"Up, Up and Away"
Single by the 5th Dimension
from the album Up, Up and Away
B-side"Which Way to Nowhere"
ReleasedMay 1967
RecordedFebruary 22, 1967
StudioSound Recorders, Hollywood, California
GenrePsychedelic pop, sunshine pop Easy Listening
Length2:40
LabelSoul City
Songwriter(s)Jimmy Webb
Producer(s)Johnny Rivers and Marc Gordon
The 5th Dimension singles chronology
"Another Day, Another Heartache"
(1967) 		"Up, Up and Away"
(1967) 		"Paper Cup"
(1967)
"Up, Up and Away"
The 5th Dimension's "Up, Up and Away" from Up, Up and Away
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"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]

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.

Personnel

The musical backing was dominated by members of The Wrecking Crew,[4] 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:[5]

Two other session players featuring prominently in the final mix were Al Casey (acoustic guitar) and Bud Shank (piccolo).[6]

Chart history

Notable cover versions

Usage in media

References

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 91.
  3. ^ "BMI Announces Top 100 Songs of the Century". Broadcast Music, Inc. December 13, 1999. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
  4. ^ Hartman, Kent (2012). The Wrecking Crew. St. Martin's Griffin. pp. 261–263. ISBN 978-1-250-03046-7.
  5. ^ "Up Up And Away AFM Contract" (PDF). The Wrecking Crew. American Federation of Musicians. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. July 22, 1967. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  8. ^ Flavour of New Zealand, 6 October 1967
  9. ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  10. ^ Cash Box Top 100 Singles, July 29, 1967
  11. ^ RPM Top 100 Singles of 1967
  12. ^ Musicoutfitters.com
  13. ^ Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 23, 1967
  14. ^ "1967 GRAMMY WINNERS". www.grammy.com. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  15. ^ "Frank Ifield - Up-Up and Away".
  16. ^ Remnick, David (December 16, 1990). "Day of the Dittohead". The Washington Post. p. C1.
  17. ^ Grossberger, Lewis (December 16, 1990). "The Rush Hours". The New York Times Magazine. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  18. ^ Jones, Dylan (2019). The Wichita Lineman: Searching in the Sun for the World's Greatest Unfinished Song. Faber & Faber. ISBN 9780571353422.
  19. ^ "TAA 1971 advertisement on Youtube". YouTube.
  20. ^ "TAA 1972 advertisement on Youtube". YouTube.
  21. ^ "TAA 1975 advertisement on Youtube". YouTube.

External links

Jimmy Webb
The 5th Dimension
Awards for "Up, Up and Away"
Authority control databases
Categories