Up, Up and Away (song)
"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 in July 1967 on the U.S. Pop Singles chart, and No. 9 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart.[1] In other countries, it reached No. 1 in Canada, and in Australia. The song placed No. 43 on BMI's "Top 100 Songs of the Century".[2]
| "Up, Up and Away" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Single by The 5th Dimension | |
| from the album Up, Up and Away | |
| B-side | "Which Way to Nowhere" |
| Released | May 1967 |
| Recorded | February 22, 1967, Sound Recorders, Hollywood, CA |
| Genre | Psychedelic pop, sunshine pop |
| Length | 2:40 |
| Label | Soul City |
| Songwriter(s) | Jimmy Webb |
| Producer(s) | Johnny Rivers, Marc Gordon |
A canonical example of sunshine pop, themed around images of hot air ballooning, it cleaned up at the 10th Annual Grammy Awards in 1968, winning for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, Best Performance by a Vocal Group, Best Performance by a Chorus and Best Contemporary Song. 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 was also recorded in French, becoming popular in Quebec.
- Frank Ifield released a cover version on EMI (UK) Columbia label as a 1967 A-side single (released 7-7-1967).[4]
- Bing Crosby recorded it for his 1968 album Thoroughly Modern Bing.
- 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 album Dionne Warwick in 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.
- Nancy Sinatra included a version on her 1967 album Movin' with Nancy.
- 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".
- Rajput and the Sepoy Mutiny played an instrumental version in 1968 on their album Flower Power Sitar.[5] A clip of this cover is occasionally heard during the Howard Stern Show, used as a generic Asian theme.
- Used by The Prodigy in the song "Hotride" on their 2004 album Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned.
- Several bars of this song were reprised in the Love Generation version of "Montage" (written by Webb for the movie How Sweet It Is).
- The song was covered by Yo Gabba Gabba! in the episode "Flying".
- An instrumental cover version of the song played in the video game of the same name, published by Starcade Software, for the Atari 8-bit family and the Commodore 64.
Usage in media
- 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 commercial jingle c. 1968-1970, slightly altered as "Up up and away TWA".
- Used by Trans Australia Airlines as a jingle in 1972-1986, slightly altered as "Up up and away with TAA, the friendly friendly way!".[6]
- Used in 1973 in the German film The Flying Classroom, an adaption of the book with the same name from Erich Kästner
- Sung by Liza Minnelli on Kraft Music Hour. Episode titled "Woody Allen looks at 1967" aired December 1967.
- Used in the 1988 Episode "Between a Yuk and Hardplace" of the TV series Moonlighting.
- Used in Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
- Sung during the audition scene of The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)
- Instrumental version used as the opening theme for the Dominican talk-show "Aeromundo".
- Used in Bob's Burgers episode 21, Season 5, "The Oeder Games".
- In the 70's it was used as the sound track for a series of TV commercials of a Brazilian cigarette called Minister.
- Used in 2005 in the "Balloon" TV commercial for LUX soap.
- The song was used as the theme song for 2012 Japanese drama Tokyo Airport.
- Used as Alan Harper's (Jon Cryer) phone ringtone on the TV series "Two and a Half Men".
- Used briefly in 2006, first season, 5th episode of the TV series "Psych".
- A parody recording using the lyrics "my beautiful baboon" is played by Zach Galifianakis during an interview with Sir Richard Branson in the 2012 MTV special Between Two Ferns: A Fairytale of New York.
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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.
- http://www.45cat.com/record/db8232
- Andrea L (2 November 2011). "Rajput & The Sepoy Mutiny - Up Up and Away" – via YouTube.
- "Trans Australia Airlines (TAA) Television Advertisement, 1972". Retrieved 11 November 2011.
External links
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