"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 on the U.S. Pop Singles chart, No. 18 in Canada, and No. 1 in Australia. The single peaked at No. 9 on Billboard's Easy Listening Top 40. The song placed No. 43 on BMI's "Top 100 Songs of the Century".[1]
A canonical example of sunshine pop, themed around images of hot air ballooning, it cleaned up at the 10th Grammy Awards in 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 picked up aGrammy Award for Best Performance by a Chorus in 1968 and hit the 1967 US Hot 100 survey, peaking at #91, 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 Sunshine Company included the song on their 1967 debut album Happy Is the Sunshine Company.
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.
Andy Williams released a version in 1968 on his album, Honey.
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, slightly altered as "Up up and away with TAA, the friendly friendly way!".[2]
The Kidsongs Kids sang a cover version in 1986 on their Kidsongs video "Cars, Boats, Trains and Planes"
Used by The Prodigy in the album Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned, in the song "Hot Ride"
Several bars of this song were reprised in the Love Generation version of "Montage" (written by Webb for the movie How Sweet It Is).