Wind Him Up

The Zoo Crew is spinning the classic track "Wind Him Up" by Saga from their seminal album Worlds Apart, and the Zoo Freaks are surely vibing to its infectious energy. This song, released in 1981, became one of Saga’s most iconic hits, peaking at No. 22 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 and earning heavy rotation on MuchMusic, Canada’s equivalent to MTV. The track’s slick music video, which vividly interprets the song’s lyrics about a gambler named Aldo caught in a cycle of addiction, played a significant role in its success. According to a 2002 interview featured in Saga’s video DVD Silhouette, producer Rupert Hine pushed frontman Michael Sadler to deliver a raw, emotional performance, famously instructing him to stop "singing like a choir boy." To capture the right intensity for the album, Hine even had Sadler climb onto the roof of the English barn where they were recording to belt out vocals for another track, "On the Loose," showcasing his commitment to drawing out a grittier edge in Sadler’s delivery.

Another fascinating tidbit about "Wind Him Up" comes from its reinvention decades later. In 2021, Saga released an acoustic version of the song as part of their album Symmetry, which was recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. The band shared on their Facebook page that this stripped-down take preserved the song’s core while offering a fresh, thrilling perspective, accompanied by a lyric video that paid homage to the original 1982 visuals. Fans were invited to contribute video material for another track from the album, "Always There," which was compiled into a fan-made video clip, as noted in a post on their Instagram. The song’s enduring popularity is evident in its frequent inclusion in live performances, with setlist data from setlist.fm showing it as a staple at concerts, including their 2017 Rock of Ages festival performance in Germany, where it electrified thousands of festival-goers.

Saga, the Canadian progressive rock band behind "Wind Him Up," formed in 1977 in Oakville, Ontario, emerging from the ashes of the rock band Fludd. Bassist and keyboardist Jim Crichton, along with Welsh-born vocalist Michael Sadler, became the principal songwriters, crafting a sound that blended hard rock, progressive rock, and pop. Initially called Pockets, the band adopted the name Saga and released their self-titled debut album in 1978 through Polygram Records’ Canadian branch. The album, featuring tracks like "Humble Stance," found modest success in Canada and gained surprising traction in Germany as an import, selling over 30,000 copies. Their early years were marked by lineup changes, with keyboardist Jim Gilmour joining in 1979 for the album Silent Knight and drummer Steve Negus solidifying the rhythm section until 1986. Saga’s breakthrough came with Worlds Apart in 1981, produced by Rupert Hine, which propelled them to international fame with hits like "On the Loose" and "Wind Him Up," earning platinum status in Canada and gold in the USA.

For Zoo Freaks looking to dive deeper into Saga’s world, the band maintains an active online presence. Their official website, sagaontour.ca, offers tour dates, news, and merchandise. You can follow them on Facebook for updates and fan interactions, check out behind-the-scenes content on Instagram, and engage with their posts on X. Fans have also created dedicated spaces, such as the Saga Fan Club on Facebook, where enthusiasts share memories, discuss albums, and organize meetups. Another fan-driven hub is Saga’s Official Fan Club, accessible through their website, offering exclusive content and community events. These platforms keep the Saga spirit alive, connecting fans across generations as they celebrate the band’s five-decade legacy.