Earthbound (The Fifth Dimension album)
Encyclopedia
Earthbound is the twelfth album
by American
pop
group The 5th Dimension, released in 1975 (see 1975 in music
). It is the last album in the group's original line up with Billy Davis, Jr., Marilyn McCoo, Florence La Rue Gordon, Lamonte McLemore and Ron Townson. After recording this album, Billy Davis, Jr. and Marilyn McCoo (being married since 1969) left the group to work as duo and solo artists.
In contrast to most of their prior albums, Earthbound features synthesizer
s prominently in many of its tracks—particularly "Magic In My Life" and "Moonlight Mile
."
While this album was not commercially successful, it remains a cult favorite among many 5th Dimension fans who consider it among their best work. Other fans take a dim view of it. Perhaps owing to its singular status as an ABC Records product, the album remains the only one from the original 5th Dimension lineup not yet re-released on CD.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
group The 5th Dimension, released in 1975 (see 1975 in music
1975 in music
-January–April:*January 2 - New York City U.S. District Court Judge Richard Owen rules that former Beatle John Lennon and his lawyers can have access to Department of Immigration files pertaining to his deportation case....
). It is the last album in the group's original line up with Billy Davis, Jr., Marilyn McCoo, Florence La Rue Gordon, Lamonte McLemore and Ron Townson. After recording this album, Billy Davis, Jr. and Marilyn McCoo (being married since 1969) left the group to work as duo and solo artists.
In contrast to most of their prior albums, Earthbound features synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
s prominently in many of its tracks—particularly "Magic In My Life" and "Moonlight Mile
Moonlight Mile (Rolling Stones song)
"Moonlight Mile" is a song from The Rolling Stones' 1971 album Sticky Fingers.Credited to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, "Moonlight Mile" is widely considered to be one of the Rolling Stones' most underappreciated ballads. Recording began in March 1970 at Stargroves. The song was the product of an...
."
While this album was not commercially successful, it remains a cult favorite among many 5th Dimension fans who consider it among their best work. Other fans take a dim view of it. Perhaps owing to its singular status as an ABC Records product, the album remains the only one from the original 5th Dimension lineup not yet re-released on CD.
Track listing
All songs written by Jimmy Webb except where otherwise stated.- "Prologue (J. Webb) / Be Here Now (George Harrison)" – 4:05
- "Don't Stop For Nothing" (J. Johnson) – 2:43
- "I've Got a FeelingI've Got a Feeling"I've Got a Feeling" is a song by The Beatles, from the 1970 album Let It Be. It is one of the songs on the album from the Rooftop Concert...
" (John LennonJohn LennonJohn Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
, Paul McCartneyPaul McCartneySir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
) – 4:23 - "Magic in My Life" (J. Johnson) – 3:17
- "Walk Your Feet in the Sunshine" – 4:13
- "When Did I Lose Your Love" – 2:47
- "Lean On Me Always" – 4:28
- "Speaking With My Heart" – 3:40
- "Moonlight MileMoonlight Mile (Rolling Stones song)"Moonlight Mile" is a song from The Rolling Stones' 1971 album Sticky Fingers.Credited to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, "Moonlight Mile" is widely considered to be one of the Rolling Stones' most underappreciated ballads. Recording began in March 1970 at Stargroves. The song was the product of an...
" (Mick JaggerMick JaggerSir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
, Keith RichardsKeith RichardsKeith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
) – 5:15 - "Epilogue" – 2:37
Personnel
- Billy Davis, Jr.Billy Davis, Jr.Billy Davis, Jr. is an American musician, best known as a member of The 5th Dimension. Along with his wife, Marilyn McCoo, he had hit records during 1976 and 1977 with "I Hope We Get to Love in Time", "Your Love", and "You Don't Have to Be a Star "...
- vocals - Florence LaRueFlorence LaRueFlorence LaRue is an American actress, humanitarian, and Grammy award-winning singer. She is best known as the original female lead singer of The 5th Dimension.-Early life:...
- vocals - Marilyn McCooMarilyn McCooMarilyn McCoo is an American singer, actress, and television presenter, who is best known for being the lead female vocalist in the group The 5th Dimension, as well as hosting the 1980s music countdown series Solid Gold...
- vocals - Lamonte McLemore - vocals
- Ron TownsonRon TownsonRonald "Ron" Townson was an American vocalist. He was an original member of The 5th Dimension, a popular vocal group of the late '60s and early '70s....
- vocals
Musicians
- Drums: Harvey MasonHarvey MasonHarvey William Mason is an American jazz drummer. He has worked with many jazz and fusion artists such as Bob James, The Brecker Brothers, Lee Ritenour, Herbie Hancock's Headhunters and almost all the Mizell Brothers productions with Donald Byrd, Johnny Hammond, Bobbi Humphrey and Gary Bartz...
(All cuts except "Moonlight Mile"), Jeffrey PorcaroJeff PorcaroJeffrey Thomas "Jeff" Porcaro was an American session drummer and a founding member of the Grammy Award winning band Toto. Porcaro was one of the most recorded drummers in history, working on hundreds of albums and thousands of sessions...
("Moonlight Mile") - Percussion: Harvey Mason
- Guitars: Fred TackettFred TackettFred Tackett, an American native of Arkansas, is an accomplished songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Originally a session player on guitar, mandolin, and trumpet, he is best known for his longevity as a member of the band Little Feat....
, Jesse Ed DavisJesse Ed DavisJesse Edwin Davis was an American guitarist. He was well regarded as a session artist. His death in 1988 is attributed to a drug overdose.-Biography:...
, Dennis Budimir, Dan Ferguson - Bass: Paul Stallworth
- Arp Synthesizer: Bill Como
- Keyboards: John Myles (All cuts except "Magic In My Life"), David PaichDavid PaichDavid Frank Paich is a session musician, keyboard player, recording producer, arranger, vocalist and main composer of the Los Angeles-based rock/pop band Toto. David is the son of the late jazz composer, musician, and arranger Marty Paich...
("Magic In My Life") - Brass: Michael Lawrence
- French Horns: David Duke and Vince DeRosa
- Strings: Sid Sharp
- Vocal arrangements and special vocal backgrounds: John Myles
- Acoustic Solos: Larry CoryellLarry CoryellLarry Coryell is an American jazz fusion guitarist.-Biography:Coryell was born in Galveston, Texas. He graduated from Richland High School, in Richland, Washington, where he played in local bands The Jailers, The Rumblers, The Royals, and The Flames. He also played with The Checkers from nearby...
Production
- Producer & Arranger: Jimmy Webb
- Engineers - Basic Tracks: John Haeny, assisted by Gary Webb & Howard Weiss
- Engineers - Vocals, strings and mixing: Alan O'Duffy assisted by Brian Ingalls & Gary Webb
- Cover Painting: Carole Rubinstein
- Recording: Sunset Sound and Village Recorders, Los Angeles, California
- Mixing: Wally Heiders, Hollywood, California
- Mastering: ABC Recording Studios Inc.
Album
Billboard (North America)| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Black Albums | ? |
| 1975 | Pop Albums | #136 |
Singles
Billboard (North America)| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | "Walk Your Feet In The Sunshine" | ? | ? |
| 1975 | "Magic in My Life" | ? | ? |