The Age of Aquarius

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Added: Tue. Dec 09, 2008 12:02pm
Posted in: Music

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They were the driving force behind the Fifth Dimension. Marilyn McCoo's hypnotic, calming voice rang out with a soothing, cooling optimism that was so missing in the chaos that was the 60s. When Billy blended in his voice, songs like Up, Up and Away, Aquarius and Let The Sunshine In became classics that defined the era.

Still, I was all set not to like them. Not many people who can claim success in such a brutal business for such a long period of time come out the other end unscathed. I was pleasantly surprised to find that not only were they a warm and engaging interview, they still have the passion they brought to their work 40 years ago.

They have another milestone just around the corner, they are about to celebrate 40 years of marriage. How many celebrity couples can boast that? They are a rare couple, indeed. There is a lot we can learn from them, and fortunately, they are willing to teach!

Listen to this interview from GrowingBolder.com. It's great to know some of the people who shared the '60s vision of a better life are actually living one still today!

And if you'd like to reconnect with dozens of rock stars from the '60s and '70s, check out the amazing GB Rocks section. It's full of video stories and audio interviews you won't find anywhere else.

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Molly Conole
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Posted 7:41am December 12th, 2008
I'm here to represent the anti-girlfriend! Call me a sap, but I still have a completely worn-out cassette tape of The Association (which I still love), knew all the lyrics to all the Carpenters songs, am an Aquarius who loves my theme song, and will also still proudly claim ownership of my old John Denver LP's. Those kind of songs represent a "glass is half full" outlook, which is really always a choice no matter what's going on. And since music is the great expresser of what's in our hearts and souls, and especially connected-with during hard times, it seems that as things are going now, we're going to be needing an epidemic of diabetes-inducing music. I'll be there singing along!
Dave Knechel
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Posted 7:44am December 10th, 2008
I agree about Marilyn McCoo. She did have a calming voice in a time of much political and social unrest and Age of Aquarius will always remain a classic to me and many others of our generation. Bridge Over Troubled Water will forever bring back memories of that era, To me, anyway. It was very comforting to hear in those days, as Vietnam roared on.
Bill Shafer
GB Staff
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Posted 11:01pm December 9th, 2008
Dave, I understand your girlfriend. Taken on their own, some of those songs are so sappy you could get diabetes just from listening.

But the times were so turbulent: there were protests, racial clashes, kids dying every day in Vietnam... The music refelcted the anarchy, but then, like a beacon out of the fog came Marilyn McCoo. That voice. Those songs. For three minutes it was okay to let your guard down, forget the pain and confusion.

The songs are soothing and hypnotic. A little cornball? No doubt. But there was nothing else like them. They crossed all races, all ages, all classes.

That's what I'd like to tell your old girlfriend. As for her assessment of the Association? Okay, lets give her that one!!!
Dave Knechel
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Posted 6:06pm December 9th, 2008
I've always liked them, but years ago I had a girlfriend who didn't. She could never give me a reason why. That was mild compared to her disdain for The Association. She absolutely despised them. All I ever had to do to stop her from giving me a hard time over something was to start humming Windy.

"OK! OK! I'll stop!!!"

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Bill Shafer