"Up, Up and Away" is a 1967 song written by Jimmy Webb and recorded (as "Up–Up and Away") by US soul-pop act the 5th Dimension with backing from members of The Wrecking Crew.[1] Their original version reached no. 7 on Billboard's Hot 100 in July 1967 and no. 9 on its 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]
| "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 | |||
| Studio | Sound Recorders, Hollywood, California | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:40 | |||
| Label | Soul City | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Jimmy Webb | |||
| Producer(s) | Johnny Rivers and Marc Gordon | |||
| The 5th Dimension singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
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
editThe 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
edit
Weekly chartsedit
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Year-end chartsedit
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Notable cover versions
edit- 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.[15] This rendition won a Grammy Award for Best Performance by a Chorus in 1968, while the version by 5th Dimension won the Record of the Year.[16]
- Frank Ifield released a cover version on EMI (UK) Columbia label as a 1967 A-side single (released on July 7, 1967).[17]
Usage in media
edit- 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.[18] These later became "condom updates", preceded by "Up, Up and Away".[19]
- 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.[20] It was also adapted into a jingle in Australia for the now defunct Trans Australia Airlines in the 1970s.[21][22][23]
References
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ "GRAMMY Hall Of Fame | Hall of Fame Artists | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com.
- ^ Hartman, Kent (2012). The Wrecking Crew. St. Martin's Griffin. pp. 261–263. 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 - search listener". www.flavourofnz.co.nz.
- ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
- ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, July 29, 1967".
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles of 1967".
- ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1967/Top 100 Songs of 1967". www.musicoutfitters.com.
- ^ "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1967". tropicalglen.com.
- ^ "Johnny Mann Singers". The Official Charts Company.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Jones, Dylan (2019). The Wichita Lineman: Searching in the Sun for the World's Greatest Unfinished Song. Faber & Faber. ISBN 9780571353422.
- ^ "TAA 1971 advertisement on Youtube". YouTube. 16 March 2021.
- ^ "TAA 1972 advertisement on Youtube". YouTube. April 2011.
- ^ "TAA 1975 advertisement on Youtube". YouTube. 21 August 2011.