The Fifth Estate (band) - The Fifth Estate

The Fifth Estate

The Fifth Estate released the single "Love Is All A Game" on the Red Bird label, which became a regional hit, and still receives airplay around the country as they again have become more highly regarded through their connection with the garage band revival and garage rock movements in general. They had a national/international hit in 1967 with a sunshine pop version of "Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead", which reached No. 11 on the Hot 100. The song was recorded and released around the world in five different languages (Japanese, Italian, French, German and English), and incorporated parts of "La Bouree," from "Terpsichore" by 17th-century composer Michael Praetorius. According to Cashbox, it is in the Top 100 record releases of 1967. For over 40 years it has been the biggest hit with the highest chart position of any Harold Arlen or Wizard of Oz song performed by any artist. Two other releases skimmed the bottom of the charts. Although not making an impact in America, in 1968 their own "Morning Morning" was a sizable hit in Australia and England on the Stateside Label.

The original five member band lineup was consistent for six years. In that time they recorded about 100 songs, and released 13 singles and one album. Sam and Dave joined them on stage and sang "Soul Man" with them at one of their theater shows, while one of the Vandellas sang and recorded one of their tunes with them as her next release. They also appeared in a 1967 TV episode of Malibu U, with weird overlays and film footage. The Monkees covered The Fifth Estate's version of "Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead" on episode 58 of their TV show in 1968, "The Frodis Caper".

The Fifth Estate also toured with acts such as Count Five, The Electric Prunes, The Music Explosion, The Buckinghams, The Ronettes, Gene Pitney, The Lovin' Spoonful, The Turtles, The Byrds, The Easybeats. They also did the Upbeat with another Greenwich Village band, The Velvet Underground.

In 1970 they all went off on different projects, but have since reformed and continue to perform and record. Their new album, TIME TUNNEL, was recorded in 2010/11 and is in full release as of 1-2-12. It was produced with the assistance of and mixed by Shel Talmy, the original producer for The Kinks, The Who, The Easybeats, Manfred Mann, early Jimmy Page and David Bowie.

On Sept.19,2012, The Fifth Estate - Anthology 1 was released by Fuel 2000/Universal Music Group. It's a 2 CD set with a 20 page booklet and 40 songs, more than half never released before.