As FOREVER 5th DIMENSION embarks on its 18th anniversary, the enigmatic “Soul & Inspiration” album by The 5th Dimension has surpassed a 50th anniversary milestone. While “The Magic Garden” and “Earthbound” projects share a certain mystique, the “S & I” sessions remain “mystical” in their own right with the introduction of accomplished producer John Florez (as opposed to the renowned Bones Howe) on four of the cuts, and the shift of the group’s label, Bell Records to Arista, with Clive Davis at the helm. Over a decade ago, we even got to release 6 vaulted Howe-produced tracks from the album, and I was honored to do the “guest liners” for them for the Collector’s Choice “S & I” re-issue. And recently, “Soul & Inspiration” along with those bonuses can be found on Spotify, YouTube and more.
We’re pleased to bring you this exclusive Q & A with John Florez featuring a rare, newly unvaulted tune from “Soul & Inspiration,” produced by him. Known for ear-catching Pop-Soul productions, he began his career in the late 1960’s in Los Angeles. Throughout, one out of every three songs that Mr. Florez produced charted nationally, including the hits, “Grazin’ in the Grass” by The Friends of Distinction (#3), and the #1 Billboard hit, “Rock the Boat” by The Hues Corporation. His clients included: A&M, Arista, Capitol, CBS, Elektra, RCA, and Warner Brothers Records.
Robert/FOREVER 5th DIMENSION: LaMonte McLemore, in his memoir “From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension,” says his biggest regret about The Original 5th Dimension recording legacy is that a true danceable tune was never produced. You had tremendous success producing The Hues Corporation’s vibrant “Rock the Boat” which is deemed the first Disco tune to hit the Top 10. Many “5th fans,” too, wanted that evolution for the group. Do you feel you were recruited for the “Soul & Inspiration” project (replacing the familiar Bones Howe, whose cuts were still featured on the album) to somehow bring such contemporary success.
John: Maybe. Who knows what occurred in the mind of Clive Davis (who hired me)? The music business is based on how hot you are with producing hits at that time. Yes, I was coming off the #1 dance tune, “Rock the Boat”. When I pitched Clive to produce The 5th Dimension, I brought the songs we eventually recorded. He liked them and set up a meeting for me with The 5th. ALL of us instinctively knew it was time to try something new. I was only commissioned for four tracks. In retrospect, had we decided to find a disco-oriented tune, my question is, which of the agreed upon tunes would we have discarded to allow for such a track. None! The group and I did what they had always done, finding the best songs available at the time. If Clive had given me an added 3-4 track contract, yes, we certainly could’ve looked for a dance cut. In the end, I believe we achieved our initial goal, to try something different.
Robert/FOREVER 5th DIMENSION: In an earlier interview with FOREVER 5th DIMENSION, you mentioned being involved in the group’s rehearsal of “I Honestly Love You,” written by Peter Allen, with Marilyn McCoo in the lead. Can you give us a flavor of the rehearsals and remind us of how Olivia Newton-John walked away with the recording.
John: Yes, my arranger D’Arneill Pershing and I had chills hearing Marilyn’s captivating lead on “I Honestly Love You” and remember distinctly how lovely the group sounded in unison on their echo line, “shouldn’t blow the chance.” This really sounded like a hit single for us. However, Olivia had already recorded the song for her yet-to-be-released album and had an exclusive on it. In other words, she had “first dibs” if she released it for her upcoming single. If not, we would have gotten the green light to record it with The 5th Dimension. Unfortunately for us, she did choose the ballad as her single.
Editor’s Note: Hear a taste of Marilyn’s version of “I Honestly Love You” in this hits medley with Peter Allen from SOLID GOLD, here: https://youtu.be/jghihoox7G8?si=oz5ZnyVSnzRBatAg
Robert/FOREVER 5th DIMENSION: “Harlem” remains such a curiously controversial song for its break from more traditional 5th sounds. Nevertheless, it was exhilarating, funky and panoramic, and certainly made for a sassy staged party skit often featured at the beginning of concerts circa ’74, of The Original 5th Dimension, including their performances at the Uris Theater on Broadway. Do you think in retrospect, that it was a mistake to release it as a single?
John: Absolutely. If Black radio had discovered it on the album, played it, and it became popular, then Bell/Arista could’ve considered it for single release. I doubt that would’ve ever happened. It was too much of a departure from the group’s long-established image. However, damn it, it’s a great cut. The group and drummer James Gadsen really kicked. Controversial or not, The 5th Dimension had finally recorded something far less vanilla. I stand by that track and am proud of all of us, including the under-appreciated D’Arneill Pershing and his cinematic string chart. By the way, regarding your first question, “Harlem” is a dance tune, although not Disco, per se.
Editor’s Note: Interestingly, in this newly found memo from Bell Records, “Harlem” was introduced in New York City discos, pre-single release:
Robert/FOREVER 5th DIMENSION: “No Love in the Room” had hit written all over it. A Disco-tinged undertone, a contemporary familial message, cool group dynamics with a mini solo by Billy Davis, Jr. and with Marilyn leading. We know there were politics involved in the single’s ultimate lack of promotion. But if not for that, how far do you think “No Love” would have climbed?
John: No promotion? Ya think? How about no record label deal whatsoever while it was still charting? Due to tensions and misunderstandings with Clive Davis (Editor’s note: that have since been resolved between Mr. Davis and The 5th Dimension/McCoo & Davis, Jr.), he dropped the group from Arista, pulled their album and the single from stores and radio, just as it was climbing the Billboard Hot 100 chart with “bullets!” I have no idea how high the single would have charted, but I do believe that it was a solid hit. Top twenty? Obviously it should have been our first release instead of “Harlem.”
Robert/FOREVER 5th DIMENSION: Fans do like “The Best of My Love.” It’s certainly a different take on the Eagles’ hit. They particularly enjoy a breezy and lilting Marilyn amid the slightly syncopated beat, with pretty group harmonies. You’ve mentioned in our previous FOREVER 5th DIMENSION Q & A that it is not one of your favorites. Isn’t it interesting to juxtapose fan approval with your feeling that “it could have been better.”
John: You try going from rehearsing “I Honestly Love You” with Marilyn McCoo to doing an Eagles’ cover of “The Best of My Love.” No comparison. Not even close. I had goose bumps rehearsing the former to, “Oh well, Clive wants us to do this one” for the latter.
EXCLUSIVE ALTERNATIVE VERSION, “THE BEST OF MY LOVE” FROM THE VAULTS—
Robert’s note: After our interview, John surprised me with a from-the-vaults/his personal unmastered copy, alternative version of “Best” with Billy and Marilyn trading leads akin to what they did on “What Does It Take to Win Your Love” from the “Love’s Line’s Angles and Rhymes” album including the group vibe more in the forefront. I did some remastering and present it to our faithful 5th Dimension fans & FOREVER 5th readers, at this private YouTube link…enjoy:
Robert/FOREVER 5th DIMENSION: “Crazy Spaces” was performed in concert by The 5th and then recorded for the “S & I” project but remains missing. Do you recall why it wasn’t included, or anything about the feel of the tune that you produced, it’s a Bill Withers composition. I asked Marilyn & Billy, and Marilyn remembered it fondly, even sung a bit of it for me.
John: This is a GREAT question. Nobody knows this but “Crazy Spaces” was our “bookend to Harlem” track. Both were Bill Withers songs with drummer James Gadsen and that funky rhythm section. Why it wasn’t included for an album with “Soul” in its title is beyond me. What happened to the original track? I apparently had the only copy of it in two places: on a master cassette tape and on my former PC hard drive. The hard drive got accidentally wiped and the cassette tape somehow vanished into the ethers. This one breaks my heart.
Robert/FOREVER 5th DIMENSION: “Hard Core Poetry” is one of Florence LaRue’s favorites from the “S & I” project, Billy commented to FOREVER 5th DIMENSION he liked collaborating with you on it, too. Along with the album cuts “Black Patch” (from “Individually and Collectively”), “Day by Day” (from “Living Together, Growing Together”), and “Moonlight Mile” (from “Earthbound”), it stands as one of the original group’s finest recorded LP moments. On behalf of the fans, we thank you for that. Can you tell us your thoughts about “Poetry,” written by the team of Lambert & Potter.
John: Harvey Cooper, the award-winning record promotion executive, brought us “Hard Core Poetry” and “Harlem”. He always had great “ears.” I had been a big Lambert and Potter fan. Previously, I recorded their tunes “I Just Wanna Be Me” with Sisters Love (A&M, 1970) and “Like Monday Follows Sunday” with 5 Flights Up (Talent Associates, 1970). Notice that “Hard Core Poetry,” “No Love in The Room” and “Harlem” are all socially relevant tunes – an intentional departure. “Hard Core Poetry” also features “step out lines”: Marilyn first, Florence second, and then Billy.
Editor’s note: Listen to John’s new remix of “Hard Core Poetry” on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/7xCETRhKtTU
Robert/FOREVER 5th DIMENSION: John, you obviously have great affinity for your time with The 5th Dimension, they were certainly known as the pinnacle of Pop-Soul if not all singing groups and its individual members, too, were household names. As noted, you’ve remastered the tunes you were involved with and shared some on YouTube. What draws you back to revisiting these gems?
John: When RCA interviewed me for a staff position in 1968, they asked me what kind of music I wanted to produce. I answered, “Something like The 5th Dimension!” That led me to produce The Friends of Distinction, The Hues Corporation, and more. I was living my dream! Later, being offered a chance to produce my favorite act of all, The 5th Dimension, was the rest of my dream come true! It’s my hobby to re-master all the songs I was involved with and bring them to the public in a refreshed way.
The 5th Dimension members were all consummate pros, and I will never forget the experience of working with each of them—Marilyn: Classy, a lady. Billy: Amazingly soulful and professional. Florence: Brains and beauty combined. LaMonte: Elegant and multi-talented. Ron (Townson): Very much fun to be with! He was full of good-natured mischief like when he pulled out a switchblade during rehearsal to clean his nails!
Robert/FOREVER 5th DIMENSION: How do you feel about the “Soul & Inspiration” project’s longevity and continued fan interest.
John: I’m proud of everyone involved with it. The major regret was not getting the chance to do a second album with The 5th Dimension. We were still learning how to work together, we had not yet reached our full potential. The 5th Dimension was adamant with me about not layering their vocals as was done previously, keeping the group blend more organic We did “sweeten” the end of choruses on “Hard Core Poetry” and the group on “The Best of My Love.” I really wanted to experiment more with new directions for us. I felt we were just getting started.
Very special thanks to John Florez who has been a friend to FOREVER 5th DIMENSION for many years. And our love to Marilyn & Billy, Florence and LaMonte.
Fans & Friends, if you enjoyed this special edition including a rare unvaulted release, please consider a tax-deductible donation to The America to Africa Higher Education Foundation. As Executive Director, I am so proud to have LaMonte on our Board and the kind support of Marilyn & Billy, Florence and their respective management. Visit us and see what we’re doing to make the dreams of gifted Nigerian collegiate scholars come true, uniting us cross-culturally, at: http://www.AmericatoAfricaHigherEducationFoundation.com
Forever 5th Dimension and “The Best of Our Love” edition by Arno, a production of The Soul of The Voice, Ltd., copyright 2008-2025, intellectual property, all rights reserved
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