The Syncopated Clock from Readers Digest LP

[DRG82100]

Theme song from 1960s Late Late Show on CBS affiliate in St. Louis and probably all over the country

[floofytown]

@colt79sigma No. Syncopation is not synchronization. "Sync" is short for synchronization, which is what you're referring to. Synchronization is the lining-up of two things in time.. the music with the ticking of the clock. That's not at all what the title refers to. Syncopation, which is what the title is talking about, describes a rhythm that deviates from straightforward, linear pattern.. emphasizing off-beats is a usual example. Thus, a syncopated clock would be one that fucking grooves man!!

[frankp3]

I remember the TV stations using this to "fill time".

[redrangers4ever]

So who else looked this up after reading Phelous' tvtropes page?

[Filby]

@redrangers4ever I looked it up after seeing it in Phelous's end credits.

[Ascrawlable]

@colt79sigma That's synchronised. Syncopated means, roughly, offbeat. Emphasis on the upstroke.

[SatchmoSings]

@anglerfly Syncopated means the emphasis of the beat or rhythmn is on the "upbeat" or "offbeat" rather than the downbeat.

I mean, sheesh, you have the internet; go look it up you lazy ********!

Try this; sing Eglar's "Pomp And Circumstance" to yourself and then put the emphasis on the upbeat instead of the downbeat.

@colt79sigma

[centralparocker]

The late show theme from the early 60's from NYC....

[DevilMaster]

@colt79sigma Not even close, that would be synchronized. Syncopation is a sudden brief change in rhythm, and as you can hear, those are very frequent when the clock noise plays.

[ickieoakie]

Growing up in New Jersey in the 1950's I do remember this on WCBS. What a wonderful memeory. I never tire of it.

[vhsrestoredotcom]

Ah!!!! So this is the song always played by Fred Norris on Howard Stern!! I've been looking for this song to put on my phone as a ringtone for so long now ;)

[RandyPantheGoatBoy]

Any Phelous fans here?

[captainpanic08]

@anglerfly Don't listen to them, that's not what syncopated means. use a dictionary instead.

[Unshapenkris]

When i hear this, I Imagine a serial killer.

[mkworkman]

2:44 video: Boston Pops Orchestra, directed by Arthur Fiedler; playing "The Syncopated Clock" by Leroy Anderson (June 29, 1908 – May 18, 1975).

[Peanutpaw]

Is that a violin playing in the begining? My school had an oboe play that part and this sounds different; I guess it's because I sit right next to the oboes so I get to hear them a lot more than most others.

[LouisDE1]

Beautiful! Brings back memories of the old "Late Show", and "Late Late Show" for which this was the theme song. I used to love when my parents let me stay up late on weekends to watch a good movie. Now I'm old enough to have grandchildren. LOL

[Doug19752533]

@anglerfly syncopation means accents falling on off beats...listen to the bass how it is sort of an oom-pah, oom-pah - those are the beats. you can count 1,2,3,4 to them. the melody from 0:09 to 0:10 are even with the bass. at 0:11 and 0:12 it skips ahead of the bass a little - thats syncopation. also the woodblock, how its keeping even time, then it hits on the off rhythems - again syncopation.

[loonpond]

Didn't Leroy Anderson also write the very popular "Sleighride" with the "clip-clop" sound of the horses' hooves and the bells to simulate the sleigh bells worn by horses?

[adam28xx]

I also have the Readers Digest "Lollipops" LP on which this same identical recording of 'Syncopated Clock' appears, but it is conducted by Sir Malcolm Sargent, not Arthur Fiedler. It was recorded by Sargent and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for Readers Digest in Kingsway Hall, London, in March 1963.

[stormydragon]

@colt79sigma That's synchronized. Syncopation is a musical technique where there is a disruption in the rhythm that moves the stress from an accented beat to a weak beat. In this case, the "clock" is alternating between louder and softer tic noises. But every so often where one of the loud tics would occur there's a one beat pause, followed by two quick beats to catch up again. This causes the loud tick to fall where the soft tick should have occured.

[stormydragon]

@colt79sigma That's synchronized. Syncopation is a musical technique where there is a disruption in the rhythm that moves the stress from an accented beat to a weak beat. In this case, the "clock" is alternating between louder and softer tic noises. But every so often where one of the loud tics would occur there's a one beat pause, followed by two quick beats to catch up again. This causes the loud tick to fall where the soft tick should have occured.

[ReiOn8]

I played this on the organ!!!! Its fun!!! ^^

[themuddybunny3]

this was the main song for jepordy before they changed it

[primogennaio]

Song from before my time, but really good to listen to.

[nacyupittan]

これ探した～。やっと見つけた！^o^

[wkrp1530]

@anglerfly colt79sigma is incorrect. Syncoption music is when the accented note in a music measure is on the up-beat, instead of the down-beat. In a measure of quarter notes in 4/4 time, the accented note is the first quarter note with a lighter accent on the third quarter note. In syncopation, the accented note is on the second quarter note with a lighter accent on the fourth quarter note.

[tigerssixty]

I was treated to this when I was watching Channel 2(CBS I think) and the Late Show and then the Late Late Show followed by the Early Show in my early years. I only heard the beginning which was so catchy and memorable. Yup, I agree, it brings me back to some great times in my life from a simple great composition. Thanks for the upload.

[DJRozwell]

@colt79sigma Sorry, but that's not what syncopation means. Syncopation is where the accented parts of a beat are shifted to provide variety. You're thinking of synchronization ("in sync").

[higgme1ster]

WRGA - "1470 on your (AM) radio dial" played this in the very early Sixties during the morning "Coffee Break" before anyone ever heard of FM.

[Otacon144]

@anglerfly - Syncopation is when the rhythm is mixed around in an unexpected way - like putting a strong beat where the listener expects an weak one, or putting a beat where you'd normally put a rest.

[MichaelSel]

@colt79sigma I think by syncopated Anderson means the clock "skips" beats.

[laughingface1]

Love this piece and actually all of Anderson's work. I remember this on the radio as a little girll signally time to leave for school.

[captainpanic08]

Yeah Sir, I think your clock has a stutter. The escapement is my guess at the problem. We're looking at somewhere around £70 to fix it. That okay?

[breadstick94]

wow that musician made that woodblock his bitch

[Trackball816]

I wonder if any game shows used this tune as thinking music. It would work really well.

[Chuckwsr]

@Trackball816 I Believe Jeopardy uses this when the contestants are writing their FINAL Jeopardy answer. At least they used to. I haven't watched the show in quite a while.

[Trackball816]

@Chuckwsr

Definitely NOT true, at least in regard to the Alex Trebek run, where it was never used. The Art Fleming run MIGHT have used it at one point, but I'm very unsure about that, especially since no surviving episodes have it.

[chlochloetliline]

Je l'ai jouer ce morceau avec mon harmonie..!

[mariasama16]

@colt79sigma Exact opposite actually.

[mariasama16]

@anglerfly "Syncopation is a general term for a disturbance or interruption of the regular flow of rhythm; a placement of rhythmic stresses or accents where they wouldn't normally occur." In the case of this song, listen to the tick-tocks. They go syncopated at times.

[ECUJNB]

Syncopation: Emphasis placed on beats and beat subdivisions other than those usually accented, which are typically beat 1 (and 2) in 4/4 time, or in triple time, beat 1. Listen to the "beat of the clock" played by the wood block in this recording. It is off-set from the extremely regular beat of the rest of the ensemble. That irregularity, or jazziness, is the syncopation. Syncopation is what gives rock and jazz their particularly attractive rhythms.

[MrTiviana]

@ECUJNB Most eloquently stated!

[h11angel]

@colt79sigma actually syncopated means it's out of rhytm (stopped for an instant). you can hear the regular tick-tock but then it makes a pause and it continues for three beats in an irregular fashion.

[HaoWenXiang]

Syncopation: playing with the beat. Instead of a regular procession of weak and strong beats, you start stressing and accenting notes on irregular intervals, beating strong on a weak pulse, and vice versa. Literally going "off beat" on purpose.

[Teaandcakesandices]

@colt79sigma That would be synchronised. Syncopated means it has an unusual rhythm, which it does - the tick-tock sometimes pauses and jumps about like "tick tick tick tock.... tick-tock-tick"

[kokopelli6300]

My daughter is going to be doing a figure skating routine to this song. Great tune!

[jekico1978]

Amazingly I still have tis album for Readers Digest form way back when.

[paddyosee]

@anglerfly "Syncopated" refers to method of playing music where, instead of plaing smoothly, you stop and start the rhythm. (Perhaps someone out there can offer a better definition.

[primogennaio]

An oldie and a very goodie.

[cbak12sg]

Disc 3 from Mood Music for Listening and Relaxation! My dad still has this 12 record set!

[daviskrisitna]

this is beautiful :) i love this

[kabouwe]

The music sheet said it was written in 1945.

[PhiaHaco]

haha playing this song for handbells. Is this song really old?

[saiyajedi]

I first heard this in a Japanese shopping center. Didn't know what it was until now.

[Dookieshoes]

The song from WCBS-TV 2 N.Y. 'The Late Show' or 'The early show.' Circa 1950's till the 1970's. Brilliant tune...

[nickellodeon55]

A #1 hit in New York City, 1951.

[laurier0929]

Melody of nostalgia！

[sdm84]

Oh memories!

[tomkes100]

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF MUSIC FOLKS the 1950s COMES AIVE WITH SYNPOCATED CLOCK. IMMORATLIZED FOR LIFE TOMKES

[izcookie]

The Syncopated Clock was the call to the 4:00 pm movie in Philadelphia. Often ran home from school to catch it, as it was usually a first-rate flick.

[msgolden5510]

@izcookie hi izcookie. when i was a kid my big brother always wanted to watch the early show movie on wcau channel 10. i naturally wanted to watch the mickey mouse club on channel 6. my mother straightened that out( i won 99 % of the time.) what a great time to be a kid. have a good day.

[colt79sigma]

Don't listen to it then!

[islanderman17]

my high school played this song everyday before first period to let u know ur about to be late...this song represents all that is evil in the world

[eccsxt]

that would truly get annoying.

[08Lasventuras]

You must've went to the same high school that I go to. they play this every day before first period, lol

[fjccommish]

You're late you're late

you'll soon be late

[Dookieshoes]

You're a moron!

[KnightMareDreamer86]

we played this in my seventh grade year in the band lol wat memories....

[tomkes100]

Folks taje it from a man who was there. this 1950 masterpiece by LeRoy Anderson was then for NYC early show in the 50s clock and all for special intros. this theme was made more famous in the 50s with advent of tv. What a beautiful score. BRILLIANT MASTERPIECE . The world is indebted to Mr. Anderson. Im a tv movie historian. Trust me. this theme SYNCOPATED CLOCK will last for all eternity. MEGAHIT for all generations. Now lets liston to it again friends. any objections? I hope not. TOMK

[kakip64]

AM Radio station WAYN 900 in Rockingham NC plays this every morning. They have played it for yrs.

[daveyandkids]

I think this was the theme song for the late late night movie?

Anyway, thanks for puttin it on the tube, brought back memories!

[2007KIT]

so cute W

[garybrownfie]

I was born in 1950 and remember hearing this on TV as a child. For some reason, I have it connected to Arthur Godfrey's show in my mind. Don't remember if it was used as a theme song or not. Thanks for posting, I love the old songs. Also, Love And Marriage was played a lot back then on TV. It was great when Married With Children picked it for their theme song.

[ProTwoAm]

Gary,

Not sure where you lived as a kid but one of the Chicago TV stations had a daily afternoon feature called "The Early Show". This was its theme.

[wmbrown6]

If it was Chicago, the station must've been WBBM, no?

[ProTwoAm]

To be honest, I'm not sure.

[chenwenhua2269]

wow I have this Long playing record by reader's digest. Thanks so much for posting. Truly vinyl has a warmer sound. Awesome.

[luengaga1978]

I almost cry with this song. What a beautiful song!

[Fretkillr]

Leroy Anderson Greatest Hits by the Boston Pops is the album to get.

[deezvids]

This is way before my time - but i LOVE this!! I wish I were born 30 years earlier. :)

[levensregt]

I WAS born in 1948. This orchestra played all over the 50s radio stations, then slowly vanished. Hence, it is so sentimental to me.. To remember how my mum hummed these melodies.. I can't bring the time back, nor my lovely mum, so young as she was then, but now passed away.

[Hawkeye752]

Bring back the LATE SHOW on WCBS-TV NYC!!!!

[AHeitha]

i play this song today in a concert. but only the cowbell at the end....Tis is a very good song for young drummers to play their first solo

[xxlonestarxchickxx]

i did this song in my school band =D i just absolutely love it!!

[sugarhigh25]

omg we have to sing this for school

[TatiSuriel]

we also have to sing this for school!

[sugarhigh25]

Yeah, It's weird.

My friend and I sing "Constapated cheese"

Don't even ask. We're retards. :D

[snookiekat11530]

they play this song in my school in the morning when it's time to go to class!

[cxcheer]

SAME! it drives me crazy

[dappylu]

I recall this theme on tv with the building lights turning on with each tick.

[wmbrown6]

Ah yes . . . as seen on WCBS from 1965 to c.1972.

[Rollin558]

Always loved this piece. Never knew it was written by Leroy Anderson. Thanks for the post.

[danawadd]

Yup I remember this from CBS TV Late Late show... and the song freaked me out... *sigh*... those damn childhood anxieties!

[mpsarge2]

Yea i just posted about this , I watched it, To thiose that don tknow it it was played at the start of the 1am movie

[OldFartKeyWester]

Believe it or not when I grew up, before cable and satellite tv, (1950's) this song was often played between programs or while scrolling the time and weather. Brings back lots of memories.

[AllisonTheSNLGuru]

@OldFartKeyWester - I first heard it in 1995 during middle school, when it was used as the warning bell before homeroom. My homeroom teacher looked up the exact name of the song, and it evaded me all these years until about 2 weeks ago, when all my searching turned up this title!

[higgme1ster]

@OldFartKeyWester  Or even played while waiting for the current person to call back into "Dialing For Dollars!"

[mpsarge2]

i remember staying up late at night back then watching the latte show when i was in school 60's

[rainydaywoman1957]

the latte show?

[mpsarge2]

Yes, BAck then they used to play this song on the opening segment of the late late show at 1am, had a picture of a tower type clock and played this song. The late late show came on right after at the time Johnny Carson used to be ob from 11pm to 1 am, then this Came on the late show which all it did was play movies, Which we had a simaler show that came on at 4pm the afternoon movie,

[Hildy2E]

But, remember Johnny Carson was on NBC and the Late Late Show was on CBS as well as the 4pm afternoon movie and that was called The Early Show.

[colt79sigma]

Go ahead

[carey646]

LOL!!

[Guernseyisland]

This makes me want to kill myself :( Thanks!