Up, Up and Away (song)
| "Up, Up and Away" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| B-side | "Which Way to Nowhere" |
"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 that became the Top 10 hit, reaching No. 6 in August 1967. This version picked up a Grammy Award for Best Performance by a Chorus in 1968 and hit the 1967 US Hot 100 survey, peaking at #91, 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.
References
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 91.
- ^ "BMI Announces Top 100 Songs of the Century". Broadcast Music, Inc. 13 December 1999. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
- ^ Hartman, Kent (2012). The Wrecking Crew. St. Martin’s Griffin. pp. 261–263. ISBN 978-1-250-03046-7.
- ^ "Trans Australia Airlines (TAA) Television Advertisement, 1972". Retrieved 11 November 2011.