzy soul stylings, eventually reaching epic proportions with songs like ‘California Soul’ and the number one hit ‘Aquarius’.

  Today the group are going just as strong and are a live show that packs a punch. The group are all smiles as they move and shake whilst delivering the hits with a power and confidence that perhaps tops even that of their 70s heyday. With a tight live band breathing more energy into the songs than could ever be contained on record, the crowd give mid-set standing ovations, possessed by the force of these talented performers. As the set continues and the group keep finding new hits to excite the crowd with, it makes you happy to realise that even in what isn’t the prime of their career, a group like this can still find a way to use their talents to bring great joy to huge crowds of fans – they are a testament to the enduring power of music and you should definitely check them out.

  Read more

  Report as inappropriate

  by CATFROMJAPAN