Save the Country

"Save the Country"
Single by The 5th Dimension
from the album Portrait
B-side	"Dimension 5ive"
Released	June 1970
Genre	Soul
Length	2:39
Label	Bell Records 895
Songwriter(s)	Laura Nyro
Producer(s)	Bones Howe
The 5th Dimension singles chronology
"Puppet Man" (1970) "Save the Country" (1970) "On the Beach (In the Summertime)" (1970)

"Save the Country" is a song written by Laura Nyro, first released by her as a single in 1968.^[1] Nyro released another version of the song on her 1969 album New York Tendaberry.

Background

Nyro was inspired to write the song after the June 5, 1968 assassination of Robert Kennedy.^[2]

5th Dimension recording

The most successful version was performed by The 5th Dimension. It reached #10 on the U.S. adult contemporary chart, #24 in Canada, #27 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #79 in Australia in 1970.^[3] It was featured on their 1970 album Portrait.^[4] The song was produced by Bones Howe and arranged by Bill Holman, Bob Alcivar, and Howe.^[5]

Other versions

• Julie Driscoll with Brian Auger and the Trinity released a version of the song on their 1969 album Streetnoise.
• Canadian band The Sugar Shoppe, which included actor and singer Victor Garber, released a version of the song in 1969.
• Paul Revere & The Raiders (under the shortened name Raiders) made the song the opening track of their 1970 album Collage.
• Thelma Houston released a version of the song in 1970 that reached #73 in Canada^[6] and #74 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[7]
• Rosanne Cash released a version of the song on the 1997 Nyro tribute album Time and Love: The Music of Laura Nyro.
• Roberta Flack performed her version of the song in a live broadcast from KCET in the 1970s.^[8]
• Nyro's version was sampled by Kanye West on his song "The Glory" off his third studio album Graduation.

References

1. Laura Nyro, "Save the Country" single release Retrieved January 20, 2015
2. Kort, Michelle. It references both the death of Senator Kennedy and his brother, President John F. Kennedy, in the third verse: "Come on people! Sons and mothers, Keep the dream of the two young brothers, Gonna take that dream and ride that dove." Soul Picnic: The Music and Passion of Laura Nyro. New York: St. Martin's Press, p. 65.
3. The 5th Dimension, "Save the Country" Chart Positions Retrieved January 19, 2015
4. The 5th Dimension, Portrait Retrieved January 19, 2015
5. The 5th Dimension, "Save the Country" single release Retrieved January 19, 2015
6. Thelma Houston, "Save the Country" Canadian Chart Position Retrieved January 19, 2015
7. Thelma Houston, "Save the Country" U.S. Chart Position Retrieved January 19, 2015
8. Roberta Flack, "Artbound Presents Studio A" Retrieved June 30, 2015