"Let the sunshine in."
"This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius
Age of Aquarius"
— "Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In"
The 5th Dimension is an American five-member vocal group formed in 1965 as The Versatiles, becoming The 5th Dimension in time for their first release in 1966. The group's music is a mixture of R&B, pop, and soul which they refer to as "champagne soul". They scored multiple major hits in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the most famous being "Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In". The group still performs despite only one of the original members, Florence LaRue, remaining in the group.
Founding members
- Billy Davis Jr.
- Florence LaRue
- Marilyn McCoo
- LaMonte McLemore
- Ronald L. "Ron" Townson
Studio discography:
- 1967 - Up – Up and Away
- 1968 - The Magic Garden
- 1968 - Stoned Soul Picnic
- 1969 - The Age of Aquarius
- 1970 - Portrait
- 1971 - Love's Lines, Angles and Rhymes
- 1972 - Individually & Collectively
- 1973 - Together, Growing Together
- 1974 - Soul & Inspiration
- 1975 - Earthbound
- 1978 - Star Dancing
- 1979 - High on Sunshine
- 1995 - In the House
Let the tropes in:
- Artistic License – Space: "Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In" describes a new age that will come "When the moon is in the seventh house, and Jupiter aligns with Mars." In actuality, the moon is in the seventh house part of every day and Jupiter and Mars align multiple times each year.
- Astrologer: "Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In" is based upon astrology and the coming "Age of Aquarius".
- Break-Up Song: "One Less Bell to Answer" is about trying (and failing) to remain optimistic after a breakup.
- Long-Runner Line-up: May fit either as a Type 1 or the "Just Missed Out" category with the founding lineup, depending on exact dates, though more likely to be Type 1. The group first formed as The Versatiles in late 1965. After the group toured to support its album Earthbound, released in August 1975, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr., who had married in 1969, left the group to do personal and collective projects.
- More than Three Dimensions: The name of the group references a hypothetical fifth dimension, although it originates from its five members.
- New-Age Retro Hippie: "Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In" produces this image of a free hippie utopia.
- Revolving Door Band: And how! The group has had 33 members and 21 separate lineups in its history, with Florence LaRue the only constant.
- Siamese Twin Songs: "Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In" is made of two songs with different sounds.
- Something Blues: "Wedding Bell Blues" is about a woman fantasizing about getting married and asking her boyfriend if he'll ever propose.
- Western Zodiac: "Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In" is about the astrological belief that the world was about to enter an "Age of Aquarius", full of peace and love.