The Three O'Clock - Her Head's Revolving

[AJtheory]

Dammit I want this in HQ, without the damn hokey-pokedy at the beginning....I could even do without the video, as long as it's in HQ...

[notmarkatall]

Love to hear "Simon in the Park ( with Tentacles) again. please seed/share.

[AbracadAbrasax]

Josie, its James from Lakewood.  Contact me!

[Vilaries]

The singer could use some testosterone... but otherwise this is alright.

[MrDLOC11]

they were our heroes here in l.a.

we were so spoiled cuz we had GREAT local bands

it was fantastic growing up here also cuz of all the great shows....

and then the rest of the country caught up

and then the world.

[emmers57]

Michael Quercio quite possibly the prettiest boy ever.

[johnwsmoke]

one of the best. thanks mate.

[beowulven]

Should have been bigger than... well, the Go-Gos for damned sure...

[The096757]

@beowulven

yes they and many other alternative bands should have been a bigger and jacko and madonna much smaller. people think of madonna and jacko when the 1980s is mentioned bu that is because they have no idea how much music was out in the 1980s.

[sirroxalot]

I hate everyone who looks and sounds like this, but for some reason this is awesome. 

[punzelove]

he was such a cutie!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gomudhen]

That guitar riff just doesn't want to quit! KIller Tune!

[worksupermodel]

I thought it was funny how the kept zooming in on Michael's hands during the guitar leads. How I love this band though!!! oh I love this band!!! I was so their geek. But they didn't know me, they didn't know me. xo xo

[jimmyhd1969]

Her head's revolving? Must be Linda Blair.

[Rand0mRadi0]

great song! never seen a video before...my long lost 80s youth

[hodadsmusic]

That's because MTV played it twice amongst 3000 Huey Lewis and Madonna videos!

[Skatedaddy9]

I think track one on the new MGMT is a Three O'clock rip off.

[katerperez]

LOVE.

[katerperez]

LOVE.

[TheDaveCC]

such a great band

[SpringSessionZen]

This song could have been from the 60's, 70's, 80's, or 90's!

Great sound. Awesome voice.

[billjonestrpt]

I like it too, but really? Better than Nina Simone? not even the same league.

[genofear]

I forgot all about them but for some reason, a Wire Train video reminded me. I sometimes doubt my memory, but when I saw them in Berkeley, I'm pretty sure that the Bengals opened for them.

[dreeder72]

Does anybody know where to find the lyrics for "jetfighter"? Or can someone post them here?

[EvilBproductions]

this takes me back, fuckin brilliant!

[010308AGS]

Is "Jet Fighter" anywhere on You Tube?

[ecdysis]

@010308AGS Jet Fighter used to be on youtube, looks like the record company took it off

[010308AGS]

Thanks. But I don't understand why.

[beowulven]

MQgreatest voice in pop history, better than Johnnie Ray, Dusty Springfield, Nina Simone...

[beowulven]

Nearly as good as Green Gartside, sorry.

[blacklightposter]

Chaotic and very powerful ...period !

[ThePaistecat]

Amazing! The keyboard player, Mickey, is one of my best friends. This is a spin-off of the Quick, and later Great Buildings. This one is one of their best!

[MazennBb]

this is what best pop music is still about,. sadly its not practi\ced

[echoplus2020]

Ya these guys were master of the 3-minute pop song. Love all this pu stuff.

[Scottydont66]

i wish they would put the video for Jet Fighter

[Ramblebar]

The girl at the end of the video,looks a little like Jane Weidlin from the Go-Go's,and does anybody notice that Michael Querico looks a little like Balki from Perfect Strangers!!!

[freakbeat07]

They did meet Prince and he sent the band notes on the bands demos.

[jimbailey69]

Anybody have the chords for "Jet Fighter"?

[Nic1973KISS]

Does anyone know just how involved personally they were with Prince?  Also---great Cheap Trick style ending in this song---a classic. I loved this band for years.

[reel8super]

They never actually met Prince. Prince liked their music and signed them on his label. Neon Telephone was a song The Three O'Colck selected from a file cabinet filled with songs that Prince had written but never recorded. Prince never wrote a song specifically for them.

[thomasbhunter007]

Anyone know if "Jet Fighter" is available on YT?

[barnaby62326]

Is it that hard to type Youtube?

[thomasbhunter007]

Don't worry yourself about it.

[edgebet]

These Paisley underground bands (not so much the Bangles) are really ahead of their times.

[hodadsmusic]

Someone came in my record store today and bought a Rain parade LP. He remarked about the Paisley Underground. Then he mentioned The Three O'Clock whom I always liked. I flashed back 23 years ago seeing this video on MTV. I'm amazed that I remembered it being on a skating rink in b & w. I guess when your young your memory is pretty good, or so they say. I was 14 then, 37 now.

[crapple009]

The dB'S rule and are making a new album!!!

[McCainTheTurdburglar]

Really? That's very cool. I loved those guys.

[ChristopherMcEneaney]

paisley underground bands had the best looks. only in LA!

[beowulven]

Greatest voice in pop music, apologies to Green Gartside.

[teardropsouffle]

Ah! I literally gasped! Thank you so much for posting. I never imagined I'd get to see this!!

[retroqueen]

I used to have the biggest crush on Michael Querico..the singer...

[tommyrock69]

Gods.  Sheer genius. It was permanently glued to my turntable in 1985-1986.

Spawned the whole Jason Falkner, Andy Sturmer, RJ Manning thingy. California Monkee mania gone to western Jupiter.

Yeah, that's it. perhaps.

[gardoumba]

@tommyrock69 Yeah son, those were the days!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MattHatter]

I've got their "Baroque Hoedown" E.P., if they want to LOOK '60s, they've gotta ditch the big hair!

[oldphoque]

He looked so young. I can see how anyone took this band seriously at the time other than bubblegum. Me, I heard them before I ever seen them and fell in love. Music`s mistake.

[marvelguy6]

the liner notes on the remastererd cd say they wanted to do a song like the nazz

[mpagner]

Yeah, they basically wrote their own version of "Open My Eyes," by the nazz

[drowner1]

Her head's revolving like a Cath-er-ine's Wheeeel...

[blacklightposter]

"Catherine Wheel" happens to be another great band..

[bryans2462]

I opened for these guys back in the late 80's. they were awful and pissed because they are short.

[sfbayareagirl]

I love this songggg!!! Thanks for posting. I've been looking for it forever, I almost thought I was making it up in my head. I never saw the video. I agree w/JLD ... it was a great time for music!

[doritomm]

girl drinking looks like bjork

[eileenh28]

I loved this song back in the day.

Thanks for posting.

[6doublefivethree21]

Ahhh... Michael Quercio. My first love. What IS he doing?

[Shoegazzzer]

me's on myspace, i saw his profile a week ago or so

[PCinoGuy]

I was blown away when I found this! I had the honor of meeting Quercio along with Scott Miller of Game Theory back in '86!! So what is Michael Quercio doing these days??

[flairboys]

i love this song! thanks!!

[revrobby]

Don't forget MQ's greatest band The Imperial Butt Wizards. As far as I know, they have no official recordings, but their shows were insane, to say the least. Only those who attended them will know what I am talking about.

[JLDB1987]

Going to R.E.M. shows in the early and mid 80's exposed me to the Three O'Clock, Robyn Hitchcock, Guadalcanal Diary, the DBs, and others. It was a great time for music.

[donhoco1]

I saw them in concert with REM in St Paul MN and they rocked the house! Great Band

[AliAssaSeen]

What? No Salvation Army vids? I always liked that incarnation of the band much better.

[CHO65]

OMG!! i didn't kno that there was a video for anything but "jet fighter"! I LOVED the 3 o'clock! they were one of my favorite bands back in '84. I played the hell out of this cassette. they were awesome! Anyone remember the song, "hand in hand"? What great lyrics. "the boy who reads too slow is in love with your daughter, & in his hand he holds the hand of your daughter"... WONDERFUL!!

[ivycompton]

i agree! They were brilliant - nobody sounded like them. the best of LA's paisley underground, they had it all!

[tommys40]

wow i can't believe i can see a 3 0'clock video here,wow you tube is very brilliant.but i loved the salvation army.

[angrylambie]

Michael played bass with San Francisco's Game Theory ~89-90, search for Game Theory and you'll find a few live clips with Michael

[angrylambie]

more direct, search 'game theory quercio'

[charlestonchewer]

i love these guys. saw them many times including with REM and True West at LA Greek Theatre.

[Soundgasm]

I remember like it was yesterday catching the 3oclock @ The Berkley Square. I met them, I remember being a jack ass to Falkner because he had replaced my favorite member in the band. I still had him and MQ sign my "LP" I will never forget it Jason signed it Three Cheers Jason Falkner. and like a horses ass i let my girlfriedn keep it after our break up. Then of course discovered jellyfish..then falkner solo...you know the drill...me <--- = horses ass

[egiappaige]

I was probably there!

[mondosam]

My band (Mondo Topless) had its first show opening for Permanent Green Light in '92 at The Khyber in Philly. I was a big Three O'Clock fan. Unfortunately after we finished playing I had to drop my girlfriend off at home and missed PGL's set. Never got a chance to see them again...

[mrblifil]

"When I Go Wild" and the others from Baroque Hoedown are timeless. Their decline was expected, though lamentable. They were awesome live, Michael Quercio was a great leftie bass player, with complete vocal facility as he shredded complex bass lines.

[premierfan]

"leftie" bass player-he's playing with his right-did he play with his left??

[dailyflash]

My friends and I used to LOVE seeing the 3 O'Clock in high school. This song was recorded during their decline though. They were trying too hard to have mass appeal. They look very stiff, self-conscious, and overly made-up in a very boring and unimaginative video. HOWEVER, I strongly recommend getting their first two releases, the excellent Sixteen Tambourines album and FANTASTIC Baroque Hoedown e.p. Both have been put together on one cd, which even includes a cut from an early single.

[Cocrteau3]

In the mid-80's the Three 0'Clock were singing teenage symphonies to God...Great Stuff and Thanks a million for sharing!

[kaptainkrunch]

Thanks, Shoegazzer. I saw the Three O'Clock open for REM for the latter's Fables of the Reconstruction tour, August '85 at DAR in D.C. 3 o'clock were terrific.

[kafka33]

Loved this album when it out. Forgot about the video. Thanks for posting it!

[mythme]

So much great talent came out of that early 80s Paisley scene. Hardly any found a viable niche (David Roback being an exception. The Bangles got chewed up by the record companies). Pity. Lots of great musicians who deserved more notice.

[frostycola]

Michael Quercio looks exactly like my roommate from my college days. Cool guy, but we gave him so much shit! Anyways I really like this song. It was on VH1-Classic a couple of times.

[tommyrock69]

The lead paisley popper, singer and bassist, Michael Quercio is still recording. He's created many bands and recorded them with limited success. I recommend his project called, "Permanent Green Light." I also recommend the album that came out before "Arrive Without Traveling" (which has "revolving" on it). The album is called "Sixteen Tambourines." It's an 80s college radio classic. Great songs!

[premierfan]

Michael Q also has "Jupiter Affect", which is more recent. He's still great at recording songs, considering it's 20 years later. He's also great at coining phrases, apparently-paisley underground, and another one I use. Love the video!!

[tommyrock69]

The guitar player in this band went on to form Mary's Danish in the early 90s- now residing in the "where are they now?" file.

[tommyrock69]

Their final album , Vermillion, was recorded for Prince's Paisley Park label and featured a very young Jason Falkner on guitar. Jason formed Jellyfish, a band greatly influenced by the Three O'Clock. Jason is still recording and has released several CDs on his own. He is considered by many to be a pop song writing genius.

[gerryryan]

thanks for posting,never knew this was a single.was it a hit?i remember the follow up lp better,the one with the tree and the suit of armour on the cover.whatever happened to this band?

[Shoegazzzer]

I wish I had answers for you, but your guess is as good as mine. You may find some info on wikipedia.

[tommyrock69]

The lead paisley popper, singer and bassist, Michael Quercio is still recording. He's created many bands and recorded them with limited success. I recommend his project called, "Permanent Green Light." I also recommend the album that came out before "Arrive Without Traveling" (which has "revolving" on it). The album is called "Sixteen Tambourines." It's an 80s college radio classic. Great songs!

[mykalroze]

I know your message was posted two years ago, but that album with the tree and knight on the cover was called "Ever After."

After their Vermillion album, they disappeared. They signed on with Prince's Paisley Park label, and the album, which did have a couple good songs on it, was just too commercial for its own good.

[chuckschilling]

Yep. Vermilion wasn't a bad record, as pop records go, but it sure as hell wasn't a Three O' Clock record. It was just a Ian Broudie/Lightning Seeds record with the Three O' Clock on the cover.

Anyone seen a video or concert clip of Spun Gold? That's my favorite Three O' Clock song and I've yet to see it here on YouTube.

[mykalroze]

And, man, Neon Telephone was AWFUL, with a capital A-W-F-U-L! I am a Prince fan, but having the Three O'Clock doing a Prince-produced song??? It just didn't work, to put it politely. That whole bit about "I want to run my fingers right through your hair"!?!? Talk about a verbal boner. Might even sound goofy from Prince, but Prince sometimes purposely sings goofy lines and pulls it off. But Three O'Clock isn't known for goofy. I did like Through the Sleepy Town.

[McCainTheTurdburglar]

I always loved that song "Girl With Guitar". It's a really pretty song.

[mykalroze]

Their first three albums are good to solid, but Vermillion? Too commercial for its own good. That's always the juggling act for groups on independent labels. They go to big, corporate labels, which usually means more money, more exposure, but also often leads to bad artistry, as was the cast with most of Vermillion.

[McCainTheTurdburglar]

Yeah, the album was disappointing but I still love that song. ;-) The "Jet Fighter" era stuff was cooler overall.

[audaciousamateur]

A wonderful song. I have it on vinyl but don't have anything to play it on. I was looking for it too.

[narodniq]

@gerryryan It got about as much airplay as "Jet Fighter Man" - which is to say, all the airplay they got that I knew of on KROQ / 91X in So. CA. Wikipedia for details

[Parsa9]

@gerryryan Michael Quercio went on to be in a couple other bands. One was Permanent Green Light, a great band with an awesome name. They have several videos on YouTube. MY favorite PGL song is Portmanteau, but there's no video of that song. His next band was Jupiter Affect.

The other band members were in various other bands.