the group is The 5th Dimension, songs Aquarius and fades into Let The Sunshine In. this came out in 1967 for the broadway play HAIR. It makes me wanna put on my hippie shirt, sandals, and dance
I STILL get chills hearing this song, as I did when I was a child; Billy Davis Jr. takes you to church. Life was so much simpler back then and music was a gift with a beautiful message. I MISS those days so much!
@@karensheline5183 Getting to 'Aquarius' was not entirely successful. It was met with a lot of resistance from the powers that were. Riots across the US and full pitched battles, cop vs hippies and blacks.
The 5th Dimension are one of the greatest ever vocal groups. Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr., have been married for over 50 years and still perform together. They had a new album come out this year, Blackbird, covering songs by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
The name of the group is "The 5th Dimension". The lead singer was Marilyn McCoo, who I remember hosting the Solid Gold show back in the late 70s - she was awesome. Check out: "Last Night I Didnt Get to Sleep At All",, "Up up and away", "One Less Bell to Answer", and "Wedding Bell Blues".
This record is a mashup of two songs from the Broadway musical "Hair," Aquarius and Let the Sun Shine In. It was #1 for 6 weeks in 1969. The 5th Dimension is the group. They have many more hits like Wedding Bell Blues, One Less Bell to Answer, and Up, Up, and Away.
@@andreadeamon6419 it was number 1 the last week of April, 1969. I know this because it was number 1 the day I was born. I don’t know if it was number one for several weeks, but I do know it was number one on April 30th.
This is THE song to feel the spirit of the 60's.... hippy vibe. The fact that the music still has the power to do that to a listener today is amazing I think.
Who votes YES for one Fifth Dimension song per week for the next 5 weeks? Up, Up and Away; I Didn't Get To Sleep At All; Never My Love; Wedding Bell Blues; and One Less Bell to Answer. The last two songs feature Marilyn McCoo - what a gorgeous voice! P S. watch The 40 Year Old Virgin starring Steve Carell and pay attention to the music at the end of the movie.
Florence LaRue on how & why they recorded it: "One of the gentlemen in the 5th Dimension lost his wallet. We were in New York City at the Americana Hotel, performing and another gentleman found his wallet and brought it to the Americana and returned it. So, we invited him to the show and he invited us to his show. That gentleman was the producer of [the musical] Hair! So, when we went to see Hair and we heard the song, we said, “Wow, we’ve got to do that!” And we suggested it to our producer. He said, “No, I don’t think it’s such a good idea. Because, first of all, the cast album’s out and it’s not really selling a lot.” But he came back to us and said, “Let’s record ‘Aquarius’ with ‘Let the Sunshine In’”-they’re actually two different songs-and that’s how it came about. People ask us why we recorded it. We were not into astrology at all. We recorded it because it talked of hope and fun and harmony and it was just an uplifting song. That’s why we recorded it. As a matter of fact, now when we sing, “Let the Sunshine In,” I think of not only let the s-u-n shine but also let the S-o-n shine."
This song played all the time on the radio when I was a kid and I loved it! This song is where I got my name, also it doesn't hurt i am an Aquarius. Love your reactions!🎶💜✌☮
1967 was the turn in music history that changed everything. The start of the hippy movement in San Francisco, the Monterey Pop Festival, the Beatles move away from their pop identities in favor of studio experimentation, psychedelic sounds and harmonies, the Doors, the musical Hair, a second British Invasion would follow, and black music would undergo a dramatic shift away from the 5o's sound that had defined it well into the 6o's. Breakthrough bands like the 5th Dimension, Sly and the Family Stone, Jimi Hendrix, and even the Temptations opened up to a BALL OF CONFUSION that included a new singer for the cultural shift that put us all on CLOUD NINE, while creating a new library of music that is still vibrant today. Those were the days my friends.
You are correct 1967 was the start of the hippy movement 1968 thur 1970 were the psychedelic hippy strong years and the last years and slowly fading away were 1971 to 1973...we all know the 70s started in 1974.
I can close my eyes and it takes me back to late 60's early 70's hearing this song while in my backyard in suburban Detroit. Had my radio plugged in and just getting lost in the music while doing yardwork. I was around 10 years old. lol
Billy Davis and Marilyn McCoo sang a couple of songs on their own "Your Love", and "You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)" which are worth listening too, as well.
I remember those fondly. And with all this (deserved) love being showered on Marilyn McCoo, I'd just like to point out that that was Billy Davis, Jr. absolutely KILLING it at the end during Let the Sun Shine In.
Isn't it 2,000 years, Jesse? The Age of Pisces was the Christ age with its fish symbol in early Christianity. Before that the Age of Aries and before that the Taurean Age, going backwards around the Zodiac. Each had its own wealth of symbolism and strands of meaning for where people were at and the major cultural influences in those eras. I think the song Age of Aquarius idealises what this Age might bring, a bit, and muddles the astrological references of course, but I think it still gives some idea of what might be possible. Even for those of us who don't believe in Astrology at all, the rich symbolism is fascinating. The symbol of Aquarius is those parallel wavy lines indicating electrical energy and/or invisible lines of communication. You can see how the internet and social media are going through intense birthing pangs currently as we learn how to responsibly handle the powerful energies and possibilities these new media open up for human communication. Ideally, they might eventually bring together the human race and make the hopes of harmony, love and peace between all an actuality in our future rather than just a stale old hippie dream. Counteracting that collective consciousness, the opposite sign of Leo suggests the need to balance the power of community with maintaining individual expression, honest emotion and personal freedom. It's all playing out right now in chaotic scenes around the world as conflicting forces vie for dominance. I'd love to live for another 250 years and see how it's all panning out...Or, if not, I might have to pop back and have a look... Meanwhile, it's probably gonna be a wild ride for some time to come! Better hold on to our hats! :-)
I've always loved this song I was one year old when this song came out I'm 55 now that's how old this thing is but I'm digging that bass line that bass player's slammin
It’s a cover by 5th Dennison, from the BROADWAY musical HAIR. 1st; it’s 1 of my Fav musicals, which I saw @ 1 of many revival tours in the 90’s, (it’s toured on/off since 1967). Story based upon the anti-Vietnam War hippie movement of the 60’s & musical so popular, they adapted & made a movie in 1979, (critically acclaimed & won many awards). My FAV ver. of this song was from the film which my oldest sis played tf out of, lol! If ya have a chance you shd watch movie.. it’s m/class imo! ♥️yawl
This song was often considered the closing anthem of the end of the 1960's as it was 1969. We were the Age of Aquarius Generation. The 5th Dimension, they were badass singers, total class, were probably the top male/female combination singing ensemble [no instruments played] along with the Mamas and the Papas. Fond memories doing this song in junior high music concert the year after it was released. I was playing guitar...the choir went into the aisles singing, the bass player dropped his guitar strap off the stage between songs, hopped down to pick it up, stooped over and ripped his pants on his bottom seam...he announced that he had ripped his pants...everyone laughed including the parents and the bass player. The choir director laughed the hardest, she was a gem. We almost couldn't start playing Aquarius/Let the sunshine in, but managed to get it together, had a great time. ripping your pants in public...what a moment of glory...
Thank you so much for playing my request you guys! I'm glad you loved it. Marilyn Mccoy and Billy Davis Jr have been married for years I think like 50. They weren't married from the beginning but they got married later on while they were still in the group still in a group. She is beautiful. And they have so many great songs I hope you can do more of them!
Since I was born in 1967, I literally walked all over the house singing this song, I absolutely loved this group and loved to sing, probably was singing before I could talk 😊, thanks for the great memories guys ❤️
LOVE this song; was in 4th grade (70's) and we did a performance about the solar system; this was one of the songs! 😊. I was Saturn with hula hoops hanging from string on my shoulders 🪐 BJ was feeling this one; LOVE IT!!!!! 💖
I have to say it's always fun to see younger generations react to music I heard growing up in the very early 70's and 80's; Fun Facts: The 5th Dimension always recorded together; When they covered these 2 songs in 1967 from the Broadway show "HAIR" in the same year, their recording engineer told Billy Davis Jr to sing his part of "Let the Sun Shine In" as he does in Church. Billy Davis Jr grew up singing in the church choir as they all the members of the 5th Dimension did which is why they harmonized so well. Billy Davis Jr knew how to improvise really well as he was very experienced. The other reason why the Engineer wanted them to sing in this way was to set them apart from other groups that were also recording the same songs around the same time. This is why The 5th Dimension's version endures to this day. In fact, a revival of "HAIR" here in NYC used The 5th Dimension's version of "Let the Sunshine In" as it's the last song in the production.
I remember being a you g child and my mom brought this album home, and I played Let the Sunshine In over and over and danced to that ripping bass line. Being very schooled in music at a very young age i knew great music, in my opinion. And I could dance for hours to the last part of this song.
nope. 'let the sun......' is the second verse of the song. story song. enter from the dark 40s,50s, early 60s to the age of Aquarius and let the sunshine (not sun shine) into you. (enlightenment). Hippy National Anthem. Only the movie broke it apart.
I was born in 1980. The first time I heard this song was at the end of the movie 40 Year Old Virgin. Although silly and goofy something about the songs lyrics struck me so I looked it up and I listened to the original version by 5th Dimension and read the lyrics. Sorry to get so deep in a post, but there's a message going on in this song that not many of us realize. It's actually very intelligent with hidden meanings.
This song is from an excellent album. I can remember hearing this frequently in my house when I was in Elementary School. The group was acceptable listening, according to my mom. One of the few groups that spanned the 3 generations in my home. ✌🏻
This is one of those seminal sixties groups that defined vocal harmony, superb backing instrumentation, and creativity. We loved them back in the day. . .
This music was called Bubble soul. The 5th, five stair steps, friends of distinction and Rascals. Seeing them live, brought light to troubling times in the 60’s. These band’s influenced Earth, Wind and Fire. They changed music and brought peace. Marylyn McCoo, the tall girl, wrote many of their hits. I fell in love with her.
This song (1967) is from the Love Rock Musical "HAIR" my high school teacher took the whole Civics class to see the play in San Francisco, CA. It was about hippie life. The Fifth Dimension was not in the play but several artists had hits from the songs in the play. There is also a movie Hair.
5th Dimension has a very deep rabbit hole-Up Up & Away, Wedding Bell Blues, Last Night I Didn't Get To Sleep, Workin On A Groovy Thing, Carpet man, Stoned Soul Picnic, One Less bell To Answer, Save The Country and on and on.. One of the very best but underrated harmony groups.
Omg, I hadn’t even started my love affair with music when I heard the Broadway cast version of “Hair” while babysitting. Talk about a blast from the past! ♒️
it's actually two different songs blended together, "age of aquarius" and "let the sunshine in". that's why they have different sounds, they needed to finish both of them, but they were similar so they combined them together into one song
As others are telling you, this is part of the sondtrack for the play "HAIR", the listening of will time travel you to 1967. The whole album would be reaction history.
FROM THE MUSICAL HAIR!!!!!! The wonderful actress Diane Keaton was in the original cast and was on the soundtrack album that damn near every hippie owned I know I did!
Thank you guys for really listening to and keeping real raw music alive. These days were great to grow up in and bringing our music back. I was a single Dad back in the 80s and 90s and after I put my kids to bed I often listened to my old music. I recently learned from my 2 kids that i would put them to bed the 2 of them would lay on their bedroom floors and they would lay there till i turned my stereo off. Today they are parents and I now know my grandkids are being raised on all the oldies. Thank you guys for keeping it alive. Way back in those days there was no TH-cam but i had over 3000 LPs from the 60s, 70s, and 80s and my daughter has insisted i leave to her when i pass away because she says is a so much a part of their memory
such a complex beautiful song. this was a major group to bridge the gap between black and white music. they blended both styles into one music...follow this group, they have many great(forgotten) hits. great reaction!
Awesome song, they were a wonder with their amazing voices and harmonies and this was an Iconic song of that era. For another psychedelic song from those days try I Had Too Much to Dream Last Night by the Electric Prunes. Enjoy! Lost in the Music indeed, I have been for over half a century. 😎
I LOVE IT!!! AT 7:14 BJ says "it sounds like you're taking me to church"!! I think it's absolutely crazy that you mention it that way because I just recently saw an interview with two members of The Fifth Dimension one of which was the male singer that was doing the gospel taking it to church vocals in the second half of the song let the sunshine!! When the two members talked about making this song they spoke about how they first heard it which was in the play Hair in the late 60s!! The song in the play is just Aquarius without / let the sunshine in!! So when they went into record the song they did the first part and then it was the producer's idea to attach let the sun shine to it and make it like a two-part song! So when they started to record let the sunshine in the producers just said to Billy Davis Jr "okay Billy take us to church!! Do that gospel thing you do!!" So very fitting that you feel that you're being taken to church when that part starts because it's exactly what the feeling was!!!
To understand the feeling of this time (late 1960's) watch the movie "Hair". We were pretty messed us as a country then...and a song of hope was a blessing.
It's like the perfect hippie song of the '70s I just feel like dancing around waving my arms up and down I've always liked that song thank you for your reaction
This song takes me back like few others. It played all over the radio for a long, long time. So many great hits for this group, who had some fabulous writers providing material for them. Jimmy Webb did some marvelous writing...
Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In are both songs from a major Broadway musical at the time, Hair. Despite having some seemingly non-commercial songs in Hair, there were actually several artists who used songs from it and made big bucks with them. This is one of the songs that made the 5th Dimension a huge hit; after this, they had almost non-stop hits for years. They were amazing!!
the group is The 5th Dimension, songs Aquarius and fades into Let The Sunshine In. this came out in 1967 for the broadway play HAIR. It makes me wanna put on my hippie shirt, sandals, and dance
And pipe? Lol.,
@@michaelasay8587 lol
I was 6 in 1967. And I remember.
I just lit up a stick of patchouli incense.
@@ziggymarlowe5654 tangerine kush here in paradise Puerto Vallarta where I live! Haha...no mo Bidenland for me!
I STILL get chills hearing this song, as I did when I was a child;
Billy Davis Jr. takes you to church. Life was so much simpler back then and music was a gift with a beautiful message. I MISS those days so much!
Same here--- this song is one of my earliest childhood memories, and it still gives me goosebumps...✌
Count me in!
sorry but life wasn't simpler you were just to young to notice :)
Speak! 💜
Me too! 100% agree
Catch their version of "One less bell to answer" and the wonderful Marilyn McCoo. She had a wonderful voice and still does.
Ashamed to say she’s the only one I remember 50 years later. But that voice!
@@sarahzentexas She is incredible.
Thank you so much for bringing that song up!
yes!
And she is still very attractive.
Wow!!! This was part of the hippy, make love not war movement that this song tried to embody! Love the Fifth Dimension!
From the musical Hair.
My mom had a few 5th Dimension albums but we kids liked their songs too!! 😝
"tried"? it did . the song was/is our national anthem.
We could go back to that…..
@@karensheline5183 Getting to 'Aquarius' was not entirely successful. It was met with a lot of resistance from the powers that were. Riots across the US and full pitched battles, cop vs hippies and blacks.
Marilyn McCoo is still beautiful, at age 78. She has an amazing voice.
The 5th Dimension are one of the greatest ever vocal groups. Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr., have been married for over 50 years and still perform together. They had a new album come out this year, Blackbird, covering songs by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
McCoo had the most recognizable voice...if you heard her first, you knew it was going to be the Fifth Dimension.
It's called TALENT!! A very underrated group that never gets its due. Multi-Grammy Award winners!!
The name of the group is "The 5th Dimension". The lead singer was Marilyn McCoo, who I remember hosting the Solid Gold show back in the late 70s - she was awesome.
Check out: "Last Night I Didnt Get to Sleep At All",, "Up up and away", "One Less Bell to Answer", and "Wedding Bell Blues".
👍👍👍Agreed!!!!!
And her husband Billy Davis Jr I think both of them were late the major leads in that band
Yes! These were the biggest hits
That was the early/mid 80s when beautiful Marilyn McCoo hosted Solid Gold...wasnt late 70s.
And “Stone Soul Picnic”
This record is a mashup of two songs from the Broadway musical "Hair," Aquarius and Let the Sun Shine In. It was #1 for 6 weeks in 1969. The 5th Dimension is the group. They have many more hits like Wedding Bell Blues, One Less Bell to Answer, and Up, Up, and Away.
Was the #1 song when my fiancee was born. Mine was happy together from the turtles
@@andreadeamon6419 Same here - I started considering this 'my song' when I learned it was released in March, 1969 when I was born.
@@mochs3869 his b day is in Aug. Don't remember if it was on the charts several times or not
@@andreadeamon6419 So, you're the older woman, lol....
@@andreadeamon6419 it was number 1 the last week of April, 1969. I know this because it was number 1 the day I was born. I don’t know if it was number one for several weeks, but I do know it was number one on April 30th.
Because I was a headbanger in my youth, I was afraid to let my Bros know that I had this album at home. I listened to it a lot.
Marilyn McCoo is so cute and still has it. Still with Billy Davis Jr. after all these years
I remember her as a host on Solid Gold I could be wrong I was a child then.
@julienielsen4462 yes, she hosted the show for the first couple of seasons.
I remember "Let the Sunshine In" as a little kid and it always made me start dancing like a hippie!! I loved this song!!!
My family did. We danced wherever. Lol. I still do. Grocery store, mall. If I hear a groovy beat I'm dancing. 🤣🤣 (My parents were hippies.)
This is THE song to feel the spirit of the 60's.... hippy vibe. The fact that the music still has the power to do that to a listener today is amazing I think.
One of my favorite songs of all time. I absolutely LOVE Marilyn McCoo....she used to co host solid gold. Keep up the great work 😃
This song knocked the Beatles out of the number one spot on the radio in 1969!
Who votes YES for one Fifth Dimension song per week for the next 5 weeks? Up, Up and Away; I Didn't Get To Sleep At All; Never My Love; Wedding Bell Blues; and One Less Bell to Answer. The last two songs feature Marilyn McCoo - what a gorgeous voice! P S. watch The 40 Year Old Virgin starring Steve Carell and pay attention to the music at the end of the movie.
You forgot Stoned Soul Picnic, but YES. I vote YES.
@@patriciaadams2193And, Sweet Bindness👍✌️
@@patriciaadams2193sorry, Sweet Blindness, lol👍✌️
Florence LaRue on how & why they recorded it:
"One of the gentlemen in the 5th Dimension lost his wallet. We were in New York City at the Americana Hotel, performing and another gentleman found his wallet and brought it to the Americana and returned it. So, we invited him to the show and he invited us to his show. That gentleman was the producer of [the musical] Hair! So, when we went to see Hair and we heard the song, we said, “Wow, we’ve got to do that!”
And we suggested it to our producer. He said, “No, I don’t think it’s such a good idea. Because, first of all, the cast album’s out and it’s not really selling a lot.” But he came back to us and said, “Let’s record ‘Aquarius’ with ‘Let the Sunshine In’”-they’re actually two different songs-and that’s how it came about.
People ask us why we recorded it. We were not into astrology at all. We recorded it because it talked of hope and fun and harmony and it was just an uplifting song. That’s why we recorded it. As a matter of fact, now when we sing, “Let the Sunshine In,” I think of not only let the s-u-n shine but also let the S-o-n shine."
I think the "Up up and away" is The 5th dimension's hit.
YES! it was written by Jimmy Webb who won the Grammy for that song that year. He wrote a lot of stuff...several for Glenn Campbell...
yes, before Aquarius.
This song played all the time on the radio when I was a kid and I loved it! This song is where I got my name, also it doesn't hurt i am an Aquarius. Love your reactions!🎶💜✌☮
Billy Davis rocked on Let the Sunshine In.
So did his wife Marilyn McCoo her voice and The fifth dimension just was so beautiful. ♥️❤️
1967 was the turn in music history that changed everything. The start of the hippy movement in San Francisco, the Monterey Pop Festival, the Beatles move away from their pop identities in favor of studio experimentation, psychedelic sounds and harmonies, the Doors, the musical Hair, a second British Invasion would follow, and black music would undergo a dramatic shift away from the 5o's sound that had defined it well into the 6o's. Breakthrough bands like the 5th Dimension, Sly and the Family Stone, Jimi Hendrix, and even the Temptations opened up to a BALL OF CONFUSION that included a new singer for the cultural shift that put us all on CLOUD NINE, while creating a new library of music that is still vibrant today. Those were the days my friends.
Yes, Kevin! thank you -- the Temptations especially!
You are correct 1967 was the start of the hippy movement 1968 thur 1970 were the psychedelic hippy strong years and the last years and slowly fading away were 1971 to 1973...we all know the 70s started in 1974.
I can close my eyes and it takes me back to late 60's early 70's hearing this song while in my backyard in suburban Detroit. Had my radio plugged in and just getting lost in the music while doing yardwork. I was around 10 years old. lol
Billy Davis and Marilyn McCoo sang a couple of songs on their own "Your Love", and "You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)" which are worth listening too, as well.
They are still married after all this time too.
I remember those fondly. And with all this (deserved) love being showered on Marilyn McCoo, I'd just like to point out that that was Billy Davis, Jr. absolutely KILLING it at the end during Let the Sun Shine In.
Both outstanding tunes.
Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. are STILL touring. You can see the 5th Dimension on Questlove's "Summer of Soul" documentary
Thanks for that!! I’ll have to check it out!!
When the "Let the sunshine in" reprise starts you get to hear one of the funkiest bass lines in this song. Beautiful!
This song is way ahead of its time. The references leave me in awe. We will be in the Age of Aquarius for another 26,000 years.
Sorry to hear that, for all the good it's doing us.
Isn't it 2,000 years, Jesse? The Age of Pisces was the Christ age with its fish symbol in early Christianity. Before that the Age of Aries and before that the Taurean Age, going backwards around the Zodiac. Each had its own wealth of symbolism and strands of meaning for where people were at and the major cultural influences in those eras.
I think the song Age of Aquarius idealises what this Age might bring, a bit, and muddles the astrological references of course, but I think it still gives some idea of what might be possible.
Even for those of us who don't believe in Astrology at all, the rich symbolism is fascinating. The symbol of Aquarius is those parallel wavy lines indicating electrical energy and/or invisible lines of communication. You can see how the internet and social media are going through intense birthing pangs currently as we learn how to responsibly handle the powerful energies and possibilities these new media open up for human communication.
Ideally, they might eventually bring together the human race and make the hopes of harmony, love and peace between all an actuality in our future rather than just a stale old hippie dream. Counteracting that collective consciousness, the opposite sign of Leo suggests the need to balance the power of community with maintaining individual expression, honest emotion and personal freedom. It's all playing out right now in chaotic scenes around the world as conflicting forces vie for dominance.
I'd love to live for another 250 years and see how it's all panning out...Or, if not, I might have to pop back and have a look... Meanwhile, it's probably gonna be a wild ride for some time to come! Better hold on to our hats! :-)
Always loved this song especially when the break down hits and Billy takes it to church!
One of the GREAT "feel good" songs of the 70's...
Joe Osborn bass stands out on this one. the wrecking crew strikes again!
Amen brother! A former bass teacher called this style "grabbin' it by the boo-boo!"
Seriously! I grew up listening to this song, and I never realized how the bass took the lead! Amazing work!
You have to hear The 5th Dimension sing California Soul! It's a true vibe and those harmonies are tight! You'll be loving this one BJ and Asia.
This music was originally from the Rock-opera Hair which was made into a movie in 1979.
Hair was all over Broadway ♥️♥️♥️♥️
I always find myself holding back from CRYING every time I hear the 2nd part of the song.
I've always loved this song I was one year old when this song came out I'm 55 now that's how old this thing is but I'm digging that bass line that bass player's slammin
We are now in the age of aquarius 😍
And we are on our way to evolve as a species ,to a higher dimension , the 5th dimension !
Haha. The Fifth Dimension actually played this tune at my high school during an assembly in the 80's. It was awesome.
It’s a cover by 5th Dennison, from the BROADWAY musical HAIR. 1st; it’s 1 of my Fav musicals, which I saw @ 1 of many revival tours in the 90’s, (it’s toured on/off since 1967). Story based upon the anti-Vietnam War hippie movement of the 60’s & musical so popular, they adapted & made a movie in 1979, (critically acclaimed & won many awards). My FAV ver. of this song was from the film which my oldest sis played tf out of, lol! If ya have a chance you shd watch movie.. it’s m/class imo! ♥️yawl
Sung by Renn Woods. Oh, hellz yeah!
I was 15 when this song hit the scene in 69. It was nice that we got to hear it again in "The 40 Year Old Virgin."
I was 13 at the time. Good time to grow up.
I was 8 and remember
I still love hearing this song. The original cast album from the Play "Hair" is also great. The Fifth Dimension had many hits and TV appearances.
They also appeared on an episode of the hit TV show "It Takes a Thief" starring Robert Wagner.
This song was often considered the closing anthem of the end of the 1960's as it was 1969. We were the Age of Aquarius Generation. The 5th Dimension, they were badass singers, total class, were probably the top male/female combination singing ensemble [no instruments played] along with the Mamas and the Papas. Fond memories doing this song in junior high music concert the year after it was released. I was playing guitar...the choir went into the aisles singing, the bass player dropped his guitar strap off the stage between songs, hopped down to pick it up, stooped over and ripped his pants on his bottom seam...he announced that he had ripped his pants...everyone laughed including the parents and the bass player. The choir director laughed the hardest, she was a gem. We almost couldn't start playing Aquarius/Let the sunshine in, but managed to get it together, had a great time. ripping your pants in public...what a moment of glory...
Thank you so much for playing my request you guys! I'm glad you loved it.
Marilyn Mccoy and Billy Davis Jr have been married for years I think like 50. They weren't married from the beginning but they got married later on while they were still in the group still in a group. She is beautiful. And they have so many great songs I hope you can do more of them!
Fifth Dimension definitely did have great harmonies, I loved this group
Since I was born in 1967, I literally walked all over the house singing this song, I absolutely loved this group and loved to sing, probably was singing before I could talk 😊, thanks for the great memories guys ❤️
LOVE this song; was in 4th grade (70's) and we did a performance about the solar system; this was one of the songs! 😊. I was Saturn with hula hoops hanging from string on my shoulders 🪐
BJ was feeling this one; LOVE IT!!!!! 💖
I have to say it's always fun to see younger generations react to music I heard growing up in the very early 70's and 80's; Fun Facts: The 5th Dimension always recorded together; When they covered these 2 songs in 1967 from the Broadway show "HAIR" in the same year, their recording engineer told Billy Davis Jr to sing his part of "Let the Sun Shine In" as he does in Church. Billy Davis Jr grew up singing in the church choir as they all the members of the 5th Dimension did which is why they harmonized so well. Billy Davis Jr knew how to improvise really well as he was very experienced. The other reason why the Engineer wanted them to sing in this way was to set them apart from other groups that were also recording the same songs around the same time. This is why The 5th Dimension's version endures to this day. In fact, a revival of "HAIR" here in NYC used The 5th Dimension's version of "Let the Sunshine In" as it's the last song in the production.
I remember being a you g child and my mom brought this album home, and I played Let the Sunshine In over and over and danced to that ripping bass line. Being very schooled in music at a very young age i knew great music, in my opinion. And I could dance for hours to the last part of this song.
Good for you, Michael; I was exposed to great music from a very young age as well, and I know it has enriched my life beyond words. Good parents!
@@jacqueline4514 turned me into a life long musician.
@@michaelakkerman407 That’s wonderful!!!
The first album I ever bought was a 5th Dimension. I love their harmonies.
Actually a mash-up of 2 great songs from Hair. Great choice!
nope. 'let the sun......' is the second verse of the song. story song. enter from the dark 40s,50s, early 60s to the age of Aquarius and let the sunshine (not sun shine) into you. (enlightenment).
Hippy National Anthem. Only the movie broke it apart.
I was born in 1980. The first time I heard this song was at the end of the movie 40 Year Old Virgin. Although silly and goofy something about the songs lyrics struck me so I looked it up and I listened to the original version by 5th Dimension and read the lyrics. Sorry to get so deep in a post, but there's a message going on in this song that not many of us realize. It's actually very intelligent with hidden meanings.
Start doing more of them...One less bell to answer, Wedding bell blues.
This song is from an excellent album. I can remember hearing this frequently in my house when I was in Elementary School. The group was acceptable listening, according to my mom. One of the few groups that spanned the 3 generations in my home. ✌🏻
This is one of those seminal sixties groups that defined vocal harmony, superb backing instrumentation, and creativity. We loved them back in the day. . .
This music was called Bubble soul. The 5th, five stair steps, friends of distinction and Rascals. Seeing them live, brought light to troubling times in the 60’s. These band’s influenced Earth, Wind and Fire. They changed music and brought peace. Marylyn McCoo, the tall girl, wrote many of their hits. I fell in love with her.
That bass line during 'Let The Sunshine In' is just awesome!!
I had this. It was a double album with this and Wedding Bell Blues and a cover of Those Were the Days.
It's always gives me goosebumps especially since we're slid into the age of Aquarius last year and the planet shifted into the light
This song (1967) is from the Love Rock Musical "HAIR" my high school teacher took the whole Civics class to see the play in San Francisco, CA. It was about hippie life. The Fifth Dimension was not in the play but several artists had hits from the songs in the play.
There is also a movie Hair.
5th Dimension has a very deep rabbit hole-Up Up & Away, Wedding Bell Blues, Last Night I Didn't Get To Sleep, Workin On A Groovy Thing, Carpet man, Stoned Soul Picnic, One Less bell To Answer, Save The Country and on and on.. One of the very best but underrated harmony groups.
crosby , stills and nash is another that does vocals alot like this . and america too
cs&n suite: judy blue eyes , america ventura highway
I feel the optimism and beauty of the 60's when I hear this song.
I was just a little kid when this song first came out. And I remember it to this day. Undeniable talent and harmony.
They were ahead of their time, excellent harmony! Just love them!🥰
So much talent in this group, such beautiful singing. Thank you for reacting to this song💖
Omg, I hadn’t even started my love affair with music when I heard the Broadway cast version of “Hair” while babysitting. Talk about a blast from the past! ♒️
it's actually two different songs blended together, "age of aquarius" and "let the sunshine in". that's why they have different sounds, they needed to finish both of them, but they were similar so they combined them together into one song
From the musical Hair, still outstanding 50 years later
I am 56. Came out when maybe i was 2 or 3? My mom and i danced to this around 1970
When I was in high school, we would drive around going (no where what so ever) and listen to this tune
Please explore more of The 5th Dimension catalog; so many amazing songs.
As others are telling you, this is part of the sondtrack for the play "HAIR", the listening of will time travel you to 1967.
The whole album would be reaction history.
Marilyn McCoo has a whole career on her own. Check out "Wedding bell blues" Love Ya, PJ
The Fifth-Dimension had the best harmonies. Celestial. This song captures the late-60’s sound and vibe. Psychedelic. Groovy, man! ✌️
I can’t believe you’re playing the studio version. We can hear that anywhere. The live version is the real thing!!! 😮
Oh my gosh this a great song thank you for reacting to this!
This song defined the era. Simple as that.
I miss the spirit of the 60s. I was born in '66 and it was still lingering in the air in my childhood. No peace, love and harmony vibes nowadays.
FROM THE MUSICAL HAIR!!!!!! The wonderful actress Diane Keaton was in the original cast and was on the soundtrack album that damn near every hippie owned I know I did!
My girlfriends and I used to sing this at the top of our lungs! Harmonies weren't this good though...lol
Thank you guys for really listening to and keeping real raw music alive. These days were great to grow up in and bringing our music back. I was a single Dad back in the 80s and 90s and after I put my kids to bed I often listened to my old music. I recently learned from my 2 kids that i would put them to bed the 2 of them would lay on their bedroom floors and they would lay there till i turned my stereo off. Today they are parents and I now know my grandkids are being raised on all the oldies. Thank you guys for keeping it alive. Way back in those days there was no TH-cam but i had over 3000 LPs from the 60s, 70s, and 80s and my daughter has insisted i leave to her when i pass away because she says is a so much a part of their memory
I heard it in my childhood and still feel the same emotions today when I hear it. Just gushes with soulful spirituality. Creates tears of joy.
The song video was amazing! and the 5th dimension is a huge rabbit hole!
They are singing about the dawn of the new age - the age of Aquarius. A new time of peace, harmony and love that's coming.
I think their song, one less bell to answer, is one of the best of the classic era.
One less bell to answer i played at my wife's funeral love this song.
Absolutely beautiful song🥳it was the age of Aquarius and a liberated time.
Asia , I loved how that smile came slowly . the more you heard, the more you smiled. just beautiful
Your Going To Love This Group .We All Do Enjoy. They had many hits Oh memories !
such a complex beautiful song. this was a major group to bridge the gap between black and white music. they blended both styles into one music...follow this group, they have many great(forgotten) hits. great reaction!
Awesome song, they were a wonder with their amazing voices and harmonies and this was an Iconic song of that era. For another psychedelic song from those days try I Had Too Much to Dream Last Night by the Electric Prunes. Enjoy! Lost in the Music indeed, I have been for over half a century. 😎
Highly underrated group. Such beautiful harmonies.
I wore this album out back in the day!! ❤️❤️. P.S. I’m loving your reactions!!
I LOVE IT!!! AT 7:14 BJ says "it sounds like you're taking me to church"!! I think it's absolutely crazy that you mention it that way because I just recently saw an interview with two members of The Fifth Dimension one of which was the male singer that was doing the gospel taking it to church vocals in the second half of the song let the sunshine!! When the two members talked about making this song they spoke about how they first heard it which was in the play Hair in the late 60s!! The song in the play is just Aquarius without / let the sunshine in!! So when they went into record the song they did the first part and then it was the producer's idea to attach let the sun shine to it and make it like a two-part song! So when they started to record let the sunshine in the producers just said to Billy Davis Jr "okay Billy take us to church!! Do that gospel thing you do!!" So very fitting that you feel that you're being taken to church when that part starts because it's exactly what the feeling was!!!
Lucky enough to see them in concert, wonderful memories.
There's some really nice stuff (interview, performance) with Marilyn McCoo and 5th Dimension in the Summer of Soul movie. Definitely worth seeing.
the live performance of this is worth finding for the groovy dancing and outfits. they had many great songs. groovy man!
Great mash-up of two classic songs!❤🙂 Legendary but underrated group!
To understand the feeling of this time (late 1960's) watch the movie "Hair". We were pretty messed us as a country then...and a song of hope was a blessing.
It's like the perfect hippie song of the '70s I just feel like dancing around waving my arms up and down I've always liked that song thank you for your reaction
Saw them in concert back in '73. Incredible show.
This song takes me back like few others. It played all over the radio for a long, long time. So many great hits for this group, who had some fabulous writers providing material for them. Jimmy Webb did some marvelous writing...
Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In are both songs from a major Broadway musical at the time, Hair. Despite having some seemingly non-commercial songs in Hair, there were actually several artists who used songs from it and made big bucks with them. This is one of the songs that made the 5th Dimension a huge hit; after this, they had almost non-stop hits for years. They were amazing!!