# Five O'Clock World

"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 bass 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.

## Personnel

* Bill Burkette - lead vocals
* Don Miller - backing vocals
* Hugh Geyer - backing vocals
* Chuck Blasko - backing vocals
* Chip Young - 12-string acoustic guitar
* David Briggs - keyboards
* Norbert Putnam - bass
* Jerry Carrigan - drums
* Rich Engler - drums

## Cover versions

* 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.
* 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.)
* 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.
* Scottish rock band The Proclaimers covered the song for their 2003 album Born Innocent.
* It was also covered by Bowling for Soup for several episodes of The Drew Carey Show from 2002 to 2004 and included as a bonus track on some editions of their 2005 album Bowling for Soup Goes to the Movies.

## Chart history
### The Vogues

| Chart (1965–1966) | Peak position |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 1 |
| New Zealand (Listener) | 2 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 4 |
| US Cash Box Top 100 | 3 |

### Hal Ketchum

| Chart (1992) | Peak position |
| Canada Country Tracks (RPM) | 21 |
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard) | 16 |