Fifth Dimension Draws 16,000 in Third Appearance at SPAC

by Marilyn Nason, The Post-Star, August 25, 1970

What can be said about the Fifth Dimension that hasn’t already been said and written millions of times? They drew 16,000 last night for their third appearance at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center and it was an absolutely fabulous night. But what a traffic jam before and after.

These five phenomenal young performers are no longer just singers, they have become true entertainers. They presented a full program of musical entertainment and work up a storm from beginning to end. There can’t be anyone leaving the theatre after a Fifth Dimension performance who feels cheated and demands his money back.

They dance, sing, talk, exchange friendly jokes, become deadly serious on the subject dear to the hearts of all entertainers today—America’s struggle for peace and equality—and mix their songs with new and old.

Last night they were backed by five excellent musicians, who set the tempo with the first tune and it never let up for the rest of the evening with much of the music uptempo, but the Fifth Dimension is equally at home with the love ballad or with the stirring “Declaration of Independence,” which they indicated has been declared controversial and had apparently been banned from some radio stations, for a reason which thoroughly escapes me.

All the songs synonymous with the Fifth Dimension were offered from “Up, Up and Away” to “Aquarius” and “MacArthur Park.”

As in past years, they wore some outstanding outfits, something that has also become a trademark, and there is no question it adds an extra ingredient that can not be denied in the realm of show business.

For the first half, they were in glittering multi-colored harlequin outfits with white blouses and shirts and, appropriately, the second half found them in red, white and blue outfits.

Perhaps the key to the sustained success of the Fifth Dimension the last few years, while other groups have risen and fallen, lies in their versatility. They are far from “stand-up” singers. They perform their songs, set an electric pace which is nothing short of phenomenal and blend the rock and soul with the ballad and the standard.

Each of the Fifth Dimension and orchestra was introduced and Florence Gordon was introduced as having given birth to “the Sixth Dimension” a month ago in a baby boy, who, strangely enough, sat next to us in the theatre in the arms of a nurse. He never budged the entire show.

The Fifth Dimension indicated they had just returned from a successful tour of Japan, including appearances at Expo 70. They observed that music transcended the language barrier.

“Perhaps if President Agnew, I mean Vice President Agnew,” they slipped, perhaps accidentally, then continued with a quipping, “well, it seems that way sometimes,” then added, “Maybe, if he’d learn to sing, the world would be a better place in which to live.”

As they completed “Aquarius,” they started dancing in the aisles, returning to the stage only to have the audience following them like Pied Pipers. It became a bit difficult at this point for the police to control the crowd, but order was quickly restored and the show ended.

Tonight at 8:30, SPAC presents “Three Dog Night” and “James Gang.”