Prologue/The Magic Garden/Summer’s Daughter/Dreams-Pax-Nepenthe/Carpet Man/Ticket To Ride/Requiem 820 Latham/The Girl’s Song/The Worst That Could Happen/Orange Air/Paper Cup/Epilogue
The Magic Garden was the follow up album from the harmony pop-soul group The 5th Dimension. Comprising a suite of songs from Jimmy Webb it sold considerably less than their other LPs of the time. (US:105)
“This album was a flop chart wise, but it certainly isn't a flop when it comes to enjoyment. It's nothing great, just decent R & B when the genre meant something.”
“The 5th Dimension's second album, The Magic Garden found them continuing their collaboration with Jimmy Webb, who was responsible for all but one of the tracks. While the group's unique MOR sunshine pop remained intact, this time around the emphasis wasn't on top 40 acceptance, but rather on attempting to make a big statement. Full of lush orchestration and dreamy (if pompous) lyrics, the result almost qualified as a concept album.”
“The 5th Dimension go 'progressive'. The arrangements are lush and orchestral, and the soul focus is absent on many tracks. There are lots of interesting ideas and admirable adventurousness throughout the album, but I'm not sure it always works.”
“Very pretty and wonderfully arranged psych-pop from a strangely clean-cut bunch of African-Americans, who might have been of the soul era, but whose music is almost devoid of soul. Instead it is pure pop with quite a lot of class and is one of their finest offerings, if you can take the saccharine content. I know I can - but then I'm partial to almost anything associated with this period of Jimmy Webb's creative development.” “Jimmy Webb was at the top of his songwriting game, and the sophisticated writing with all its romanticism and psychedelia, certainly must have enhanced his reputation. The individual and harmony singing could not be improved upon. The 5th Dimension were without a doubt, one of the best vocal groups of their time.”
“Contains some of the most marvellous vocal performances you will ever hear. All but one of the songs were penned by Webb and the music flows from one tune to another without interruption, something very unique for the time. It may be an acquired taste, but I find it to be an intricate and sonically mesmerizing recording.”
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