Sweet Blindness
1968 single by The 5th Dimension
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Sweet Blindness" is a song written by Laura Nyro, released in 1968, and included on her Eli and the Thirteenth Confession.[2]
| "Sweet Blindness" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Single by The 5th Dimension | ||||
| from the album Stoned Soul Picnic | ||||
| B-side | "Bobbie's Blues (Who Do You Think Of?)" | |||
| Released | September 1968 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:24 | |||
| Label | Soul City 768 | |||
| Songwriter | Laura Nyro | |||
| Producer | Bones Howe | |||
| The 5th Dimension singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background
The song is a drinking song with an old fashioned sound, with tempo changes and a brass section. Critics have said the "song captures a carefree spirit and the liberating feeling of letting go of inhibitions to find joy in the moment".
The 5th Dimension recording
The best-known version, however, was recorded by The 5th Dimension later in 1968. It was featured on their 1968 album Stoned Soul Picnic.[3] The song was produced by Bones Howe and arranged by Bill Holman, Bob Alcivar, Ray Pohlman, and Howe.[4] It reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #45 on the U.S. R&B chart. Outside the US, "Sweet Blindness" went to #15 in Canada, #10 in New Zealand[5] and #19 in Australia.[6]
Other versions
- Liza Minnelli performed the song, with two male dancers, on The Ed Sullivan Show.
- Holly Cole released a version of the song on the 1997 tribute album Time and Love: The Music of Laura Nyro.
In media
- The 5th Dimension sang a version of the song with Frank Sinatra on his 1968 television special, Francis Albert Sinatra Does His Thing.
