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Five O'Clock World

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Wikipedia article




"'Five O'Clock World'" (also known as "'5 O'Clock World'") is a song written by Allen Reynolds and recorded by American vocal group the Vogues. It reached number 1 on WLS on 17 December 1965 and 7 January 1966, number 1 in Canada on the 'RPM' singles chart on 10 January 1966 (their first of two chart-toppers there that year, followed by "Magic Town" in April), and number 4 in the U.S. on the Hot 100 on 1522 January 1966 and is one of the Vogues' best-known hits, along with "You're the One".

Arrangement



The Vogues recording begins with a repeating modal figure on 12-string acoustic guitar (the sound reminiscent of medieval chanson, or contemporaries the Byrds), and swings into stride with a low brass drone, and work-song shouts drenched in reverb. The baritone lead vocal by Bill Burkette is punctuated by counter-melodies and harmonies from the group and rises to a lilting yodel after the chorus, with crescendoing string instruments throughout, in anticipation of the after-work freedom promised in the lyric. The sound of a piano is heard, descending the scale, during the yodel. The sound of the other members of the Vogues can be heard repeating the word "up!" The instrumental track was a demo brought in by producer Tony Moon, cut at RCA Studio B in Nashville. The vocal was then overdubbed in Pittsburgh at Co & Ce studios, with label co-head Nick Cenci. Cenci and the group were unhappy with the drum track, which was then re-recorded using local Grains of Sand drummer, Rich Engler. Later, when the group was signed to Reprise, strings were added by arranger Ernie Freeman, overdubbed onto the original Co & Ce master.

Cover versions



*American country music singer Hal Ketchum covered the song on his 1991 album 'Past the Point of Rescue' (which the song's writer, Allen Reynolds, co-produced with Jim Rooney) and released it as a single. The song peaked at number 16 on the Hot Country Singles chart in 1992.

*Julian Cope also released a cover of the song in 1989 on his album 'My Nation Underground'; Cope changed several of the lyrics and added in a section from the Petula Clark song "I Know a Place." (Both songs were released in 1965.)

*The song was also covered by synthpop group Ballistic Kisses and released as a 12" single in 1982. A shortened version was subsequently included on their debut album, 'Total Access'. As with Cope's cover, some lyrics were changed to reflect views surrounding the Cold War.

*Scottish rock band The Proclaimers covered the song for their 2003 album Born Innocent.

*It was also covered by Bowling for Soup as a bonus track on some editions of their album 'Bowling for Soup Goes to the Movies'.

In popular culture



*"Five O'Clock World" appeared in both the background of a bar scene in the 1987 movie 'Good Morning, Vietnam' and also on the film's soundtrack.

*It was also featured on the American sitcom 'The Drew Carey Show' as its opening theme song during the second season. Various other covers of the songincluding the Bowling for Soup-recorded versionwere used as the show's theme from 2002 to 2004.

*The song also appeared on the soundtrack to the 2003 movie 'Big Fish'.

*In 2021 Simon Mayo used the song every day for his Greatest Hits Radio Drivetime Show at 5pm every evening.

Chart history



The Vogues



Hal Ketchum



References




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