Five O'Clock World explained

Five O'Clock World
Cover:Five_O'Clock_World_-_The_Vogues.jpg
Type:single
Artist:The Vogues
Album:Five O'Clock World
B-Side:Nothing to Offer You
Released:October 1965
Genre:Folk rock[1]
Length:2:19
Label:Co & Ce
Prev Title:You're the One
Prev Year:1965
Next Title:Magic Town
Next Year:1966
Five O'Clock World
Cover:Hal Ketchum Five OClock single.png
Type:single
Artist:Hal Ketchum
Album:Past the Point of Rescue
Released:May 25, 1992
Genre:Country pop
Length:3:02
Label:Curb
Prev Title:Past the Point of Rescue
Prev Year:1992
Next Title:Sure Love
Next Year:1992

"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 15–22 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.[2] Later, when the group was signed to Reprise, strings were added by arranger Ernie Freeman, overdubbed onto the original Co & Ce master.

Cover versions

In popular culture

Chart history

The Vogues

Chart (1965–1966)Peak
position
Canadian RPM Top Singles[6] 1
New Zealand (Listener)[7] 2
US Cash Box Top 100[8] 3

Hal Ketchum

Notes and References

  1. Book: Lanza, Joseph. Vanilla Pop: Sweet Sounds from Frankie Avalon to ABBA. The Cake Out in the Rain: The Carpenters and the Sugar-Depression 1970s. 1 February 2005. Chicago Review Press. 1-55652-543-5. 175.
  2. Web site: Mr. Music . Jerryosborne.com . 2016-09-29.
  3. Book: Whitburn, Joel . The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Joel Whitburn . 2004 . Record Research . 189.
  4. Web site: Archived copy . 2008-08-20 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110607033319/http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbumid=89905885&s=143441 . 2011-06-07 .
  5. Web site: Good Morning, Vietnam (1987) - Soundtracks. IMDb.com. 2016-09-29.
  6. http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=10568& R.P.M. Play Sheet, January 10, 1966
  7. http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20listener&qartistid=36#n_view_location Flavour of New Zealand, 27 May 1966
  8. http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/60s_files/19660129.html Cash Box Top 100 Singles, January 29, 1966