Who is the backing band for The 5th Dimension on ‘Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In’?
The 5th Dimension’s “Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In” was shaped by the Wrecking Crew, a group of sought-after Los Angeles session musicians. Their playing helped turn the medley from the musical *Hair* into a defining late-1960s hit, though some of its memorable details emerged by chance.
The musicians named were Hal Blaine on drums, Joe Osborn on bass, Larry Knechtel on keyboards, Tommy Tedesco and Dennis Budimir on guitars, and Tony Terran on trumpet. The group recorded the track in Las Vegas between shows supporting Frank Sinatra; producer Bones Howe said a passing train coincided with Billy Davis Jr’s final vocal riff. Songwriter Jimmy Webb, listening to the sessions, predicted it would be a number one record.
- The Wrecking Crew played on the 5th Dimension’s hit.
- The sessions took place in Las Vegas between Sinatra shows.
- A passing train added an accidental rumble to the recording.
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The Wrecking Crew was an informal group of Los Angeles session musicians who played on many popular records in the 1960s. Session musicians are hired to perform on recordings, often alongside the credited artist.
The 5th Dimension were an American vocal group, and “Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In” combined two songs from the stage musical Hair. The backing musicians on the recording included drummer Hal Blaine, bassist Joe Osborn, keyboard player Larry Knechtel, guitarists Tommy Tedesco and Dennis Budimir, and trumpeter Tony Terran.
The record brought together the group’s vocals, the session players’ arrangement and the songs’ connection to Hair, which reflected the era’s interest in social change and new cultural ideas. Knowing who played on it helps explain how a vocal group’s hit could also be the work of a wider team of musicians.