AMG Review of Live! Plus Studio Recordings

Bradley Torreano
All Music Guide

Live! Plus Studio Recordings is a collection of some of the better known tracks performed by the Fifth Dimension. Although the band had a huge hit with their version of "Aquarius," that song is nowhere to be found here. Instead, what this album shows is a band that helped create the fast-paced funk music that would eventually turn into disco as the '70s progressed. As a funk band, the Fifth Dimension is adequate, but nothing special. They simply do not have an aspect of their sound that makes them stand out, making their music sound more like a background soundtrack than anything else. Still, this is at least competently done and fans of the band may find this very enjoyable. Just be warned that this does not substitute for a greatest hits at all. This is much more of a rarities collection than anything.