Fifth Dimension  by The Byrds

Fifth Dimension, released in July 1966, was the moment when the Byrds left the ground behind to explore the unknown. After the departure of Gene Clark, the band found itself at a creative crossroads, which led to one of the most influential recordings of the decade.

In the studio, their sound was transformed. Roger McGuinn’s characteristic 12-string Rickenbacker stopped playing simple folk melodies and began to "chirp" in a hypnotic, almost oriental way, influenced by John Coltrane’s saxophone and Ravi Shankar’s sitar. The legendary Eight Miles High became the harbinger of raga rock, a sonic journey between clouds and psychedelia that, although pursued by censorship due to alleged drug references, left an indelible mark on the era.

The titular track and the otherworldly I See You confirmed their turn towards experimentation, while Wild Mountain Thyme kept their ties to their folk roots alive. The album's release in the summer of ’66 served as a bridge between the romanticism of the '60s and the impending psychedelic explosion. Despite internal friction, Fifth Dimension conquered the charts and earned the respect of their peers, establishing the Byrds as the architects of a new, cosmic sound that would forever change the course of rock music. Fifth Dimension reached No. 24 in the U.S. and No. 27 in Great Britain.