OUT TOMORROW! The 5th Dimension’s Soul City and Bell Albums Collected on New Box from TSD, Cherry Red
2026 marks 60 years of The 5th Dimension–and the celebration is kicking off with the first-ever box set dedicated to the legendary “champagne soul” fivesome!
Tomorrow, June 12, is the date for Let the Sunshine In: The Soul City & Bell Albums 1967-1974 from Cherry Red’s Strawberry imprint and Second Disc Records! This comprehensive 6CD collection brings together all of Marilyn McCoo, Billy Davis, Jr., Florence LaRue, and the late Ron Townson and LaMonte McLemore’s recordings for the Soul City, Bell, and Arista labels, plus bonus selections including the group’s rare pre-5th Dimension single under their original name, The Versatiles.
This set presents newly remastered editions of all ten of The 5th Dimension’s original Soul City and Bell albums plus a whopping 25 bonus tracks. The box includes the following albums:
- Up, Up & Away (1967);
- The Magic Garden (1967);
- Stoned Soul Picnic (1968);
- The Age of Aquarius (1969);
- Portrait (1970);
- Love’s Lines, Angles & Rhymes (1970);
- Live!! (1971);
- Individually and Collectively (1972);
- Living Together, Growing Together (1973); and
- Soul & Inspiration (1974).
On these remarkable albums blending pop and soul, the six-time Grammy-winning quintet brought their rich vocal harmonies to songs written by the illustrious likes of Laura Nyro, Jimmy Webb, Burt Bacharach and Hal David, Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson, Neil Sedaka, Paul Williams, and Harry Nilsson to create some of the most enduring music of the 1960s and 1970s. The collection includes the chart-topping “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” and “Wedding Bell Blues” plus top ten hits “Up, Up, and Away,” “Stoned Soul Picnic,” “One Less Bell to Answer,” and “(Last Night) I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All” as well as the classic psych-pop song suite crafted by Jimmy Webb for the group, The Magic Garden. Bonus tracks encompass non-LP singles, outtakes, the authorized debut of rare live versions, and the previously unreleased Bones Howe production of Carole King and Gerry Goffin’s “Hi-De-Ho.”
Nick Robbins has newly remastered the audio. Joe Marchese’s liner notes provide an oral history of the group based on a 2025 roundtable with McCoo, Davis, and LaRue; previously unpublished interviews with Bones Howe and producer John Florez; and archival quotes from McLemore, Townson, and others. Topping it all off, Jimmy Webb has written a new introduction for the box set. The deluxe booklet designed by John Sellards additionally boasts rare photos of the group.
Let the Sunshine In: The Soul City & Bell Albums 1967-1974 is the ultimate celebration of the original 5th Dimension, and it’s due tomorrow from Cherry Red/Strawberry and The Second Disc. (U.S. orders should ship next Friday, June 19.) You’ll find the track listing below as well as pre-order links. (As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.)
The 5th Dimension, Let the Sunshine In: The Soul City & Bell Albums (1967-1974) (Second Disc Records/Cherry Red/Strawberry, 2026) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Cherry Red)
CD 1:
UP, UP & AWAY (Soul City LP SCS 92000, 1967)
- Up, Up & Away
- Another Day, Another Heartache
- Which Way to Nowhere
- California My Way
- Misty Roses
- Go Where You Wanna Go
- Never Gonna Be the Same
- Pattern People
- Rosecrans Blvd.
- Learn How to Fly
- Poor Side of Town
THE MAGIC GARDEN (Soul City LP SCS 92001, 1967)
- Prologue
- The Magic Garden
- Summer’s Daughter
- Dreams/Pax/Nepenthe
- Carpet Man
- Ticket to Ride
- Requiem: 820 Latham
- The Girls’ Song
- The Worst That Could Happen
- Orange Air
- Paper Cup
- Epilogue
BONUS TRACKS
- You’re Good Enough for Me – The Versatiles (Bronco single 2050, 1966)
- Bye Bye Baby – The Versatiles (Bronco single 2050, 1966)
- I’ll Be Loving You Forever (Soul City single 752, 1966)
- Train Keep on Movin’ (Soul City single 752, 1966)
- Too Poor to Die (Soul City single 753, 1966)
CD 2:
STONED SOUL PICNIC (Soul City LP SCS 92002, 1968)
- 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 (Who Do You Think Of?)
- The Eleventh Song (What a Groovy Day)
THE AGE OF AQUARIUS (Soul City LP SCS 92005, 1969)
12. Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)
13. Blowing Away
14. Skinny Man
15. Wedding Bell Blues
16. Don’tcha Hear Me Callin’ to Ya
17. The Hideaway
18. Workin’ on a Groovy Thing
19. Let It Be Me
20. Sunshine of Your Love
21. The Winds of Heaven
22. Those Were the Days
23. Let the Sunshine In (Reprise)
Bonus Tracks
24. East of Java (from Stoned Soul Picnic, Buddha CD 74465 99663 2, 2000)
25. Chissa Se Tornera (Who Knows If He Will Return) (Liberty Italian single LIB 9039, 1969)
CD 3:
PORTRAIT (Bell LP 6045, 1970)
- Puppet Man
- One Less Bell to Answer
- Feelin’ Alright?
- This Is Your Life
- A Love Like Ours
- Save the Country
- Medley: The Declaration/A Change Is Gonna Come/People Got to Be Free
- Dimension 5ive
LOVE’S LINES, ANGLES & RHYMES (Bell LP 6060, 1971)
- Time and Love
- Love’s Lines, Angles & Rhymes
- What Does It Take (To Win Your Love?)
- Guess Who
- Viva Tirado
- Light Sings
- The Rainmaker
- He’s a Runner
- The Singer
- Every Night
Bonus Tracks
- On the Beach (In the Summertime) (Bell single 913, 1970)
- How Insensitive (Live) (*)
CD 4:
LIVE!! (Bell LP 9000, 1971)
- Love Medley
- I Just Wanna Be Your Friend
- Florence’s Greeting
- Laura Nyro Medley
- Never My Love
- Eli’s Comin’
- Together Let’s Find Love
- Shake Your Tambourine
- Jimmy Webb Medley
- Ode to Billy Joe
- LaMonte’s Group Introductions
- LaMonte’s Intro
- I Want to Take You Higher
- Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)
Bonus Tracks
- Use Your Head (*)
- Monday, Monday (*)
- Goin’ Out of My Head (*)
- Respect (*)
CD 5:
INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY (Bell LP 6073, 1972)
- Leave a Little Room
- (Last Night) I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All
- All Kinds of People
- Sky and Sea
- Tomorrow Belongs to the Children
- Turn Around to Me
- If I Could Reach You
- Half Moon
- Band of Gold
- Border Song
- Black Patch
LIVING TOGETHER, GROWING TOGETHER (Bell LP 1116, 1973)
- Open Your Window
- Ashes to Ashes
- Everything’s Been Changed
- The River Witch
- Living Together, Growing Together
- Day by Day
- There’s Nothin’ Like Music
- What Do I Need to Be Me
- There Never Was a Day
- Let Me Be Lonely
- Woyaya
CD 6:
SOUL & INSPIRATION (Bell LP 1315, 1974)
- Soul and Inspiration
- Harlem
- The Best of My Love
- My Song
- Hard Core Poetry
- No Love in the Room
- House for Sale
- Somebody Warm Like Me
- Salty Tears
- I Don’t Know How to Look for Love
Bonus Tracks
- Flashback (Bell single 425, 1973)
- Diggin’ for a Livin’ (Bell single 425, 1973)
- Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye (from The Ultimate 5th Dimension, Arista CD 82876 51037 2, 2004)
- As Long as There’s an Apple Tree
- Out in the Country
- Rusty Hands of Time
- Somebody Warm Like Me (Marilyn McCoo Version)
- Love Story
- Back Together
- Hi-De-Ho (+)
- Hurry Sundown (Live) (*)
- The Beat Goes On (Live) (*)
Tracks 14-19 from Soul & Inspiration, Collectors’ Choice Music CD CCM-783, 2007
(+) previously unreleased
(*) authorized CD debut
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22 thoughts on “OUT TOMORROW! The 5th Dimension’s Soul City and Bell Albums Collected on New Box from TSD, Cherry Red”
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Looks like a nice set but it’s a pity that the mono versions of the first three albums aren’t included.
Hi Martin, thank you. The mono albums were not available for licensing for this set.
Thanks Joe. Maybe someday… in the meantime I have this set on the way – it’s too good to resist!
Before I pitch all my older CDs of this materiel, were any of the earlier discs on Collectors or Arista in Mono?
To my knowledge (and Sony’s), none of The 5th’s albums have been issued on CD in mono. I always thought a mono “Magic Garden” might be cool but no mono album masters were available for this release. I think you’ll be happy with the sound here; Nick Robbins did a beautiful job (in my humble if biased opinion)! 😉
Hello Joe,
Any chance we could get a box set of all of Johnny Rivers’ albums in the near future? Imperial / Soul City and maybe even include his early recordings prior to “Memphis” and the “Live at the Whisky A-Go-Go” album in 1964. I know several years ago, it was briefly mentioned in the liner notes to a 2 CD greatest hits package that he was contemplating an autobiography titled, “Always Take Your Wallet on Stage.” Maybe that could be the title of the box set.
Daryl R
Hi Daryl, Big Rivers fan here…I’d love to see such a box set. It would be difficult for a variety of reasons, but I’ve learned to never say never…
Hello Joe,
I also wouldn’t mind a box set of the Righteous Brothers albums and singles (Phillies / Verve / Haven / Curb). It could also include their solo endeavors as well.
Daryl R
This is great – would love to get “Love Hangover” and “Surrender” on CD/Streaming!
Me too! A “Later Years” collection would be a fantastic follow-up!
Hello Joe,
Any chance you could get the surviving members (Marilyn McCoo, Florence LaRue, Billy Davis Jr.) along with Bones Howe and some of the songwriters mentioned in your article (Jimmy Webb, Paul Williams, etc.) to do a Question and Answer on The Second Disc with readers supplying some of the questions along with any questions you and your other writers may have? The reason I ask is because I know several years ago McCoo and Davis Jr. did an Ask Me Anything (AMA) on reddit and I missed out. I would like to ask them about when they attended Elvis Presley’s concerts in Las Vegas (in particular the January 26, 1971 Opening Night show). Do either of them or the other members of the 5th Dimension have and photographs with Elvis or any other memorabilia for seeing Elvis perform in concert in Las Vegas such as an autograph or the menu from the International Hotel / Las Vegas Hilton?
As a brief follow up, I loved Marilyn and Billy’s recent album of Lennon and McCartney song covers. Wouldn’t mind seeing them do a follow up album on someone like Elvis Presley.
Just pre-ordered mine from Amazon. Can’t wait!
Hi, Joe — My copy arrived Thursday (6/11). The Fifth Dimension was my first concert — July 20, 1969, when man landed on the Moon — so when the group sang “Aquarius” it took on an extra special meaning that night. The collection is excellent. I’m loving it. This is a comment, not a criticism: In the liner notes for “Up, Up & Away!: The Definitive Collection,” which was released 20-plus years ago, it was said that around the time the group was recording “Soul & Inspiration” and “Earthbound” there was “no ‘love in the room’ ” among the group members. I’m glad that you kept this more upbeat. Congratulations!
Received my copy yesterday this set is long overdue.
I just got a notice from Amazon that my set is delayed. Any idea why. It was originally supposed to be delivered June 12 then today June 19. Now it looks like it’s out to July 2-7. What’s up???
Hi Bob, I’m sorry to hear that! Thanks for letting us know. Amazon has been having trouble keeping to delivery dates lately which is particularly disappointing as the set is available and we want to share it with everybody. Please keep us updated, and my apologies!
Comparing the track lists to the Collectors Choice and Buddah CDs, looks like the C. Choice edition of Live has a few tracks missing from this? In any case can’t wait for this to arrive. But yea heads up to maybe hang on to that one if it’s in your collection. (and the Earthbound CD on Collectors as that was after these years.
Hey Rob, the LIVE! disc here actually has one more song than the Collectors’ Choice (“Respect”) plus additional live tracks on CDs 3 & 6. Definitely hold onto EARTHBOUND, though! 🙂
Super, thanks for the correction! I was confused by the old ones tracks being listed slightly differently but I get it now. Awesome about adding “Respect”. Hope my set arrives soon!
Preordered the Fifth Dimension set on April 26 and Amazon just sent me an email asking to confirm if I still wanted the product because there is no estimated delivery date now.
Bummer.
Hey Brian, I’m so frustrated to hear that. It seems that Amazon hasn’t been ordering adequate amounts of stock lately, but the collection is out and available and more copies should be reaching their warehouses soon (in addition to other retailers such as Dusty Groove, etc.) My apologies and thanks for your patience!