#HappyAnniversary FOREVER 5th DIMENSION honors the 1-year anniversary of the soaring “Blackbird: Lennon/McCartney Icons.” This historic CD by Marilyn MCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. #MarilynBilly has been critically, celebrity & fan acclaimed. I’m so proud to share my review of the project featured at Amazon:
Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr., 2 of the most recognizable voices of The Rock n’ Soul era, are icons & trailblazers who prevail with their astuteness, seasoned vocal chops, and eternal hope. With their latest big label endeavor, produced by the visionary Nic Mendoza, the song selection focuses on the music of Lennon & McCartney, where McCoo & Davis’s interpretations make this glowing affair “milestone & magnificent” with a call to Civil & Human Rights.
The project works nicely via its flow. Opening with a current-styled smooth Jazz jaunt, “Gotta Get You Into My Life” welcomes us to the festivities. With “The Fool on the Hill,” Marilyn & Billy continue to welcome, including fresh vocal talent Natalie Mendoza…it’s as if the 3 are joining hands, dancing in a circle of multi-generational musical joy. The title tune, soloed by Marilyn is ingenious, Ms. McCoo translates “Blackbird” into a cousin of Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit.” She takes a gut-wrenching, contemporary Broadway showstopper style and combines it with her recording finesse…it boils down to a fine simmer, in the pantheon of one of Marilyn McCoo’s greatest vocal solos. Billy solos with “Ticket to Ride” deftly bringing us his St. Louis Blues origins, then he conjures “Help” into a Gospel anthem…yes, one of America’s greatest Soul singers, Billy Davis, Jr., takes it to church.
“(Just Like) Starting Over” is so delightful a duet, it can be a full-circle rejoinder to the classic, “Up-Up and Away.” No stranger to vocal groups, Ms. McCoo & Mr. Davis’s roots as former lead singers of The 5th Dimension entangle with another mega group, The Beatles in innovative ways. Concluding with “And I Love Her” as one of the most passionate duets of their 50 year career span, we are left wanting more. So savor Marilyn’s torchy “The Long & Winding Road,” her smokey “Yesterday,” and Billy’s danceable “Silly Love Songs,” too! Then listen to the complete experience, again and again. ~~Robert-Allan Arno
“Blackbird: Lennon/McCartney Icons” is available at Amazon, Spotify, Apple Music and all major outlets.
My special thanks to Jason Winters & Steve Rosenblum of Sterling/Winters (Kathy Ireland International) Management and to Marilyn & Billy for the lovely personal shout-out in the “Blackbird” liners. ~~Robert
FOREVER 5TH DIMENSION 
You must be logged in to post a comment.