Sometimes in the arts, especially in music, cinema or theater, there is such a brilliant example of collective genius.
The Grateful Dead. Jerry Garcia is an incredible talent. But they also had a collective genius which came together around Jerry.
One of the finest examples of collective genius is the magnum opus among the recordings of the 5th Dimension, Age of Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In.
We start with the great musical Hair, itself a collaboration between a composer and two librettists, composer Galt MacDermot and lyricist/story writers James Rado and Gerome Ragni, themselves inspired by the genius of the times in the Summer of Love.
That musical had a few songs that were just incredible. The title song, Hair. Good morning Starshine.
And the song fragment that introduces the musical, Age of Aquarius.
The 5th Demension, the singing group, saw the musical and was blown away by Age of Aquarius.
There was a problem.
Age of Aquarius is not a song. It is a song fragment.
It has no ending.
It leads into something else.
It introduces the musical by leading into something else- namely, the entire musical.
To be a complete song it needs something to lead into.
The 5th Dimension took their regular producer, 'Bones' Howe, one of the great pop producers of the day, to see the musical in person.
'Bones' Howe found something in the musical Hair for Age of Aquarius to lead into.
It was a chant.
Not a song fragment.
Just a simple chant, on the repeated words, 'Let the Sunshine In'.
To turn Let the Sunshine In into a full song fragment complete enough to make a full complete song with Age of Aquarius, The 5th Dimension's male lead singer, Billy Davis, Jr., improvised a second lead vocal line over the chant.
When you hear Billy sing over the chant, 'Oh, let it shine!' and 'Sing along with the 5th Dimension!'- Billy is improvising that.
All of it.
Melody, lyrics, all of it.
Wow.
He should be in the vocal Hall of Fame for that alone.
And so you have this incredible group genius.
Galt MacDermot, James Rado and Gerome Ragni who wrote Hair in the first place. The 5th Dimension for singing it and for wanting to turn Age of Aquarius into a single. Billy Davis, Jr. for his amazing improvised vocal line. 'Bones' Howe for producing it, coordinating the recording, and for discovering the 'Let the Sunshine In' chant to complete the song.
And more.
For there is the musicians and the amazing instrumental arrangement. The playing of The Wrecking Crew, the same musicians as on Pet Sounds and Bridge Over Troubled Water, as well as all of The 5th Dimension's work.
And the amazing arrangement of Bill Holman, one of the great big band arrangers who was one of Stan Kenton's main arrangers. I think we can all agree that his instrumental arrangement that opens the track is amazing!
And there you go!
An absolutely amazing example of collective genius, set into motion by that amazing opening song fragment that opens up the musical Hair!
One of the great musical achievements of that amazing, amazing era, and a great example of collective genius coming together for an amazing one-time recording!
Something to think about, especially if you are creating Youtube videos- this is a major vehicle for creativity, and on Youtube you can collaborate with anyone you want to, as long as they want to too- no corporate executive can tell you not too!
God loves you!
Sincerely,
David S. Annderson