High Time

The Zoo Crew, those groovy hippie DJs at THE ZOO radio station, are spinning "High Time" by Heart from their 1978 album Dog & Butterfly, and the Zoo Freaks are surely vibing to its upbeat rock energy. While "High Time" isn't as widely discussed as some of Heart's bigger hits, it’s a fiery track that kicks off the "Dog" side of the album, known for its high-energy rockers. In a 1978 interview with Rolling Stone, Ann Wilson described the song as a burst of raw energy, capturing the band’s live performance spirit. She mentioned that it was one of the tracks they loved playing on tour because it got the crowd moving with its driving rhythm and bold guitar riffs. The song, written by Ann and Nancy Wilson along with Sue Ennis, reflects Heart’s ability to blend hard rock with a touch of their signature emotional depth, a hallmark of their sound during this era.

Though specific anecdotes about "High Time" are scarce in interviews, the song’s place on Dog & Butterfly ties it to the album’s unique creation story. According to a 2004 CD reissue liner note, the album was recorded at Sea-West Studios, but "High Time" was crafted to sound like a live performance, giving it that raw, in-the-moment feel the Zoo Crew’s audience loves. On social media, fans on the Heart Fan Club Facebook group have shared that "High Time" is an underappreciated gem, with one fan posting in 2023 that it’s their go-to track for road trips because of its infectious energy. The song’s lyrics, which speak to seizing the moment, resonate with the free-spirited ethos of both the band and the Zoo Freaks tuning in.

Heart, formed by sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson, got their start in the early 1970s in Seattle, Washington, emerging as pioneers in a male-dominated rock scene. Ann, with her powerhouse vocals, began singing in local bands in the late 1960s, while Nancy, a skilled guitarist, joined her sister after honing her craft in folk and rock groups. According to their biography on heart-music.com, the band, originally called The Army, evolved into Heart in 1973 after the sisters moved to Vancouver, Canada. Their debut album, Dreamboat Annie (1975), featuring hits like "Magic Man" and "Crazy on You," skyrocketed them to fame, blending hard rock with folk influences. Their determination to write and perform their own music, as Nancy shared in a 2012 Guitar World interview, set them apart and helped them overcome industry sexism.

Heart’s journey wasn’t without challenges. A legal dispute with their first label, Mushroom Records, over the release of their second album, Magazine, led to a switch to Portrait Records, where they recorded Dog & Butterfly. The sisters’ resilience and creative control, as detailed in their 2012 memoir Kicking & Dreaming, fueled their success, making them role models for women in rock. Fans can connect with Heart’s legacy on their official website, follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X, or join discussions on fan-driven platforms like the Heart Fan Club Facebook group and the Heartmongers fan site, where Zoo Freaks might find fellow enthusiasts sharing their love for "High Time" and Heart’s enduring catalog.