High Time

by MC5

Overview

MC5 were nearing the end of their long and bumpy trail when they cut High Time in 1971, and it was widely ignored upon initial release. While it lacks the flame-thrower energy and "off the man!" politics of Kick Out the Jams or the frantic pace and "AM Radio of the People" sound of Back in the USA, High Time sounds like MC5's relative equivalent to the Velvet Underground's Loaded, their last and most accessible album, but still highly idiosyncratic and full of well-written, solidly played tunes. Fred Smith's "Sister Anne" and "Skunk (Sonically Speaking)" bookend the album with a pair of smart, solidly performed hard rockers (bolstered by fine horn charts), and Wayne Kramer's "Poison" ranks with the best songs he brought to the band (he later revived it for his solo album The Hard Stuff). For a group that was apparently on the verge of collapse, MC5 approach this material with no small amount of skill and enthusiasm, and Geoffrey Haslam's production gives the band a big, punchy sound that suits them better than the lean, trebly tone of Back in the USA. It's interesting to imagine what MC5's history might have been like if High Time had been their first or second album rather than their last; while less stridently political than their other work, musically it's as uncompromising as anything they ever put to wax and would have given them much greater opportunities to subvert America's youth if the kids had ever had the chance to hear it. ~ Mark Deming

Product Details

Release Date:	08/04/1992
Label:	Rhino
UPC:	0081227103422

Tracks

1. Sister Anne
2. Baby Won't Ya
3. Gotta Keep Movin'
4. Future/Now
5. Miss X
6. Over and Over
7. Poison
8. Skunk (Sonicly Speaking)

Album Credits

Performance Credits

MC5   Primary Artist
Rick Ferretti   Trumpet,Saxophone
Dennis Thompson   Percussion,Drums,Vocals,Tambourine
Leon Henderson   Sax (Tenor),Saxophone
Michael Davis   Vocals (Background),Bass,Vocals,Guitar (Bass)
Wayne Kramer   Piano,Vocals (Background),Guitar,Vocals,Keyboards
Fred "Sonic" Smith   Vocals (Background),Organ,Guitar,Vocals,Harmonica,Keyboards
Charles Moore   Trumpet,Vocals (Background),Vocals,Flugelhorn
Bob Seger   Guest Artist,Percussion
Pete Kelly   Piano,Piano
Skip Knapp   Organ
Rob Tyner   Vocals,Maracas,Harmonica
Ellis Dee   Percussion
Dan Bullock   Trombone
Kinki Lepew   Percussion
Larry Horton   Trombone
Dave Morgan   Percussion
Terry Trabandt   Percussion
Dave Heller   Percussion
Bobby Wayne Derminer   Percussion
Brenda Knight   Vocals
Marlene Driscoll   Vocals
Butch O'Brien   Percussion,Drums (Bass)
Joanne Hill   Vocals
Scott Morgan   Percussion
David Oversteak   Tuba
Fred Smith   Vocals,Harmonica

Technical Credits

Geoffrey Haslam   Audio Production,Audio Engineer,Producer
Dave Marsh   Liner Notes
MC5   Audio Production,Producer
Wayne Kramer   Composer,Lyricist
Geoffrey Halsam   Producer
Fred "Sonic" Smith   Composer
Dennis Thompson   Composer,Lyricist,Composer
Rob Tyner   Composer,Lyricist
Michael Davis   Composer,Group Member
Robert Derminer   Composer
Fred Smith   Composer,Lyricist
Dennis Tomich   Composer