"Hands of the Clock" was a hit for Canadian band Life in 1969. It was written and produced by Neil Sheppard.

"Hands of the Clock"
Song by Life
B-side"Ain't I Told You Before"
Released1969
LabelPolydor
Songwriter(s)Neil Sheppard
Producer(s)Neil Sheppard
Life singles chronology
"Hands of the Clock"
(1969)
"Sweet Lovin'"
(1969)

Background edit

The group's debut single, "Hands of the Clock" bw "Ain't I Told You Before" was released on Polydor 540.009 in 1969. Both sides were written by Neil Sheppard.[1] With a strong response to the single in the United States, it was noted in the September, 1969 issue of Billboard that it would be released in England on Polydor.[2]

Charts edit

The single was in the Recommended Canadian Content section of RPM Weekly on May 26. It was also picking up in Montreal and Ontario.[3][4] By June 9 it was charting, having just entered the Canadian Content Chart at #9. It also made its entry into the RPM100 Chart at the #100 spot.[5][6] By July 14, the group appeared on the RPM Weekly cover.[7] Their single was also at its second week at #4 on the RPM Canadian Content Chart.[8] It had also moved up from #48 to #43 on the RPM100 Chart.[9]

Stateside it was making some progress an Billboard wrote in the August 2 issue that "Hands of the Clock" by Life, "Laughing" by The Guess Who and "When I Die" by Motherlode were three Canadian produced singles that were either in the Billboard "Hot Hundred" or "Bubbling Under".[10]

The song eventually got to #19 on Canada's RPM chart.[11]

References edit

  1. ^ Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series - Page 1977 1969, Sheppard, Neil.
  2. ^ Billboard, September 6, 1969 - Page 102 International News Reports, Polydor to Issue 'Hands" In England
  3. ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 11 No. 13 Week of May 26th. 1969 - Page 18 Recommended Canadian Content
  4. ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 11 No. 13 Week of May 26th. 1969 - Page 23 RECORDS
  5. ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 11 No. 15 Week of June 9th, 1969 - Page 10 Canadian Content Chart
  6. ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 11 No. 15 Week of June 9th, 1969 - Page 11 RPM100
  7. ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 11 No. 20 Week of July 14th, 1969 - Page 1 U.S. Release For Polydor's Life
  8. ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 11 No. 20 Week of July 14th, 1969 - Page 4 RPM Canadian Content Chart
  9. ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 11 No. 20 Week of July 14th, 1969 - Page 5 RPM100
  10. ^ Billboard, August 2, 1969 - Page 57 Canadian News Report, Maple Leaf Network Helps Booming Canadian Talent By RITCHIE YORKE
  11. ^ citizenfreak.com (© Museum of Canadian Music) - Life - ST