Welcome back to the Golden Nuggets series, where I take a look at the number 1 song on the Billboard charts from 50 years ago, share my thoughts, and maybe put it into context or share the taste of the listening public from back in the day. Sorry, this one is a little late. Holiday season and all. With that out of the way, the song we're looking at today is 'Wedding Bell Blues' by the 5th Dimension. If you're unfamiliar, you can take a look at the track here.
The 5th Dimension were a pretty popular R&B/pop group in the late 60s and early 70s, and are actually one of my favorite vocal groups in this vein. You may also know them for their incredibly famous cover of 'Aquarius/ Let the Sunshine In' from the Hair soundtrack. The song we're listening to today is also a cover, this time from the likes of Laura Nyro. The song is a showcase for member Marilyn McCoo, who longs to be married to her boyfriend named Bill. Strangely enough, she was engaged to member Billy Davis Jr. at the time, though the name was actually retained from the Nyro original. The song choice was almost too perfect.
I really enjoy the song, and I think it's a pretty great display of the power of the group. I would very much like to hear the suite version of the song that Laura Nyro initially proposed before being vetoed by producers. I think it could have been something pretty special. I feel like a lot of people my age probably first heard this song through its incorporation on an episode of Gilmore Girls, which is some indication that this song still retains some interest even into the 21st century, long outlasting the typical and expected shelf life of your traditional boilerplate pop tunes.
Next time, I'll be taking a look at a song and a band that probably need no introduction: 'Come Together' by the Beatles.
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