Up, Up and Away (song)
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| "Up, Up and Away" | |
|---|---|
| File:Up, Up and Away - single cover.jpg | |
| Single by The 5th Dimension | |
| from the album Up, Up and Away | |
| B-side | "Which Way to Nowhere" |
| Released | May, 1967 |
| Format | 7" 45 RPM |
| Recorded | April 1966–March 11, 1967 |
| Genre | Psychedelic pop, sunshine pop |
| Length | 2:40 |
| Label | Soul City |
| Writer(s) | Jimmy Webb |
| Producer(s) | Johnny Rivers, Marc Gordon |
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| Problems playing this file? See media help. | |
"Up, Up and Away" is a 1967 song written by Jimmy Webb and recorded by the 5th Dimension, that became a major pop hit, reaching No. 7 on the U.S. Pop Singles chart, and No. 9 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart.[1] In other countries, it reached No. 18 in Canada, and No. 1 in Australia. The song placed No. 43 on BMI's "Top 100 Songs of the Century".[2]
A canonical example of sunshine pop, themed around images of hot air ballooning, it cleaned up at the 10th Grammy Awards in 1968, winning for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, Other Pop/Rock&Roll/ Contemporary Awards or Instrumental, and the big prizes of Record of the Year and Song of the Year. The instrumental backing was performed by members of the Wrecking Crew,[3] including guitarist Al Casey and drummer Hal Blaine.
Cover versions
- In the United Kingdom, it was the Johnny Mann Singers' cover version (dubbed into French for North America) that became the Top 10 hit, reaching No. 6 in August 1967. This version picked up a Grammy Award for Best Performance in a Foreign Language in 1968 and hit the November 1967 Les Plus Grand Vingts au Quebec survey, peaking at #2, as well on the Easy Listening chart.
- Diana Ross & the Supremes recorded a version of the song in 1967 for their album Reflections.
- Dionne Warwick recorded a version of the tune on her 1967 Valley Of The Dolls.
- South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela included the song in his 1967 live album Hugh Masekela Is Alive and Well at the Whisky.
- The Sunshine Company included the song on their 1967 debut album Happy Is the Sunshine Company.
- The Impressions released their version on their 1968 album We're a Winner.
- Mrs. Miller sang a cover version in 1968 on her LP record Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing.
- Andy Williams released a version in 1968 on his album, Honey.
- The Kidsongs Kids sang a cover version in 1986 on their Kidsongs video "Cars, Boats, Trains and Planes"
- Used by The Prodigy in the album Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned, in the song "Hotride"
- Several bars of this song were reprised in the Love Generation version of "Montage" (written by Webb for the movie How Sweet It Is).
Popular culture
- On a 1968 episode of Petticoat Junction the Bradley sisters sing a version of this song.
- Sung by Bob on episode 5 of Sesame Street aired on November 14, 1969.
- Used by Trans World Airlines as a jingle c. 1970, slightly altered as "Up up and away TWA".
- Used by Trans Australia Airlines as a jingle in 1972, slightly altered as "Up up and away with TAA, the friendly friendly way!".[4]
- Used in 1973 in the German film Das fliegende Klassenzimmer, an adaption of the book with the same name from Erich Kästner
- Sung by Liza Minelli on Kraft Music Hour. Episode titled "Woody Allen looks at 1967" aired Dec 1967.
- Used in Born on the Fourth of July (film) (1989)
- Used in Bob's Burgers episode 21, Season 5, The Oeder Games.
