teeport-1 — 12 years ago(June 01, 2013 12:32 AM)

It's difficult to convey the fascination Top 40 Radio (and baseball) had for me at age 12: the preteens & tweens are often the age for intensest radio listening & emotional identification. I was born in '59 so just missed the 5D's period of greatest popularity ('68/'69.) To me their first "new" record was LOVE'S LINES, ANGLES & RHYMES, one of the most labyrinthine lyrics since WINDMILLS OF YOUR MIND & still one of my great 5D favorites. Their next single LIGHT SINGS peaked outside the Top 40 and is only included on the weightier anthologies, but it's also a strong radio memory (a show tune, BTW.) Their next few (NEVER MY LOVE; TOGETHER WE'LL FIND LOVE; I DIDN'T GET TO SLEEP) seemed merely OK, but IF I COULD REACH YOU ("Oh no/don't go/it's hours till dawn") is still mighty affecting. Beyond that, sadly, it was a slippery slope commercially, tho' I thought ASHES TO ASHES one of the best singles of summer '73. The Billboard buyers disagreed.
Eventually I found the double-disc anthology DEFINITIVE COLLECTION, caught up with the earlier hits & realized what a magnificent body of work it was. Overall I thought their best-of-best were the Laura Nyro songs (SWEET BLINDNESS belongs on my Desert Island 100), but the medium-popular hits (CARPET MAN; PAPER CUP; WORKIN' ON A GROOVY THING) are especially refreshing to hear, oldies radio hasn't worn their welcome. Hearing the 5D's hits, chronologically sequenced, is the purest '60s effervescence as I remember it, a matchless combination of light psychedelia & sunshine pop. THE TRAVELING SUNSHINE SHOW special wasn't all it might've been, but I'm still happy to own the video. Highlights include a guest appearance by the Carpenters (startlingly young), a solo by Ron (who looked to me like a black Burl Ives) plus a complete performance of LOVE'S LINES And what stage wardrobe of '71 would be complete without hot pants?
If I had to pick 5
(I'd love to hear your choices, too.)
WEDDING BELL BLUES
SWEET BLINDNESS
STONED SOUL PICNIC
LOVE'S LINES, ANGLES & RHYMES
IF I COULD REACH YOU