Fifth Dimension Plays Before 12,000 at Spa

by Marilyn Nason, The Post-Star, August 30, 1971

For the fourth year, the Fifth Dimension wowed a fan-packed audience of nearly 12,000 last night at Saratoga Performing Arts Center.

To analyze the consistent popularity of this singing group over the years, as other similar groups rise and fall overnight, is impossible. They have a magnetic on-stage quality hard to explain. The two girls and three men possess excellent strong voices, dance, clown, do truly production numbers and are simply real pros.

Their show never lags. They move from song to song without pause, no necessity for tuning guitars or furtive discussions with fellow performers to get organized as too many lesser groups do on the SPAC stage.

They are professionals without being too slick, minus the robot quality that could turn off an audience. Although they perform all over the world almost without vacation, each performance has the spontaneity of a first go-round. This, in part, has to be the key to their success.

They give the audience their money’s worth for a solid hour and a half.

Last night they offered two medleys of their best hits, songs by Laura Nyro and Jim Webb, then went on to some new tunes and standards. But whether it was “Aquarius,” “Stoned Soul Picnic” or the torch song, “One Less Bell to Answer,” a spiritual or a soul-rock tune, results were same fantastic performing.

Consistently over their four years at SPAC, they have drawn huge crowds. Their popularity last night seemed stronger than ever, so you can bet they will be asked back for the fifth time.

Last night’s first half was as good as the second for a rare change. Recording singer Thelma Houston filled the first half very well. She is a sensational singer and a real pro, too. No awkward gap, a good mix of slow and fast tunes, Miss Houston displayed amazing dancing talent.

Both were backed by five excellent musicians, a strong contributory factor to the Fifth Dimension’s global success.

About the only negative was spotlight trouble. For Miss Houston’s first few songs, the spotlight hit her shoulders more than her face. The same was true for part of the Fifth Dimension’s performance, when several times the lights would only pick up one when all five were singing.

As in previous years. the Fifth Dimension went down into the aisles, and does that rate the fervor of the crowd. Each year they have been lucky in making their way back onstage without too much havoc, but last night much of the audience raced down the aisles and on stage, causing the show to come to a sudden end.

Tonight at 8:30 it will be Poco and Tom Paxton.