Today’s classic song of the day is another sophisticated ballad from the 5th Dimension, “(Last Night) I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All.” Released as a single in March of 1972, this one peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100, #6 on the Cash Box Top 100, and #2 on Billboard’s Easy Listening chart.
“(Last Night) I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All” was written by British songwriter Tony Macaulay, who also wrote or co-wrote such hits as “Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)” for Edison Lighthouse, “Baby, Take Me in Your Arms” for Jefferson, “Baby Now That I’ve Found You” and “Build Me Up Buttercup” for the Foundations, “Don’t Give Up on Us” for David Soul, “Smile a Little Smile for Me” for the Flying Machine, and “Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again” for the Fortunes. The track was arranged by Bill Holman and produced by the legendary Bones Howe.
Macaulay says he wrote the song while in Tokyo for 1972’s World Popular Song Festival:
“I really suffer from jet lag. I used to fly 100,000 miles a year and wherever I went with a time change, I always suffered from it. And there I was with a 10- or 12-hour time change or something and I was dopey all day and awake all night. So the last night, I didn’t get to sleep at all with the jet lag… So I just got up in the night and I wrote it”
If everything were so easy.
Macaulay originally sent a demo of the tune to the Carpenters. They loved it but decided against recording the tune because it mentions sleeping pills and they refused to sing about “drugs.” He then pitched the tune to Bones Howe, who thought it was perfect for his group, the 5th Dimension.
Marilyn McCoo provided the sensitive-yet-powerful lead vocals for “(Last Night) I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All,” and they were perfect, per usual. Backing tracks were provided by members of L.A.’s Wrecking Crew, including Larry Knechtel on keyboards, Joe Osborn on bass, and the inimitable Hal Blaine on drums.
For today’s daily bonus video of the day, here’s what appears to be a short promotional film for the 5th Dimension’s “(Last Night) I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All.” It’s really just a collection of short clips of the group doing things they do, kind of like a home movie. Interesting, in any case.
