- Phyllis Battle - vocals (1985-2002)

- Van Jewel - vocals (2002)

- Florence Larue - vocals

- Marilyn McCoo - vocals (-75, 1990)

- Lamont McLemore - vocals

- Billy Davis Jr. - vocals (-75, 1990)

- Ron Townson (RIP 2001) - vocals

- Greg Walker (1990-)

- Willie Williams - vocals (replaced Townson) (1998)

- Billy Davis Jr. and Marilyn McCoo
- The Hi-Fi's
- The Intervals
- Marilyn McCoo (solo efforts) 

- Ron Townson (solo efforts)

Genre: psych

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  The Magic Garden

Company: Soul

Catalog: SCS-92001

Year: 1967

Grade (cover/record): VG/VG

Country: USA, California

Comments: still in shrink wrap (opened)

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4123

Price: $8.00

On the heels of their worldwide successes with "Up, Up and Away", The 5th Dimension's second album, 1967's "The Magic Garden" found them continuing their collaboration with producer/songwriter Jimmy Webb.  With Webb responsible for 11 of the 12 tracks (the lone exception being a lousy cover of The Beatles' "Ticket to Ride"), their sophomore LP was definitely different.  While the group's unique MOR sunshine pop remained intact, this time around the emphasis wasn't on top-40 acceptance, rather apparently on making a big statement (though what that statement actually was is lost on us).  Full of lush orchestration and dreamy (if pompous) lyrics, the result almost qualified as a concept piece.  While tracks such as "Summer's Daughter", "Dreams" and "The Worst That Could Happen" (the latter subsequently a hit for The Brooklyn Bridge) were too MOR for the group's own good, their harmonies remain unmatched and when they toughen up the sound on tracks such as the mildly psychedelic "Orange Air" they were every bit as good as anyone in the business.  Elsewhere, "Carpet Man" b/w "The Magic Garden" (Soul City catalog number SC-762) and "Paper Cup" b/w "Poor Side of Town" (Soul City catalog number SC-760) provided the group with a pair of minor hits.

"The Magic Garden" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) Prologue   (Jimmy Webb) - 

2.) The Magic Garden   (Jimmy Webb) - 

3.) Summer's Daughter   (Jimmy Webb) - 

4.) Dreams / Pax / Nepenthe   (Jimmy Webb) - 

5.) Carpet Man   (Jimmy Webb) - 

6.) Ticket To Ride   (John Lennon - Paul McCartney)

(side 2)

1.) Requiem: 820 Latham   (Jimmy Webb) - 

2.) The Girls' Song   (Jimmy Webb) - 

3.) The Worst That Could Happen   (Jimmy Webb) - 

4.) Orange Air   (Jimmy Webb) - 

5.) Paper Cup   (Jimmy Webb) - 

6.) Epilogue   (Jimmy Webb) - 

Genre: pop

Rating: ** (2 stars)

Title:  Reflections

Company: Bell

Catalog: 6065

Year: 1971

Grade (cover/record): VG/VG

Country: California, USA

Comments: minor ring, edge and corner wear

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4123

Price: $3.00

To my ears, though they didn't write their own material, in the battle of late-1960s/early-1970s MOR pop, these guys were every bit as good as their competitors. In terms of competitors, The Mamas and the Papas quickly come to mind - for a comparison, check out their cover of The Beatles "Ticket To Ride". Their performance and mannerisms bear an uncanny resemblance to the former). Continuing their longstanding collaboration with producer Bones Howe, 1971's "Reflections" isn't what you'd call a major change in direction. Taking on a standard mix of popular hits and lesser known selections, all eleven tracks are subjected to Howes' extensive orchestration and the group's patented easy-going, Southern California group harmonies. The results are certainly mixed, ranging from engaging ("California Soul"), to hysterical inept (check out their Up with People-styled smiley cover of Cream's "Sunshine of Your Love") and nausia-inducing (the weirdest MOR cover of Johnny Rivers' "Poor Side of Town" I've ever heard). A minor seller, the set peaked at # 112. (Geez, I'd forgotten how attractive LaRue and McCoo were - talk about a pair of hotties !!! Makes you wish hot pants would come back into vogue.)

"Reflections" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) California Soul (Nicholas Ashford - Valerie Simpson) - 3:16
2.) Let It Be Me (Mann Curtis - Hilbert Becaud) - 3:53
3.) Sunshine of Your Love (Jack Bruce - Peter Brown - Eric Clapton) - 3:17
4.) Poor Side of Town (Johnny Rivers - Lou Adler) - 3:30
5.) Ticket To Ride (John Lennon - Paul McCartney) - 4:00

(side 2)

1.) Blowin' Away (Laura Nyro) - 2:35
2.) Workin' On a Groovy Thing (Neil Sedaka - Roger Atkins) - 3:09
3.) Carpet Man (Jim Webb) - 3:05
4.) Those Were the Days (Gene Raskin) - 3:04
5.) I'll Never Be the Same Again (Jeffrey Comanor) - 3:05
6.) California My Way (Willie Hitchinson) - 2:50