Search - The 5th Dimension :: Live!

The exultation of live vocal performance

Mr. John L. Ward | Manchester, England | 08/16/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although this album was recorded at Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas in 1971, The 5th Dimension performed a very similar set on BBC television's groundbreaking 'In Concert' programme the following year. Undeniably, the record has a distinct easy listening feel to it, but if you are familiar with the group's studio albums (also just re-released)then you will certainly appreciate The 5th Dimension's remarkable talent for live ensemble performance of songs from their back catalogue. This said, the concert is much more than a mere celebration of greatest hits. With Laura Nyro's 'Eli's Coming' and Bobby Gentry's 'Ode to Billie Joe', the quintet take two songs entirely new to them and provide radical interpretations that are at once comical, mysterious and slightly sinister. The booklet unfortunately provides very little information about the three bonus tracks - my suspicion is that they do not come from the same time or venue. But no matter - all in all you would be hard pressed to find a better live performance from an all vocal group - and of course Marilyn McCoo really does sing like an angel.

"

Wow !

Eddie Landsberg | Tokyo, Japan | 10/19/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a really exciting (and well recorded) documentation of one of the greatest and most unique groups of all times...



It is really interesting because the FIFTH were best known, in part, for the immaculate production quality of their hits... one would wonder: Yeah, lip syncing on Ed Sullivan - - maybe... but what about outside the studio?

Then you hear this album and wow... The group is groovin', swinging, and even more fun than on their albums... and while the arrangements also have the same "groovy lush" quality as their albums, to hear them doing it live is pretty amazing... especially considering the complexity of many of the arrangements (time signature changes, key changes, and plenty, plenty, plenty of surprises.) ...They weren't just a musical group... they were an ACT and had a tight one! (Check out their funny take on ODE TO BILLY JOE as down home blues!) - - They can also get down and funk out too and are backed by a really really tight "house band".



Get this great album - - if you never came to full appreciate the Fifth... you will after this. And if you're already a fan, trust me... you'll love them more - - and realize what great performers they were !"

Wow! I wish that there was a visual document as well!

A. Brown | Toledo, OH. | 10/11/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Growing up as a child in the early 70's, most of my relatives (who at the time were in their twenties and thirties) owned this album. Now I understand why.Pure musicianship is defined in every sense of the word. This group has been so underrated for far too long. Harmonies blending all over the place. Vocally, the 5th Dimension were very tight. It didn't matter who was leading the song because the background vocals never missed a beat. The energy from this live performance in February of 1971 cemented their transition from studio to stage. They are truly able to recreate that studio magic "live" and it sounds better than ever! The melody sections for Laura Nyro & Jim Webb are fantastic! "Tambourine" & "Eli's Coming" sound as if they were both especially penned for the group as potential singles and not as covers. After having heard this remarkable document, I wish that there was some kind of visual documentation as well. You know, to make it both pleasing to the eye as well as the ear. My only critique of this new cd version is that there isn't any listing as to where the 3 bonus tracks were recorded from. Sad, I really enjoy listening to those versions of "Monday,Monday" & "Going out of my head". I like them far better than the originals. If you don't own this cd, then I highly recommend that you buy it before it's out of stock!"