Your unfortunately forgotten early-70s ballad of the day is “If I Could Reach You” by the 5th Dimension. It was released in 1972 and hit #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Easy Listening chart. It was the group’s last top ten hit and, boy, was it a good one. Why it’s little remembered today baffles me.
“If I Could Reach You” was written by Randall Clayton McNeill, of whom I know next to nothing and for whom this is the only credit I could find. What can I say about this one, other than it’s a terrific tune, very classical in feel, especially with that arpeggiated piano accompaniment.
Not surprisingly, Marilyn McCoo sings the hell out of the thing and the regular backing players (bassist Joe Osborn, pianist Larry Knechtel, and drummer Hal Blaine of the Wrecking Crew) push this one over the top with their sensitive and, dare I say, emotional accompaniment. Just listen to Marilyn bringing it at the start of the second chorus, it brings the chills. It’s a beautiful song and powerfully moving performance. They don’t make ’em like this anymore.
As noted, this was the 5th Dimension’s last top ten single. The list of their hits is impressive and includes “Go Where You Wanna Go” (#16 in 1966), “Up, Up and Away” (#7, 1967), “Paper Cup” (#34, 1967), “Carpet Man” (#29, 1968), “Stoned Soul Picnic” (#3, 1968), “Sweet Blindness” (#13, 1968), “California Soul” (#25, 1968), “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” (#1, 1969), “Workin’ on a Groovy Thing” (#20, 1969), “Wedding Bell Blues” (#1, 1969), “Blowing Away” (#21, 1969), “Puppet Man” (#24, 1970), “Save the Country” (#27, 1970), “One Less Bell to Answer” (#2, 1970), “Love’s Lines, Angles and Rhymes” (#19, 1971), “Never My Love” (#12, 1971), “Together Let’s Find Love” (#37, 1971), “(Last Night) I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All” (#8, 1972), and “Living Together, Growing Together” (#32, 1972). There wasn’t another group quite like them during that period.
The 5th Dimension, comprised of singers Billy Davis, Jr., Florence LaRue, Lamonte McLemore, Marilyn McCoo, and Ronald Townson, formed in late 1965 as the Versatiles. They changed their name less than a year later when they were taken under the wing of producer Bones Howe and almost immediately hit the big time. Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, who married in 1969, left the group in 1975 but the other members continued on. The 5th Dimension touring today is led by Florence LaRue with four replacement singers; McCoo and Davis continue to tour as a duo. Ron Townson passed away in 2001. Lamonte McLemore, now 84 years old, is retired.
And here’s a special treat for you. It’s Marilyn McCoo, solo, singing “If I Could Reach” you from a concert in Atlantic City, I’m guessing sometime in the ’80s or ’90s. She knocks it out of the park.
