September | 2016 | FOREVER 5TH DIMENSION

Dateline: September 30— It’s that memorable date we get to celebrate the birthday of an artist whose legacy of musical integrity defies categorization. Ms. Marilyn McCoo is not only a transcendent voice of our lives but the personification of beauty and class. For 2016 at FOREVER 5th DIMENSION, we asked select fans to contribute their thoughts with the following request:

Let’s have some fun creating the “Ultimate Marilyn McCoo” CD! We want you to select your Top 5 (recorded) choices of what you think should be included. Be creative, for now this is solely a “dream” project..but who knows where it may go?! Select from classic Marilyn “Vocal Solos” from The 5th Dimension recordings, from the Marilyn & Billy sessions, from newer things like “The Many Faces of Love” and “MarBill Live” or inspirational work like her Christmas CD or “The Me Nobody Knows.” Or how ’bout the “Solid Gold” album or maybe better yet, re-mastering some of her other stellar covers as seen on YouTube, many performed as host of “Solid Gold.” Ready-ready?! And now YOUR Top 5 recorded tunes for the “Ultimate Marilyn…as we wish Ms. McCoo her most wonderfully “ultimate” birthday ever, with our love, blessings and admiration. Go, friends n’ fans!

–Robert-Allan Arno

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Jim Handakas Tough one, but …”One Less Bell,” If Could Reach You,” “Never My Love.” “I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues,” “Always On My Mind” (the latter 2 from “Solid Gold,” the TV show and the album, respectively.) Happy Birthday and thank you, Marilyn! Always stellar.

❤️

Andre Wayne MaloyHmm, this is hard, of course “One Less Bell To Answer” and “Wedding Bell Blues.” Also, “My Tribute (To God Be The Glory)” (on YouTube), “I Dreamed A Dream” (PBS), “Always On My Mind” (the “Solid Gold” album). Happy, Happy Birthday, Marilyn!

Blake Morant (with PauletteMorant)Love your bid for us to salute Marilyn, Robert-Allan Arno, my brother. Many of Marilyn’s solos rank among the best of the mezzo sopranos. While it may be difficult to isolate which of her songs are favorites, we’d like to submit three very special ones: 1. “The Me Nobody Knows” (inspirational, it has uplifted us at low-feeling times); 2. “Heart Stop Beating in Time” (written by the Bee Gees; haunting and soulful); and 3. “Love’s Lines, Angles and Rhymes” (mysterious with lyrics that are deep and somewhat enigmatic).

Dave MazeThat’s easy for me being her biggest fan and finally getting the chance to meet her in AC after 40 years! “One Less Bell,” “If I Could Reach You,” “Never My Love.” “For Your Eyes Only,” (from “Solid Gold”). Happy Birthday, Marilyn.

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Eric RogersHappy Birthday, Marilyn. I guess “Aquarius” would have to be my favorite. what a voice! She sings like she is smiling!

Douglas C. CharlesHappy Birthday, Marilyn! I’d have to choose “When Did I Lose Your Love,” “If I Could Reach You,” “Open Your Window,” “Love’s Lines, Angles and Rhymes” (which I got to hear “live” several years ago at the Cerritos Center!) and “Never Gonna Be the Same.” (I’ll also say that I remember well, Marilyn singing a song called “Loneliness” on a daytime TV show–written by Paul Williams. Maybe it could be a bonus cut on my fantasy Marilyn album!)

Dale Kocik“Love’s Lines,” “Open Your Window,” “Never My Love.” I listen to your beautiful voice frequently. Have a great birthday!

Susie PaigeHere’s mine: “One Less Bell” and “Wedding Bell Blues,” of course. Plus, “The Me Nobody Knows,” “Away in a Manger” (for Christmas), and “Everything’s Been Changed.”🎶🎂

Brian MedoroMy #1 is always “Never My Love,” the rest, in no particular order, would be “Love’s Lines,” “If I Could Reach You,” “House For Sale,” “Solid Gold,”…oh, I could go on and on! Happy Birthday, Marilyn!

Ronald Lange TOUGH TASK!! “(Last Night) I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All,” “If I Could Reach You,” “Love’s Lines, Angles and Rhymes,” “Never My Love,” and “One Less Bell to Answer.”

Don ThomasI’m fortunate to have met you, Marilyn. I traveled with you and Billy to Israel in ’92. “Love’s Lines, Angles and Rhymes” is a masterpiece, “If I Could Reach You” brings tears to my eyes. Many others of course! Happy Birthday, Marilyn!

Susie Howard “One Less Bell to Answer” (my fave!), “Last Night I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All,” “Never My Love.” Happy Birthday, Beautiful Marilyn!

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Joan TrueloveHappy Birthday, Marilyn (from LaMonte’s sister)!…Susan Aglio: Robert, I’m on vacation right now but certainly wanted to stop by to wish Marilyn special birthday blessings with love!…Robyn Pippins: Hi Marilyn, I wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday. I love your singing, but what I admire most about you and your husband, Billy is how you give all the praise to God.

Alain BaptisteWe agree with many choices already stated and think “Saving All My Love For You” has a place in Marilyn’s recorded history. Our top personal choice is “Warrior For The Lord.” We wish Miss McCoo a very happy birthday, God bless a true lady, Mariette and Alain Baptiste

Deniserose TorresAt first I was thinking, “Thank goodness we get to pick five!”… but after going over my list, I could add so many more…but I will pick!! “One Less Bell,” “If I Could Reach You,” “Heart Stop Beating in Time,” “Can’t Help Lovin’ That Man” (from “Showboat”), “Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye.”

Renee T ArmsteadHappy Birthday, Marilyn! My favorite Marilyn songs are “Never My Love,” “One Less Bell to Answer,” “Love’s Lines, Angles, and Rhymes,” “Open Your Window,” and “The Girls’ Song (with Florence). Have a great day on your birthday and may you have many more!!!

Hiromi HirahataIt’s very hard for me to choose my Top 5, Robert!

😊
“One Less Bell To Answer,” “Love’s Lines, Angels and Rhymes,” “The Me Nobody Knows” and “You Don’t Have To Be A Star”–this song is very special to me. I have this record where they are singing in Japanese on Side B. I brought it to Los Angeles this past July and showed it to Marilyn and Billy after their concert. Marilyn sang it for me in Japanese…I was so impressed and was almost crying!!

Robert-Allan ArnoI’m gonna put my “five cents” in for this one, too. The overwhelming response to our YouTube production of “I’m On Your Side” (Theme from “Chapter Two”) puts that on my list as well as a beguiling song from the recent “MarBill Live” double-CD, Marilyn’s interpretation of another movie theme song, “Why Should I Care”–it’s quintessential McCoo! “O Holy Night” from the Christmas album is only surpassed today by Marilyn’s in-concert performances of it. From the earlier sessions, besides the hits everyone’s astutely noted, I agree, there’s that “big sigh” gem “Open Your Window.” Lastly, Marilyn gave me the intriguing name of the solo that Don Davis produced for her before they went with the MarBill duet concept—“Time is a Restless Old Man.” She said, “It could have been a hit!” I hope to locate it and have it released from the vaults one day in the near future for something like “Ultimate Marilyn.”

Paul CorleyHappy Birthday, Marilyn! It is so hard to choose five favorite songs (even ten favorites would have been difficult!), but I must include, “Warrior for the Lord”, “If I Could Reach You”, “Saving All My Love for You”, “One Less Bell to Answer”, and “Wedding Bell Blues.” (Honorable mention: “Flashback”)

Michael John KitnerHappy Birthday Marilyn! Here’s some artwork I did with my choices–“Open Your Window,” “One Less Bell,” “House for Sale,” “If I Could Reach You,” “(Last Night) I Didn’t Get to Sleep”…

A Dozen Special Links–enjoy these “Ultimate Marilyn” rarities:

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“I’m On Your Side” (Theme From “Chapter Two”): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiv6zYgyS-8

“Loneliness” (with Paul Williams): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KP4HrJmkPNc

“Heart Stop Beating In Time”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZejisCTY-4

“I Dreamed a Dream”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHUjTeAtGoA

“Always on My Mind”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUTc9I8SRGA

“One Less Bell to Answer” (Live): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9qsjobEHvw

“If I Could Reach You” (Live): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RC3PKl9_FA

“For Your Eyes Only”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lyae_dG0OH8

“Why Should I Care”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_mxXAAsaro

Songs of inspiration…

“My Tribute (To God Be the Glory)”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8w-2skZp-Q

“O Holy Night”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXq_BErKL1Q

“The Me Nobody Knows”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wM1r9mJL4jo

Touring to the best reviews of their 7-time Grammy-winning legendary careers, visit Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. for their latest concert schedule, to shop and much more at: www.mccoodavis.com or check out their Official Facebook page!

Robert-Allan Arno with Marilyn McCoo

lamonte-birthday-collage-2015

Dateline Sept 17: Today is “LaMonte McLemore Day!” as we celebrate the birthday of a great man– the founder & legendary mellow bass of the multi-Grammy winning The 5th Dimension, world-famous photographer, inspirational author & humorist…and so much more. As Mac’s biographer, I’m toasting a man whose creative vision & caring friendship is an indelibly fortunate part of my life. Please join me in honoring LaMonte with your own wishes, special memories and/or sweet stories here, at his Twitter or Linked-In, and especially on his lively Facebook page! “From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension”…to many more magical journeys– we love ya, LaMonte, God bless! —Robert-Allan Arno
#LaMonteMcLemoreDay

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Mac Links!:

book cover Get the exciting (2nd edition) hit memoir, by McLemore & Arno, FROM HOBO FLATS to THE 5TH DIMENSION, recommended by McCoo/Davis, Sedaka, Mathis and Nancy Sinatra at: https://www.amazon.com/Hobo-Flats-5th-Dimension-Photography/dp/0692307362?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

TV Awesomeness! View LaMonte with host Kelly Wright on the “Beyond the Dream” series: http://video.foxnews.com/v/5065597260001/beyond-the-dream-lamonte-mclemores-life-journey/?#sp=show-clips

Enjoy this mega-fan fave, penned by LaMonte, from the seminal PORTRAIT album: “Wanting to be together, yet wanting to be free,” it’s A LOVE LIKE OURS at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsnZ6GC9dh8

The Original 5th Dimension, 1969, Vogue Magazine

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Monthly Archives: September 2016

Happy Birthday: Celebrating “The Ultimate Marilyn”

Sept 17: It’s LaMonte Day!

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