When Bill Haley and the Comets recorded their legendary Rock Around The Clock on April 12, 1954, they couldn't have known how big a tidal wave they were unleashing on the world.

For a start the Comets are widely acclaimed as the US's first rock'n'roll band. Even though there may be other contenders for that title Bill Haley, Danny Cedrone, Billy Williamson, Johnny Grande, Joey D'Ambrosio, Marshall Lytle and Billy Gussack - the Comets line-up that recorded the song that April - are surely the quintessential rock'n'rollers.

So successful was the record to become that it would eventually sell over 25 million copies, making it the third best selling single of all time - only surpassed by Frankie Laine's I Believe and Frank Sinatra's My Way.

The record was highly influential on the development of popular music in the 20th century on a number of levels. But one rarely explored aspect of its legacy is the extent to which its lyrics have been taken literally by musicians through the five decades since it was first released. One way or another, the music industry <em>has</em> managed to rock around the clock - more or less.

Beatsteaks - 2 O'Clock
Bob Marley - Rebel Music (3 O'Clock Road Block)
The Police - 3 O'Clock Shot
B.B. King and Lowell Fulsom - Three O'Clock Blues
Lazard - 4 O'Clock In The Morning
The Levellers - 4 A.M.
Pogue Mahone - 4 O'Clock In The Morning
Alan Jackson & Jimmy Buffett - It's Five O'Clock Somewhere
The Verve - 6 O'Clock
The Quireboys - 7 O'Clock
Simon & Garfunkel - 7 O'Clock News
Speedsters and Dopers - 9 O'Clock In The Afternoon (album)
Gala - 10 O'Clock
U2 - 11 O'Clock Tick Tock
Doris Day - Twelve O'Clock Tonight
The Jam - Down In A Tube Station At Midnight

No-one has yet accounted for one o'clock or for eight o'clock, although time is sure to take care of that. Some musicians have been more enterprising and thought outside the box: for example XTC, who released a song called 25 o'clock.

Taking the concept of time a bit more broadly, there have been innumerable record releases that deal with the subject. There was even a well-known psychedelic band in the 1960s that rejoiced in the name of Strawberry Alarm Clock. Whether this is an indication that Haley et al's influence is completely pervasive it is up to the reader to decide. A brief list of some of the more obvious song titles may help you make up your mind.

10cc - 24 Hours
The Beatles - Eight Days A Week
Blackmore's Night - The Clock Ticks On
Bob Marley - Time Will Tell
Cher - If I Could Turn Back Time
Culture Club - Time Clock Of The Heart
The Cure - A Thousand Hours
Elton John - And The Clock Goes Round
Gene Pitney - 24 Hours From Tulsa
Johnny Hates Jazz - Turn Back The Clock
Kathy Mar - Dancing On A Clock
Metallica - The Small Hours
The Rasmus - Time To Burn
Triumph - 24 Hours A Day
The Vengaboys - 48 Hours