3:47 EST

Last updated
3:47 EST
Klaatu - 3.47 EST cover.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 11, 1976
Recorded1973–76
Genre
Length36:36
Label Daffodil, Capitol
Producer Terry Brown, Klaatu
Klaatu chronology
3:47 EST
(1976)
Hope
(1977)
Singles from 3:47 EST

3:47 EST is the debut album by the Canadian progressive rock group Klaatu, released in August 1976. The album was renamed Klaatu when released in the United States by Capitol Records. The album is notable for its Beatlesque psychedelia. [1] The Juno-nominated album cover was painted by a friend of Klaatu's members, a Canadian graphic artist, Ted Jones.

Contents

Rumours spread in the wake of the album's release that Klaatu were, in fact, a secretly reunited Beatles. [2] The album was moderately successful in the United States, largely as a result of the Beatles rumours. [3] Capitol Records seized the opportunity by giving elusive answers to press inquiries regarding the rumour, which further fueled media attention and publicity.

A remastered version of the album was released on Klaatu's indie record label "Klaatunes" in 2011. To accompany this release, a music video was made for the remastered version of "Calling Occupants". [4]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Dave Sleger, Allmusic
(Klaatu/Hope two-in-one)
Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Peter Kurtz, Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [6]

Origin of the title

In the 1951 science fiction film The Day the Earth Stood Still , the alien emissary Klaatu arrives in Washington, D.C. at 3:47 in the afternoon Eastern Standard Time. According to a 1981 issue of the group's newsletter, "one of the band's member[s] viewed a screening ... and was immediately impressed by the appropriateness of the character Klaatu's arrival time on earth as the title of the band Klaatu's debut record album". [7]

Musical style

AllMusic 's Dave Sleger said "Klaatu frequently alternated between Beatlesque pop, the showy guitar rock and vocal theatrics of early Queen, and the electronic orchestral techniques pioneered by Wendy Carlos, or worked all three into the structure of a four- or five-minute song". [8] Peter Kutz observed surf music, ‘70s progressive rock, and children’s novelty song on the album. [9] Pitchfork described the album as “a wonderfully weird cross-section of Beatles-esque psych pop and '70s prog”. [10]

Goldmine called the album a collection of “well-produced pop-rock songs”, and noted similarities to the Beach Boys, Pink Floyd, Moody Blues, King Crimson, and the Beatles. [11] MusicHound , in its guide to rock music, observed baroque pop arrangements. [12]

Track listing

Side 1
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft"John Woloschuk, Terry Draper7:10
2."California Jam"Woloschuk, Dino Tome3:03
3."Anus of Uranus"Dee Long3:18
4."Sub-Rosa Subway"Woloschuk, Tome4:34
Side 2
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
5."True Life Hero"Long3:24
6."Doctor Marvello"Woloschuk3:34
7."Sir Bodsworth Rugglesby III"Woloschuk3:26
8."Little Neutrino"Long8:07
Total length:36:36

The album ends with a mouse squeak. Their following album, Hope, begins with a mouse squeak. CDs that feature both albums on one disc omit one of these squeaks.

Personnel

The first pressing, and most reissues of this album, do not list the names of the band members. [13]

Klaatu
Additional musicians
Production

Charts

Chart (1976-1977)Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [15] 17
Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [16] 40
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [17] 35
US Billboard 200 [18] 32

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [19] Gold50,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strawberry Fields Forever</span> 1967 single by the Beatles

"Strawberry Fields Forever" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was released on 13 February 1967 as a double A-side single with "Penny Lane". It represented a departure from the group's previous singles and a novel listening experience for the contemporary pop audience. While the song initially divided and confused music critics and the group's fans, it proved highly influential on the emerging psychedelic genre. Its accompanying promotional film is similarly recognised as a pioneering work in the medium of music video.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beatlesque</span> Resemblance to the English band the Beatles

"Beatlesque" or "Beatles-esque" describes a musical resemblance to the English rock band the Beatles. The term is loosely defined and has been applied inconsistently to a wide variety of disparate artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Klaatu (band)</span> Canadian rock band formed 1973

Klaatu was a Canadian rock group formed in 1973 by the duo of John Woloschuk and Dee Long. They named themselves after an ambassador, Klaatu, from an extraterrestrial confederation who visits Earth with his companion robot Gort in the film The Day the Earth Stood Still. After recording two non-charting singles, the band added drummer Terry Draper to the line-up; this trio constituted Klaatu throughout the rest of the band's recording career.

<i>Hope</i> (Klaatu album) 1977 studio album by Klaatu

Hope is the second album by the Canadian rock band Klaatu and their first concept album. Released in September 1977, it won a Juno Award for "Best Engineered Album" and a Canadian Music Critics award for "Best Album" that same year. The album follows the loose concept of space travelers visiting a distant planet.

<i>Days of Future Passed</i> 1967 studio album by The Moody Blues

Days of Future Passed is the second album and first concept album by English progressive rock band the Moody Blues, released in November 1967 by Deram Records.

"Sub-Rosa Subway" is a song written by the Canadian rock band Klaatu, from their album 3:47 EST, describing the efforts of Alfred Ely Beach to create the Beach Pneumatic Transit, the New York City Subway's precursor. His work is described as secretive. The song peaked at No. 62 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft</span> 1976 single by Klaatu

"Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft" is a song by Canadian rock band Klaatu, originally released in 1976 on their first album 3:47 EST. The song was played to open night-time transmission of the pirate radio station Radio Caroline. The year following its release, American soft rock duo the Carpenters covered the song, using a crew of 160 musicians. The Carpenters' version reached the top 10 in the UK and Canada, and charted at number 1 in Ireland.

<i>Sir Army Suit</i> 1978 studio album by Klaatu

Sir Army Suit is the third album recorded by the Canadian rock band Klaatu.

<i>Sun Set</i> 2005 box set by Klaatu

Sun Set is a box set of various Klaatu rarities, outtakes, demos, live tracks and other recordings from 1973 to 1981. It was launched at the "KlaatuKon" 2005 convention in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The final nine tracks on disc one are alternate versions of Klaatu's second album project, Hope. Referred to as "The Orchestral Hope", this included a track not present on the version of Hope which was originally released; "Epilogue," which joined "So Said the Lighthouse Keeper" and "Hope".

<i>Endangered Species</i> (Klaatu album) 1980 studio album by Klaatu

Endangered Species is the fourth and penultimate album by the Canadian rock band Klaatu, released in mid-1980. It was branded upon release as an attempt at a harder rock and roll sound geared for AOR radio, contrasting with the pop stylings of their previous album Sir Army Suit.

<i>Magentalane</i> 1981 studio album by Klaatu

Magentalane was the fifth and final album of new material by the Canadian rock group Klaatu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tomorrow Never Knows</span> 1966 song by the Beatles

"Tomorrow Never Knows" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, written primarily by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was released in August 1966 as the final track on their album Revolver, although it was the first song recorded for the LP. The song marked a radical departure for the Beatles, as the band fully embraced the potential of the recording studio without consideration for reproducing the results in concert.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Savoy Truffle</span> 1968 song by the Beatles

"Savoy Truffle" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1968 album The Beatles. The song was written by George Harrison and inspired by his friend Eric Clapton's fondness for chocolate. The lyrics list the various flavours offered in Mackintosh's Good News chocolates and serve as a warning to Clapton about the detrimental effect that his gorging would have on his teeth. Along with Clapton's guest appearance on the White Album track "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and Harrison reciprocating on Cream's "Badge", it is one of several songs that mark the start of a long-lasting musical association between the two guitarists.

<i>The Discovery of a World Inside the Moone</i> 2000 studio album by The Apples in Stereo

The Discovery of a World Inside the Moone (2000) is the fourth album from The Apples in Stereo. It received generally good reviews as a showcase for the band's experimental/psychedelic pop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flying (Beatles instrumental)</span> 1967 instrumental by the Beatles

"Flying" is an instrumental recorded by the English rock band The Beatles which first appeared on the 1967 Magical Mystery Tour release. It is one of the few songs credited to all four members of the band: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No Matter What (Badfinger song)</span> Single by Badfinger

"No Matter What" is a song originally recorded by Badfinger for their album No Dice in 1970, written and sung by Pete Ham and produced by Mal Evans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You</span> 1967 single by the Bee Gees

"Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You" is a song written by Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb released by the Bee Gees in 1967 on their album Bee Gees' 1st. It was released as the B-side to "Holiday" in the US, Australia and Canada.

"Little Neutrino" is a track written by Dee Long, from the album 3:47 EST by the progressive rock group Klaatu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Why (Yoko Ono song)</span> Song by Yoko Ono

"Why" is a song written by Yoko Ono that was first released on her 1970 Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band album. In the U.S. it was also released as the B-side of John Lennon's "Mother" single, taken from his John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Line (Foo Fighters song)</span> 2018 single by Foo Fighters

"The Line" is a song by American rock band Foo Fighters. The song is from the band's ninth studio album Concrete and Gold, being released as a promotional song a week in advance of the album's release. It was released as the album's third single on May 1, 2018, after "Run" and "The Sky Is a Neighborhood".

References

  1. Vernon, Jamie (1990). "KLAATU "IT WAS 20 YEARS AGO TODAY..." GREAT WHITE NOISE Vol.1/No.4. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  2. "Klaatu Identities and Beatles Rumors". Klaatu.org. Retrieved 2011-09-03.
  3. Dave Marsh and John Swenson, Rolling Stone Record Guide, Random House 1979
  4. "Klaatu's official website homepage". Archived from the original on 2019-09-16. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
  5. "Klaatu/Hope - Klaatu | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic .
  6. "3:47 EST - Klaatu | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic .
  7. The Morning Sun, Fall, 1981 - Issue No. V. Retrieved 2011-07-14 (Bastille Day).
  8. https://www.allmusic.com/album/klaatu-hope-mw0000199578 "Klaatu/Hope". AllMusic.
  9. "3:47 EST - Klaatu | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic .
  10. "6 Pitchfork Staffers on the Best Albums They Found Based on the Cover Art | Pitchfork". Pitchfork .
  11. Stinnett, Conrad. "Being compared to The Beatles proved to be a mixed blessing for Klaatu". Goldmine .
  12. Graff, Gary (1996). MusicHound rock: The Essential Album Guide. p. 392.
  13. "The Official Klaatu Homepage".
  14. "1997 Interview with John Woloschuk of Klaatu". Archived from the original on 2016-04-09. Retrieved 2017-11-05.
  15. "Austriancharts.at – Klaatu – Klaatu" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  16. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 5239a". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  17. "Offiziellecharts.de – Klaatu – Klaatu" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  18. "Klaatu Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  19. "Canadian album certifications – Klaltu – 3:47 EST". Music Canada . Retrieved March 25, 2024.