Up, Up and Away (song)
Encyclopedia
"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 #7 on the U.S. Pop Singles chart
and #18 in Canada
. The single peaked at #9 on Billboard's Easy Listening Top 40.
A canonical
example of sunshine pop
, themed around images of hot air ballooning
, it cleaned up at the Grammy Awards of 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
. Guitarist Al Casey
was present on this recording, as was fellow "Wrecking Crew" drummer Hal Blaine
.
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 hit the US "Bubbling Under The Top 100" survey, as well as 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
.
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. She has been known for her renditions of popular songs and singing out of tune.
Jimmy Webb
Jimmy Webb is an American songwriter, composer, and singer. He wrote numerous platinum selling classics, including "Up, Up and Away", "By the Time I Get to Phoenix", "Wichita Lineman", "Galveston", "The Worst That Could Happen", "All I Know", and "MacArthur Park"...
and recorded by The 5th Dimension, that became a major pop hit, reaching #7 on the U.S. Pop Singles chart
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and #18 in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The single peaked at #9 on Billboard's Easy Listening Top 40.
A canonical
Canonical
Canonical is an adjective derived from canon. Canon comes from the greek word κανών kanon, "rule" or "measuring stick" , and is used in various meanings....
example of sunshine pop
Sunshine pop
Sunshine pop is a subgenre of pop music originating in the United States, mainly the state of California, in the mid-1960s. Sunshine pop, by nature, is cheerful and upbeat music which is characterised by warm sounds, prominent vocal harmonies, as well as sophisticated productions...
, themed around images of hot air ballooning
Hot air ballooning
Hot air ballooning is the activity of flying hot air balloons. Attractive aspects of ballooning include the exceptional quiet , the lack of a feeling of movement, and the bird's-eye view...
, it cleaned up at the Grammy Awards of 1968
Grammy Awards of 1968
The 10th Grammy Awards were held February 29, 1968. They recognized accomplishments of musicians for the year 1967.-Award winners:*Record of the Year**Johnny Rivers & Marc Gordon & The 5th Dimension for "Up, Up and Away"*Album of the Year...
, winning for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
The Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals was awarded between 1966 and 2011...
, Other Pop/Rock&Roll/ Contemporary Awards or Instrumental
Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Song
The Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Song was awarded between 1960 and 1971. The award had several minor name changes:*In 1960 the award was known as Best Performance by a "Top 40" Artist...
, and the big prizes of Record of the Year
Grammy Award for Record of the Year
The Record of the Year is one of the four most prestigious Grammy Awards presented annually. It has been awarded since 1959.-History:The honorees through its history have been:*1959-1965: Artist only.*1966-1998: Artist and producer....
and Song of the Year
Grammy Award for Song of the Year
The Song of the Year is one of the four most prestigious awards in the Grammy Awards ceremony, if not in all of the American music industry. It has been awarded since 1959 and unlike the Record of the Year award, which goes to the performer and production team of a single song, Song of the Year...
. Guitarist Al Casey
Al Casey (rock & roll guitarist)
Alvin W. Casey was an American guitarist. He was mainly noted for his work as a session musician, but also released records and scored three Billboard Hot 100 hits in the United States...
was present on this recording, as was fellow "Wrecking Crew" drummer Hal Blaine
Hal Blaine
Hal Blaine is an American drummer and session musician. He is most known for his work with the Wrecking Crew in California. Blaine played on numerous hits by popular groups, including Elvis Presley, John Denver, the Ronettes, Simon & Garfunkel, the Carpenters, the Beach Boys, Nancy Sinatra, and...
.
In the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, it was the Johnny Mann
Johnny Mann
Johnny Mann is an American arranger, composer, conductor, entertainer, and recording artist.-Career:...
Singers' cover version that became the Top 10 hit, reaching No. 6 in August 1967. This version hit the US "Bubbling Under The Top 100" survey, as well as the Easy Listening chart.
Diana Ross & the Supremes
The Supremes
The Supremes, an American female singing group, were the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s.Originally founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, The Supremes' repertoire included doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway show tunes, psychedelic soul, and disco...
recorded a version of the song in 1967 for their album Reflections.
Dionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick is an American singer, actress and TV show host, who became a United Nations Global Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization, and a United States Ambassador of Health....
recorded a version of the tune on her 1967 Valley Of The Dolls
Dionne Warwick in Valley of the Dolls
Dionne Warwick in Valley of the Dolls -- Dionne Warwick's twelfth album for the Scepter label -- was recorded during the summer and fall of 1967 and was released early the next year. It was recorded at A&R Sound Studios in New York and was produced by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. The LP was...
.
The Impressions released their version on their 1968 album We're a Winner
We're a Winner (album)
We're a Winner is an album by the American soul music group The Impressions. The album was their last one released before they changed to the Curtom Records label....
.
Mrs. Miller sang a cover version in 1968 on her LP record Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing. She has been known for her renditions of popular songs and singing out of tune.
Cultural references
- The 5th Dimension recording was used in the film Born on the Fourth of JulyBorn on the Fourth of July (film)Born on the Fourth of July is a 1989 American film adaptation of the best selling autobiography of the same name by Vietnam War veteran Ron Kovic. Tom Cruise plays Kovic, in a performance that earned him his first Academy Award nomination. Oliver Stone co-wrote the screenplay with Kovic, and also...
. - Fred NorrisFred NorrisEric Fred Norris is an American radio personality known for being the longest-tenured staff member of The Howard Stern Show aside from Stern himself...
of The Howard Stern Show uses a sitarSitarThe 'Tablaman' is a plucked stringed instrument predominantly used in Hindustani classical music, where it has been ubiquitous since the Middle Ages...
-only cover of this song when discussing or introducing a guest of South Asian heritage. - On one of the main menus for Homestar RunnerHomestar RunnerHomestar Runner is a Flash animated Internet cartoon. It mixes surreal humor with references to retro pop culture, notably video games, classic television, and popular music.The cartoons are nominally centered on the title character, Homestar Runner...
, Strong BadStrong BadStrong Bad is one of the major characters of the Homestar Runner series of animated Flash web cartoons. He is portrayed by Matt Chapman, the principal voice actor and co-founder of the series. Strong Bad enjoys pranking the other characters of the series, along with his ever-diligent lackey pet...
can be seen riding in a hot air balloon and reciting a fragment of the song. - The song was used on The Fresh Prince of Bel-AirThe Fresh Prince of Bel-AirThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from September 10, 1990 to May 20, 1996. The show stars Will Smith as a fictionalized version of himself, a street-smart teenager from West Philadelphia who is sent to move in with his aunt and uncle in their...
in a fifth season episode, "Grumpy Young Men", when Carlton tries to set the mood for a date; when Will hears it, and sees Carlton dancing to the song, Will asks, "What the hell are you doing?" - Is used in the film Bridget Jones's DiaryBridget Jones's Diary (film)Bridget Jones's Diary is a 2001 British romantic comedy film based on Helen Fielding's novel of the same name. The adaptation stars Renée Zellweger as Bridget, Hugh Grant as the caddish Daniel Cleaver, and Colin Firth as Bridget's "true love", Mark Darcy...
. - The Muppet ShowThe Muppet ShowThe Muppet Show is a British television programme produced by American puppeteer Jim Henson and featuring Muppets. After two pilot episodes were produced in 1974 and 1975, the show premiered on 5 September 1976 and five series were produced until 15 March 1981, lasting 120 episodes...
featured the song in a short sketch with Rowlf performing the song and singing the opening title line, only to have his candelabra on his piano interrupt him by literally launching into the air like a rocket.