Up, Up and Away (song)

"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
Format 7" 45 RPM
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

"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]

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

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 jingle c. 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!".[5]
  • 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 Born on the Fourth of July (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.
  • On 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.

References

  1. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 91.
  2. ↑ "BMI Announces Top 100 Songs of the Century". Broadcast Music, Inc. 13 December 1999. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  3. ↑ Hartman, Kent (2012). The Wrecking Crew. St. Martin’s Griffin. pp. 261–263. ISBN 978-1-250-03046-7.
  4. ↑ Andrea L (2 November 2011). "Rajput & The Sepoy Mutiny - Up Up and Away" – via YouTube.
  5. ↑ "Trans Australia Airlines (TAA) Television Advertisement, 1972". Retrieved 11 November 2011.
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