A name change and a bit of a shake-up for Y&T. This is in terms of image and musical delivery for the Bay Area rockers previously called Yesterday And Today.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Y&T
ALBUM: Earthshaker
LABEL: A&M
SERIAL: SP 4867
YEAR: 1981
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: Dave Meniketti – vocals, guitars * Joey Alves – guitars * Phil Kennemore – bass * Leonard Haze – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 Hungry For Rock * 02 Dirty Girl * 03 Shake It Loose * 04 Squeeze * 05 Rescue Me * 06 Young And Tough * 07 Hurricane * 08 Let Me Go * 09 Knock You Out * 10 I Believe In You
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Y&T Background
A name change and a bit of a shake-up for Y&T. This is in terms of image and musical delivery for the Bay Area rockers previously called Yesterday And Today.
That band name was a bit of a mouthful I know. They released two albums on the London label during the late 70’s, the self titled album, plus ‘Struck Down’.
Both were fairly heavy handed slices of hard rock with a sound harking back to 70’s dinosaur icons. This included Led Zeppelin, The Who, Cream, and Deep Purple.
By 1981, the name had been trimmed to Y&T. The image very much beefed up to represent the new wave of heavy metal surging the world at the time. Plus the sound was given one big kick up the backside.
Little did the rock populous know what was going to hit them when ‘Earthshaker’ landed. It’s still considered to be one of the best hard rock albums of the early 80’s era. Some of the songs contained within are cult classics.
‘Earthshaker’ as an album took a while to take off in the US. All the while attracting a big following in the mid-west. But especially in Texas where they like their rock bands mean and tough!
But in Britain and in Europe the Y&T boys were becoming legends in their own right. Tours there cemented their position at the top of the heap. In fact, their live shows at the Marquee in London are still remembered in awe to this day!
The Songs
So onto the album. Unrivalled hard rock anthems of the best sort are on display. As witnessed by the superb opener ‘Hungry For Rock’ and the raunch of ‘Dirty Girl’.
However it’s the full frontal power of ‘Shake It Loose’ and the rabid ‘Squeeze’ which lifts ‘Earthshaker’ up a notch.
Some of the best tracks are saved for Side 2, such as the incredible ‘Hurricane’ and perhaps my favourite ‘Knock You Out’. However, the standout cuts are probably ‘Rescue Me’ and the extended ballad ‘I Believe In You’.
In Summary
‘Earthshaker’ is a full blooded, barnstorming sort of an album. In my opinion it’s the pick of all their albums (‘Down For The Count’ comes a close second).
It was first released as a Japanese CD, but did see a Rock Candy reissue in 2018, whuch should be reasonably easy to acquire.
For fans of Y&T the words described above are nothing new to you obviously. While others just picking up on them, you would be well advised to start right here.
Y&T on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
