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 rock. The Juno-nominated album cover was painted by a friend of Klaatu's members, the Canadian graphic artist, Ted Jones.

3:47 EST
Studio album by Klaatu
Released	August 11, 1976
Recorded	1973–76
Genre	Progressive rock[1] psychedelic pop[2]
Length	41:52
Label	Daffodil, Capitol
Producer	Terry Brown, Klaatu
Klaatu chronology
3:47 EST (1976) Hope (1977)

Rumours spread in the wake of the album's release that Klaatu were, in fact, a secretly reunited Beatles.[3] The album was moderately successful in the United States, largely as a result of the Beatles rumours.[4]

A high-quality newly 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".[5]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Dave Sleger, Allmusic	[6]
Peter Kurtz, Allmusic	[7]

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".[8]

Musical style

AllMusic's Mike DeGagne has retrospectively called the album "an entertaining debut album made up of light, harmonic pop songs which harbor a little bit of a progressive rock feel in a few spots". Dave Sleger of the website 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". 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]

Track listing

Side 1

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft"	John Woloschuk, Terry Draper	7:14
2.	"California Jam"	Woloschuk, Dino Tome	3:01
3.	"Anus of Uranus"	Dee Long	3:16
4.	"Sub-Rosa Subway"	Woloschuk, Tome	4:36

Side 2

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
5.	"True Life Hero"	Long	3:25
6.	"Doctor Marvello"	Woloschuk	3:37
7.	"Sir Bodsworth Rugglesby III"	Woloschuk	3:22
8.	"Little Neutrino"	Long	8:25

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

Klaatu

• John Woloschuk - vocals, piano, organ, mellotron, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, synthesizers, percussion
• Dee Long - vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, electric sitar, synthesizers, ukulele, mellotron
• Terry Draper - drums, percussion, tympani, vocals

Additional musicians

• Doug Riley - strings, woodwind, and xylophone on "Sir Bodsworth Rugglesby III"
• Vern Dorge - chimes on "Sub Rosa Subway"
• Bruce Cassidy - trumpet on "Doctor Marvello"
• Raymond Gassi - backing vocals on "California Jam" [11]

Production

• Produced by Terry Brown & Klaatu
• Recorded & engineered by Steve Vaughn & Terry Brown
• Tape operators: Brian Bell & Paul Barker

The band members are not named on the original LP.[12]

References

1. https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/carpenters-meet-prog/amp/
2. https://www.pitchfork.com/thepitch/6-pitchfork-staffers-on-the-best-albums-they-found-based-on-the-cover-art/amp/
3. "Klaatu Identities and Beatles Rumors". Klaatu.org. Retrieved 2011-09-03.
4. Dave Marsh and John Swenson, Rolling Stone Record Guide, Random House 1979
5. "Klaatu's official website homepage". Archived from the original on 2019-09-16. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
6. http://www.allmusic.com/album/klaatu-hope-mw0000199578
7. http://www.allmusic.com/album/347-est-mw0000227255
8. The Morning Sun, Fall, 1981 - Issue No. V. Retrieved 2011-07-14 (Bastille Day).
9. http://www.allmusic.com/album/347-est-mw0000227255
10. https://www.pitchfork.com/thepitch/6-pitchfork-staffers-on-the-best-albums-they-found-based-on-the-cover-art/amp/
11. "1997 Interview with John Woloschuk of Klaatu". Archived from the original on 2016-04-09. Retrieved 2017-11-05.
12. http://www.klaatu.org/

External links

• "3:47 EST" at discogs