Five O'Clock World

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

• 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.[2]
• 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.[3]

• "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.[4]
• 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 song—including the Bowling for Soup-recorded version—were 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.

• The Vogues - Five O'Clock World on YouTube