The 5th Dimension is now considered as one of the masters of the late-60s sunshine pop, and for the band’s 60th anniversary, Cherry Red Records has prepared a box set titled Let the Sunshine In: The Soul City & Bell Albums 1967-1974. It arrives May 29, 2026, via the Strawberry label of Cherry Red Records. The 6-CD set is available in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here (where it arrives on May 22).
The collection brings together all of Marilyn McCoo, Billy Davis, Jr. , Florence LaRue, and the late Ron Townson and LaMonte McLemore ’s newly remastered recordings for the Soul City, Bell, and Arista labels, plus 25 bonus selections including the group’s rare pre-5th Dimension single under their original name, The Versatiles.
The six-time Grammy-winning quintet brought their rich vocal harmonies to songs written by Laura Nyro, Jimmy Webb, Burt Bacharach and Hal David, Ashford and Simpson, Neil Sedaka, Paul Williams, and Harry Nilsson to create some of the most enduring music of the 1960-1970s.
The collection of 135 recordings includes the chart-topping “Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In” and “Wedding Bell Blues” plus top ten hits “Up, Up, And Away,” “Stoned Soul Picnic,” “One Less Bell To Answer,” and “(Last Night) I Didn’t Get To Sleep At All.”
Also included are such favorites as “Sweet Blindness,” “Puppet Man,” covers of such contemporary songs as “Ticket to Ride,” “The Worst That Could Happen,” “Sunshine of Your Love,” and “Those Were the Days,” as well as the psych-pop classic “The Magic Garden.”
Bonus tracks encompass non-LP singles, outtakes, the authorized debut of rare live versions, and the previously unreleased Bones Howe production of Carole King and Gerry Goffin’s “Hi-De-Ho.”
