Time (Clock of the Heart)
Encyclopedia
"Time" is a song by the British band Culture Club
, released as stand-alone single in most of the world and as the second single from their debut album Kissing to Be Clever
in North America. Following on the heels of the number-one UK hit, "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me", "Time (Clock of the Heart)" peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart
. In the U.S., the song matched the number-two peak of its predecessor on the Billboard Hot 100
.
In Europe and United Kingdom, it was a stand-alone single, released in November 1982. For this market, its first inclusion on a Culture Club album was on their 1987 compilation, called This Time: The First Four Years.
The music video has been released in two versions. The only difference was a scene where the group is watching TV, along with vocalist Helen Terry
. In one version, a Christmas tree is shown. In the other, the tree is removed. This was because of the date of release for certain markets. The "Christmas" version (which is on the 2005 DVD "Greatest Hits"), was for European countries and the "regular version" was for the other markets, where the song was released in spring 1983.
Like many of the songs composed by George at this time, the lyrics interrogate the pleasure and shame inherent in taboo homosexual relationships. The song can be interpreted as both a seduction piece, and a lament, for Jon Moss, the band's drummer, with whom George was romantically involved.
The song has been remixed in 1998 for a Japanese compilation. It was also released as a "reggae dub" version on Culture Club's 2002 Box Set. A rare promo 12" was also issued in 1999 in United Kingdom, including three dance remixes by Quivver, which was released in the same time as Culture Club's single "Your Kisses Are Charity". One remix (Amityville Mix) was also included on the limited CD of that single.
In 2008, for his solo shows, Boy George let his former backing singer, Zee Asha, sing this song as a special guest.
R&B/Soul singer Sonnyboy covered "Time (Clock of the Heart)" on his album "The Barfly Theory" in 2010.
American-born singer Leah Dizon
covered "Time (Clock of the Heart)" on her Japanese debut album, Destiny Line
, in 2007.
LA band Shitting Glitter
recorded the song as a B Side for their "Ladyslipper" single in 2005.
R&B group 4 P.M.
covered "Time (Clock of the Heart) on their album "Now's The Time" in 1995.
Culture Club
Culture Club are a British rock band who were part of the 1980s New Romantic movement. The original band consisted of Boy George , Mikey Craig , Roy Hay and Jon Moss...
, released as stand-alone single in most of the world and as the second single from their debut album Kissing to Be Clever
Kissing to Be Clever
Kissing to Be Clever is the debut album by new wave soul band Culture Club, released in 1982.-Overview:The album was anchored by the international hit "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me". The album's first two singles were "White Boy" , and "I'm Afraid of Me"...
in North America. Following on the heels of the number-one UK hit, "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me", "Time (Clock of the Heart)" peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. In the U.S., the song matched the number-two peak of its predecessor on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
In Europe and United Kingdom, it was a stand-alone single, released in November 1982. For this market, its first inclusion on a Culture Club album was on their 1987 compilation, called This Time: The First Four Years.
The music video has been released in two versions. The only difference was a scene where the group is watching TV, along with vocalist Helen Terry
Helen Terry
Helen Terry is a British singer, known for her backing vocal work with Culture Club. As a solo performer, she scored a Top 40 hit single in 1984 with "Love Lies Lost", and released one album in 1986, Blue Notes....
. In one version, a Christmas tree is shown. In the other, the tree is removed. This was because of the date of release for certain markets. The "Christmas" version (which is on the 2005 DVD "Greatest Hits"), was for European countries and the "regular version" was for the other markets, where the song was released in spring 1983.
Like many of the songs composed by George at this time, the lyrics interrogate the pleasure and shame inherent in taboo homosexual relationships. The song can be interpreted as both a seduction piece, and a lament, for Jon Moss, the band's drummer, with whom George was romantically involved.
The song has been remixed in 1998 for a Japanese compilation. It was also released as a "reggae dub" version on Culture Club's 2002 Box Set. A rare promo 12" was also issued in 1999 in United Kingdom, including three dance remixes by Quivver, which was released in the same time as Culture Club's single "Your Kisses Are Charity". One remix (Amityville Mix) was also included on the limited CD of that single.
In 2008, for his solo shows, Boy George let his former backing singer, Zee Asha, sing this song as a special guest.
Formats and track listing
- 7" Single (UK, Europe, Canada)
- "Time (Clock of the Heart)" – 3:42
- "White Boys Can't Control It" – 3:42
- 7" Single (U.S.)
- "Time (Clock of the Heart)" – 3:41
- "Romance Beyond the Alphabet" (Time Instrumental) – 3:34
- 12" Single (UK, Europe)
- A1."Time (Clock of the Heart)" – 3:42
- B1."White Boys Can't Control It" – 3:42
- B2."Romance Beyond the Alphabet" – 3:44
- 12" Single (Canada)
- A1."Time (Clock of the Heart)" – 3:42
- B1."Romance Beyond The Alphabet" – 3:42
- B2."I'm Afraid Of Me (Extended Version)" –
- 12" Single/EP (Japan)
- A1."Time (Clock of the Heart)" – 3:42
- A2."White Boy (Long Version)"
- B1."I'm Afraid Of Me (Long Version)" –
- B2."Do You Really Want To Hurt Me (Dub Version)" –
Credits and personnel
- Boy GeorgeBoy GeorgeBoy George is a British singer-songwriter who was part of the English New Romantic movement which emerged in the early 1980s. He helped give androgyny an international stage with the success of Culture Club during the 1980s. His music is often classified as blue-eyed soul, which is influenced by...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Jon MossJon MossJon Moss is an English drummer best known as a member of the 1980s pop group Culture Club. He has also played with other bands, including London, The Nips and The Damned.-Early life:...
– drums, tambourineTambourineThe tambourine or marine is a musical instrument of the percussion family consisting of a frame, often of wood or plastic, with pairs of small metal jingles, called "zils". Classically the term tambourine denotes an instrument with a drumhead, though some variants may not have a head at all....
, audio mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may... - Ron Hay – guitars, tubular bellTubular bellTubular bells are musical instruments in the percussion family. Each bell is a metal tube, 30–38 mm in diameter, tuned by altering its length. Its standard range is from C4-F5, though many professional instruments reach G5 . Tubular bells are often replaced by studio chimes, which are a smaller...
s - Michael CraigMikey CraigMikey Craig is a former DJ who became the bassist with Culture Club, one of the most popular bands of the 1980s.-Personal life:...
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, moog bass - Helen TerryHelen TerryHelen Terry is a British singer, known for her backing vocal work with Culture Club. As a solo performer, she scored a Top 40 hit single in 1984 with "Love Lies Lost", and released one album in 1986, Blue Notes....
– backing vocals - Steve Grainger – saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
- Phil Picket – additional keyboards
- Trevor Bastow – strings arrangementString sectionThe string section is the largest body of the standard orchestra and consists of bowed string instruments of the violin family.It normally comprises five sections: the first violins, the second violins, the violas, the cellos, and the double basses...
- Mike Ross – engineerAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
- Steve LevineSteve LevineSteve Levine is a British record producer, most famous for his work on Culture Club's studio albums.Levine also has produced work for John Howard, China Crisis, Motorhead, Ziggy Marley, Westworld, The Beach Boys, and Gary Moore....
– producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, audio mixing - Gordon Milne – assistant engineer
- Mark Labon – photographyPhotographyPhotography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
- Jik Graham – cover designCover artCover art is the illustration or photograph on the outside of a published product such as a book , magazine, comic book, video game , DVD, CD, videotape, or music album. The art has a primarily commercial function, i.e...
Chart positions
| Chart (1982) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgian VRT Top 30 VRT Top 30 The VRT Top 30 or Radio 2 Top 30 is a Belgian record chart that runs on the VRT, more specifically on Radio 2. The list is the new version of the old BRT Top 30, that changed along with the media group's name in 1992.... |
9 |
| Dutch Top 40 Dutch Top 40 The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting... |
7 |
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
4 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
3 |
| Chart (1983) | Peak position |
| Australian Kent Music Report Kent Music Report The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998... |
12 |
| Austrian Singles Chart Ö3 Austria Top 40 Ö3 Austria Top 40 is the name of the official Austrian singles chart, as well as the radio show which presents it, aired Fridays on Hitradio Ö3. The show presents the Austrian singles, ringtones and downloads chart. It premiered on 26 November 1968 as Disc Parade and was presented by Ernst Grissemann... |
9 |
| Canadian RPM Singles Chart RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
4 |
| German Singles Chart | 16 |
| New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
4 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 11 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 9 |
| U.S. Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... Hot 100 |
2 |
Certifications
| Country | Provider | Certification | Sales/shipments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | CRIA Canadian Recording Industry Association Music Canada is a Toronto-based, non-profit trade organization that was founded 9 April 1963 to represent the interests of companies that record, artists, manufacture, production, promotion and distribution of music in Canada... |
Gold | 50,000+ |
| United Kingdom | BPI British Phonographic Industry The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies... |
Gold | 500,000+ |
Cover versions
San Francisco drag queen entertainer/recording artist Sheena Rose covered "Time (Clock Of The Heart)" and released it as a single in 2011 on iTunes and Amazon.R&B/Soul singer Sonnyboy covered "Time (Clock of the Heart)" on his album "The Barfly Theory" in 2010.
American-born singer Leah Dizon
Leah Dizon
Leah Dizon is an American-born former gaijin tarento, singer, and model in Japan. Born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, she moved to Tokyo, Japan in 2006 to pursue a career in entertainment...
covered "Time (Clock of the Heart)" on her Japanese debut album, Destiny Line
Destiny Line
Destiny Line is the debut studio album by American-born Japanese pop singer Leah Dizon. It was released on September 12, 2007 by Victor Entertainment...
, in 2007.
LA band Shitting Glitter
Shitting Glitter
Shitting Glitter is an American avant-pop band inspired by new wave and electronic rock. The band was formed in 2001 by Amy Crosby , Devin Tait and Yvonne "Mag" Edwards . After multiple lineup changes, Brandon Glen replaced Edwards as the guitar player and the trio released their debut album...
recorded the song as a B Side for their "Ladyslipper" single in 2005.
R&B group 4 P.M.
4 P.M.
4 P.M. , is an American male R&B group best known for their cover version of "Sukiyaki", which peaked at number 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in February 1995....
covered "Time (Clock of the Heart) on their album "Now's The Time" in 1995.