The Age of Aquarius is the fourth album by the American pop group the 5th Dimension, released in 1969. It was their biggest commercial success in the United States, peaking at number two on the Billboard 200 and the Top R&B Albums charts.
The Age of Aquarius | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | May 1969 | |||
Recorded | 1968–1969 | |||
Studio |
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Length | 40:47 | |||
Label | Soul City | |||
Producer | Bones Howe | |||
The 5th Dimension chronology | ||||
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Singles from The Age of Aquarius | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [1] |
Track listing
editSide One
- "Medley: Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)" (Galt MacDermot, James Rado, Gerome Ragni) – 4:51
- "Blowing Away" (Laura Nyro) – 2:32
- "Skinny Man" (Michael Kollander, Ginger Kollander) – 2:51
- "Wedding Bell Blues" (Laura Nyro) – 2:44
- "Don'tcha Hear Me Callin' to Ya" (Rudy Stevenson) – 3:56
- "The Hideaway" (Jimmy Webb) – 2:45
Side Two
- "Workin' On a Groovy Thing" (Roger Atkins, Neil Sedaka) – 3:10
- "Let It Be Me" (Gilbert Bécaud, Mann Curtis, Pierre Delanoë) – 3:54
- "Sunshine of Your Love" (Pete Brown, Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton) – 3:18
- "The Winds of Heaven" (Bob Dorough, Fran Landesman) – 3:14
- "Those Were the Days" (Gene Raskin) – 3:03
- "Let the Sunshine In (Reprise)" (MacDermot, Rado, Ragni) – 1:29
Bonus tracks
- "Chissa Se Tornera (Who Knows If He Will Return)" (Mario De Sanctis, Antonio Salis, Lucio Salis) – 3:00 [Bonus track; 2000 CD reissue only]
Personnel
edit- Billy Davis Jr. - lead vocals (tracks 1, 8), background vocals
- Florence LaRue - lead vocals (track 2), background vocals
- Marilyn McCoo - lead vocals (tracks 2, 4), background vocals
- Lamonte McLemore - background vocals
- Ron Townson - background vocals
Additional personnel
- Dennis Budimir - guitar
- Mike Deasy - guitar
- Bill Fulton - guitar
- Tommy Tedesco - guitar
- Joe Osborn - bass
- Hal Blaine - drums, percussion
- Larry Bunker - mallets, congas, percussion
- Milt Holland - percussion
- Pete Jolly - keyboards
- Larry Knechtel - keyboards
- Jimmy Rowles - keyboards
- Bill Holman - Strings & Brass - string section, horn section
- Tony Terran - Trumpet
Production
edit- Producer: Bones Howe
- Engineer: Bones Howe
- Mastering: Elliot Federman
- Digital transfers: Mike Hartry
- Reissue producer: Rob Santos
- Production coordination: Jeremy Holiday
- Production assistant: Ann McClelland, Tom Tierney, Russ Wapensky
- Project coordinator: Arlessa Barnes, Glenn Delgado, Christina DeSimone, Robin Diamond, Karyn Friedland, Felicia Gearhart, Laura Gregory, Robin Manning, Brooke Nochomson, Ed Osborne, Larry Parra, Dana Renert, Bill Stafford, Steve Strauss
- Archives coordinator: Joanne Feltman, Glenn Korman
- Musical arrangements: Bob Alcivar, Bill Holman, Bones Howe
- Vocal arrangement: Bob Alcivar
- Art direction: Ron Wolin
- Reissue art director: Mathieu Bitton
- Design: Mathieu Bitton, Ron Wolin
- Photography: Ed Caraeff
- Liner notes: Mike Ragogna
Charts and awards
editAlbum
editBillboard (United States)
Year | Chart | Position |
---|---|---|
1969 | Black Albums | 2 |
1969 | Pop Albums | 2 |
1969 Year End | Billboard 200 | 21 |
1969 Year End | Cashbox | 15 |
Singles
editBillboard (United States)
Year | Single | Chart | Position |
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1969 | "Medley: Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)" | Black Singles | 6 |
1969 | "Medley: Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)" | Pop Singles | 1 |
1969 | "Medley: Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)" | Adult Contemporary | 1 |
1969 | "Wedding Bell Blues" | Adult Contemporary | 1 |
1969 | "Wedding Bell Blues" | Black Singles | 23 |
1969 | "Wedding Bell Blues" | Pop Singles | 1 |
1969 | "Workin' On a Groovy Thing" | Black Singles | 15 |
1969 | "Workin' On a Groovy Thing" | Pop Singles | 20 |
1970 | "Blowing Away" | Adult Contemporary | 7 |
1970 | "Blowing Away" | Pop Singles | 21 |
Grammys
editYear | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
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1970 | The Age of Aquarius | Album of the Year | Nominated |
Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical | Nominated | ||
"Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" | Record of the Year | Won | |
Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals | Won | ||
Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals | Nominated |
Certifications
editRegion | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United States (RIAA)[3] | Gold | 500,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
edit- ^ https://www.allmusic.com/album/r37492/review
- ^ "The 5th Dimension". grammy.com. The Recording Academy.
- ^ "American album certifications – Fifth Dimension – The Age of Aquarius". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 24 October 2023.