By Ken Paulson
The summer of 1967 saw the release of one of the best (and most underrated) pop albums of the decade. With Johnny Rivers producing and Jimmy Webb contributing songs, the Fifth Dimension literally soared into the charts with Up, Up and Away and the big single of the same name.
Over the next eight years, the Fifth Dimension dominated the singles charts, drawing on great songwriters like Laura Nyro (“Sweet Blindness, “Wedding Bell Blues”) and Webb to deliver a very hip brand of mainstream pop.
In 1975, Marilyn McCoo and husband Billy Davis left the group to pursue a career as a duo, scoring immediately with “You Don’t Have to Be a Star (to be in my Show.)” The sound was a little funkier than the Fifth Dimension, but the vocals were immediately recognizable.
Unfortunately, that album was the duo’s commercial peak. Two more albums followed, but sold modestly and have been largely unavailable.
That’s changed with Real Gone Music’s release of The Two of Us (circa 1977) and Marilyn and Billy (1978.)
Both offer their own rewards, but on very different terms. The Two of Us kicks off with “Look What You’ve Done to My Heart,” an up-tempo track that briefly put the duo back on the charts. It sets the tone for the entire album, largely one song after another celebrating a really good relationship. “Wonderful,” “My Reason to Be is You” and “My Very Special Darling” are representative.
Marilyn and Billy, recorded as the pair moved to Columbia Records, is more ambitious and ultimately more satisfying. Disco was dominant and McCoo and Davis had to make their sound more contemporary. They pulled that off in part by working with producer Steve Cropper, the legendary guitarist from the MG’s. Yes, it has a disco influences, so it’s a bit dated. But the cover of Sam and Dave’s hit “I Thank You” is timeless and the vocals are strong throughout.
The Two of Us and Marilyn and Billy will be welcome additions to the collections of ‘70s pop and soul fans.
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