Up, Up and Away (song)
| "Up, Up and Away" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Easy Listening | ||||
| Length | 2:40 | |||
| Label | Soul City | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Jimmy Webb | |||
| Producer(s) | Johnny Rivers and Marc Gordon | |||
| The 5th Dimension singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Up, Up and Away" is a 1967 song written by
Easy Listening chart,[2] and number one in both Canada and Australia. In 1999, Webb's song placed 43 on BMI's "Top 100 Songs of the Century".[3]
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. In 2003, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.[4]
Personnel
The musical backing was dominated by members of The Wrecking Crew,[5] including trumpeter Tony Terran.[citation needed]
According to the AFM contract sheet, the following musicians laid down the initial instrumental track on February 22, 1967:[6]
- Hal Blaine (drums)
- Larry Knechtel (keyboards)
- Gayle Levant (harp)
- Joe Osborn (bass)
- Johnny Rivers (guitar)
- Tommy Tedesco (guitar)
- Jimmy Webb (piano)
Two other session players featuring prominently in the final mix were Al Casey (acoustic guitar) and Bud Shank (piccolo).[7]
Chart history
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Notable cover versions
- In the United Kingdom the 5th Dimension single failed to chart. Released first, a version by US vocal act the Johnny Mann Singers reached no. 6 in August 1967, and in 1968 won a Grammy Award for Best Performance by a Chorus.[15]
- Frank Ifield released a cover version on EMI (UK) Columbia label as a 1967 A-side single (released on July 7, 1967).[16]
Usage in media
- For a time, Dionne Warwick's song "I'll Never Love This Way Again" preceded reports about people with HIV/AIDS on Rush Limbaugh’s radio show.[17] These later became "condom updates", preceded by "Up, Up and Away".[18]
- The song was adapted, with new lyrics, as an advertising jingle for Trans World Airlines, which then used "Up, Up, and Away — TWA" as its slogan.[19] It was also adapted into a jingle in Australia for the now defunct Trans Australia Airlines in the 1970s.[20][21][22]
References
- ^ Holton, John (August 13, 2023). "Song Lyric Sunday: The Fifth Dimension, "Up-Up And Away"". The Sound of One Hand Typing. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 91.
- ^ "BMI Announces Top 100 Songs of the Century". Broadcast Music, Inc. December 13, 1999. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
- ^ https://www.grammy.com/awards/hall-of-fame-award#u
- ISBN 978-1-250-03046-7.
- ^ "Up Up And Away AFM Contract" (PDF). The Wrecking Crew. American Federation of Musicians. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
- ^ Webb, Jimmy (songwriter) (July 31, 2023). The Musical Genius of 'Wichita Lineman': A One-on-One with Jimmy Webb (Videotape). New York, NY. Event occurs at 43:45. Retrieved August 1, 2023 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. July 22, 1967. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
- ^ Flavour of New Zealand, 6 October 1967
- ISBN 0-89820-089-X
- ^ Cash Box Top 100 Singles, July 29, 1967
- ^ RPM Top 100 Singles of 1967
- ^ Musicoutfitters.com
- ^ Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 23, 1967
- ^ "1967 GRAMMY WINNERS". www.grammy.com. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
- ^ "Frank Ifield - Up-Up and Away".
- ^ Remnick, David (December 16, 1990). "Day of the Dittohead". The Washington Post. p. C1.
- ^ Grossberger, Lewis (December 16, 1990). "The Rush Hours". The New York Times Magazine. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
- ISBN 9780571353422.
- ^ "TAA 1971 advertisement on Youtube". YouTube.
- ^ "TAA 1972 advertisement on Youtube". YouTube.
- ^ "TAA 1975 advertisement on Youtube". YouTube.
