Today in Music (1966): The Byrds Fifth Dimension released

Fifth Dimension The Byrds

Released: July 18, 1966 Peak: 24 US, 27 UK, -- CN, -- AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Genre: folk rock

Tracks: Click on a song title for more details. 5D (Fifth Dimension) (McGuinn) [2:33] (6/13/66, 44 BB, 39 CB, 32 HR, 31 CL) Wild Mountain Thyme (traditional) [2:30] Mr. Spaceman (McGuinn) [2:09] (9/6/66, 36 BB, 34 CB, 32 GR, 29 HR, 13 CL, 21 DF) I See You (Crosby / McGuinn) [2:38] What’s Happening?!?! (Crosby) [2:35] I Come and Stand at Every Door (Nazim Hikmet) [3:03] Eight Miles High (Clark/ Crosby / McGuinn) [3:34] (3/14/66, 14 BB, 12 CB, 13 GR, 15 HR, 2 CL, 24 UK, 3 DF) Hey Joe (Powers / Roberts) [2:17] (33 DF) Captain Soul (Clarke / Crosby / Hillman / McGuinn) [2:53] John Riley (Gibson) [2:57] 2-4-2 Fox Trot (The Lear Jet Song) (McGuinn) [2:12] Total Running Time: 38:26 The Players: Roger McGuinn (vocals, guitar) Gene Clark (percussion, harmonica, guitar, vocals) David Crosby (guitar, vocals) Chris Hillman (bass) Michael Clarke (drums, percussion)

Rating: 3.972 out of 5.00 (average of 29 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Album “Although the Byrds’ Fifth Dimension was wildly uneven, its high points were as innovative as any rock music being recorded in 1966. Immaculate folk-rock was still present in their superb arrangements of the traditional songs Wild Mountain Thyme and John Riley.” AM “For the originals, they devised some of the first and best psychedelic rock, often drawing from the influence of Indian raga in the guitar arrangements. Eight Miles High, with its astral lyrics, pumping bassline, and fractured guitar solo, was a Top 20 hit, and one of the greatest singles of the '60s.” AM “The minor hit title track and the country-rock-tinged Mr. Spaceman are among their best songs; I See You has great 12-string psychedelic guitar solos; and I Come and Stand at Every Door is an unusual and moving update of a traditional rock tune, with new lyrics pleading for peace in the nuclear age.” AM “At the same time, the R&B instrumental Captain Soul was a throwaway, Hey Joe not nearly as good as the versions by the Leaves or Jimi Hendrix, and What’s Happening?!?! the earliest example of David Crosby's disagreeably vapid hippie ethos. These weak spots keep Fifth Dimension from attaining truly classic status.” AM Notes: A CD reissue added “I Know My Rider,” “Psychodrama City,” two versions of “Why,” and alternate versions of “Eight Miles High” and “John Riley.”

Resources/References: AM AllMusic.com review by Richie Unterberger Related DMDB Pages: First posted 4/7/2008; last updated 10/18/2026.