Up Up & Away – THE 5TH DIMENSION****

Up Up & Away/Another Day Another Heartache/Which Way To Nowhere/California My Way/Misty Roses/Go Where You’re Wanna Go/Never Gonna Be The Same/Pattern People/Rosencrans Boulevard/Learn How To Fly/Poor Side Of Town

Up Up & Away was the debut album from the pop harmony group The 5th Dimension, which brought songwriter Jimmy Webb to public attention for the first time. The Grammy winning title track was a US No. 7 hit single, with Go Where You Wanna Go reaching No. 16 on the US singles chart. (US:8)

"The Fifth's debut album is wonderful. Full of great pop tunes and the Fifth's wonderful harmonies. Billy Davis Jr. and Marilyn McCoo have terrific voices. Though they were grouped to sound like a black Mamas and Papas, they have a distinctive sound all their own."

"Somewhat underwhelming, despite the pedigree of all involved. Everything here was arranged and conducted by a very young Jimmy Webb which automatically makes it worth checking out, but honestly this record doesn't match up to the 5D's best. The major exceptions are two classic Webb tunes: the massive hit Up Up & Away and the gorgeous Rosecrans Boulevard."

"This unlikely mixture of an unknown black group (The 5th Dimension), a well-known but tragically unhip young white producer (Johnny Rivers) and an even younger songwriter/arranger/conductor of amazing ability (Jimmy Webb) confounded all expectations when first released in 1967, and has aged far better than contemporary 'Summer of Love' material."

"Nice songs, well crafted arrangements and musicianship (which are occasionally, surprisingly 'outside' or otherwise unusual harmonically - Misty Roses for example). However, it's going to be too slick and/or cheesy for many folk."

"This album, produced by Johnny Rivers, introduced the group as somewhat of a soul music answer to The Mamas and The Papas, mixing the five-part vocal harmony to catchy pop oriented music. For the most part it worked."

"Up Up & Away is when the 5D became more or less a household name well deserving of the praise they would receive."