Up, Up And Away

構成数 : 1枚
合計収録時間 : 00:40:03
Personnel: Ron Townson, Lamonte McLemore, Marilyn McCoo, Billy Davis, Jr., Florence LaRue (vocals); Al Casey , Johnny Rivers, P.F. Sloan, Tommy Tedesco , Joe Osborn (guitar); Larry Knechtel (piano, keyboards); Jimmy Webb (keyboards); Hal Blaine (drums, percussion). Liner Note Author: Mike Ragogna. Recording information: Harmony Records, Hollywood, CA (04/??/1966-03/11/1967); Western Recorders Studio 3 Hollywood, CA (04/??/1966-03/11/1967). Photographer: Rob Santos . Arranger: Al Casey . The Fifth Dimension's debut album was state of the art Los Angeles studio pop in 1967 and it still sounds remarkably fresh. Although producer Johnny Rivers deliberately pitched them as a black version of The Mamas & The Papas (here they cover that group's folk rock hit "Go Where You Wanna Go," backed by the same studio musicians that played on the original), vocally they were distinctive enough to overcome the comparison. Marilyn McCoo, in particular, had a throaty alto seemingly genetically engineered to sing sad love songs. They were also lucky enough to have first crack at some instant classic songs by then unknown songwriter Jimmy Webb. Webb's title tune is the obvious high point here, but there's also a surprising cover of Rivers' "Poor Side of Town," with a stunning acapella opening section. The three bonus tracks from the group's earliest days as Motown wannabes are richly entertaining, especially "I'll Be Loving You Forever," a blatant clone of the Four Tops' "Reach Out I'll Be There."
録音 : ステレオ (Studio)