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

Background 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.Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series - Page 1977 1969, Sheppard, Neil. 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.Billboard, September 6, 1969 - Page 102 International News Reports, Polydor to Issue 'Hands" In England

Charts The single was in the Recommended Canadian Content section of RPM Weekly on May 26. It was also picking up in Montreal and Ontario.RPM Weekly, Volume 11 No. 13 Week of May 26th. 1969 - Page 18 Recommended Canadian ContentRPM Weekly, Volume 11 No. 13 Week of May 26th. 1969 - Page 23 RECORDS 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.RPM Weekly, Volume 11 No. 15 Week of June 9th, 1969 - Page 10 Canadian Content ChartRPM Weekly, Volume 11 No. 15 Week of June 9th, 1969 - Page 11 RPM100 By July 14, the group appeared on the RPM Weekly cover.RPM Weekly, Volume 11 No. 20 Week of July 14th, 1969 - Page 1 U.S. Release For Polydor's Life Their single was also at its second week at #4 on the RPM Canadian Content Chart.RPM Weekly, Volume 11 No. 20 Week of July 14th, 1969 - Page 4 RPM Canadian Content Chart It had also moved up from #48 to #43 on the RPM100 Chart.RPM Weekly, Volume 11 No. 20 Week of July 14th, 1969 - Page 5 RPM100

Stateside it was making some progress and 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".Billboard, August 2, 1969 - Page 57 Canadian News Report, Maple Leaf Network Helps Booming Canadian Talent By RITCHIE YORKE

The song eventually got to #19 on Canada's RPM chart.citizenfreak.com (© Museum of Canadian Music) - Life - ST

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