Stoned Soul Picnic – THE 5TH DIMENSION****

Sweet Blindness/It’ll Never Be The Same Again/The Sailboat Song/It’s A Great Life/Stoned Soul Picnic/ California Soul/Lovin’ Stew/Broken Wing Bird/Good News/Bobbie’s Blues/The Eleventh Song

With their strong harmony singing many people compared The 5th Dimension to The Mamas & The Papas. Their third album Stoned Soul Picnic features the US No. 3 title track and the top twenty single Sweet Blindness. (US:21)

"Black version of The Mamas and The Papas with (gasp) far better voices and if that is not enough, you have songs by Laura Nyro, Jimmy Webb and Ashford & Simpson, spread generously through a very strong album with some seriously spectacular 1960s orchestration, strings swirling around the singers' fine voices."

"A collection of delightful and catchy 60s pop songs is what we have here. Apart from a couple of weak tracks this is pretty consistent and is a pleasure to listen to."

"This album marks the departure of the group from their all-pop format, towards more soulful and searching material. Of course, the songs by Laura Nyro are the best example of this adventurous trend, the title hit and Sweet Blindness sound glorious. But that's just the beginning, there are great songs contributed by Jeff Comanor, Ashford & Simpson, and even Jimmy Webb pops in for the decidedly groovy The Eleventh Song."

"This album really is a turning point for The 5th, and defines their five-part harmony talent. They are one of pop music's most underappreciated bands."

"The quintessential AM 60s singles band, 5th Dimension could also make one hell of an album. In 1968 they made this: Stoned Soul Picnic is a great start if seeking to understand this band beyond the hits. The title track is Laura Nyro pop. It Will Never Be The Same is orchestral soul, production almost as big as any Spector work of the era. There is jaunty pop; It's A Great Life, and gorgeous soft rock like Sailboat Song. All the tracks have a lightly orchestrated flavour that ties the album together well."

"This album displays just how talented this quintet actually were. The vocal interpretations and harmonic blending are a seminal example of the group's musical styling and arranging. This is testament to the group's ability to weave their voices together and create a psychedelic vocal kaleidoscope."