Classic Album – Y&T ‘Down For The Count’
Y&T ‘Down For The Count’ A&M (1985)
Y&T had been going as far back as the mid-70’s and prior to this album they had released a string of well received albums including ‘Mean Steak’ and ‘Black Tiger’. Main man Dave Meniketti has a nice raw vocal amply suited to the band’s hard edge rock sound. ‘In The Name Of Rock’ with its gang chorus vocal sets the scene nicely for the superb rock anthem ‘All American Boy’ – just under three minutes of sheer hard rock bliss. ‘Anytime At All’ is another hook filled rocker and the other real stand out is ‘Summertime Girls’, a song that is made for a warm summer’s day and deserves to be in any rock fans collection. Y&T really knew how to pen catchy riff based rockers and choruses that never leave your head. The cover of the rock ‘n’ roll standard ‘Your Mama Don’t Dance’ is good fun and only the plodding ‘Don’t Tell Me What To Wear’ lets the side down slightly. Of course Y&T also nailed that other hard rock staple the power ballad with the closing sing ‘Hands Of Time’. Chiming guitars and a big chorus make for a classic song. Of all the band’s albums this will always be my favourite and I like it as much now as when I first heard it back in 1985!
Where are they now?
The band carried on right through the 90’s and released two so-so studio albums in the 90’s but have done nothing new since. But Dave Meniketti keeps the band’s flame alive with a series of rarities releases (‘Unearthed’) plus live releases. The band still tour today with Dave Meniketti joined by original member Phil Kennemore plus on guitars John Nymann and drummer Mark Vanderhule. Unlikely they will ever release a full new album of new material but you never know…
In The Name Of Rock
All American Boy
Anytime At All
Anything For Money
Face Like An Angel
Summertime Girls
Looks Like Trouble
Your Mama Don’t Dance
Don’t Tell Me What To Wear
Hands Of Time
Line-up:
Dave Meniketti (lead vocals/lead guitar)
Leonard Haze (drums)
Phil Kennemore (bass)
Joey Alves (rhythm guitar)
April 8, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Well some kind of kudos for doing a classic Y&T album post without mentioning “Earthshaker” I guess but for me that will always be their best. A desert island disc which “Down For The Count” didn’t get near (imho of course). You won’t find any “plodders” or covers of rock ‘n roll standards on “Earthshaker” – just pure, unadulterated classic rock.
http://rockofages.wordpress.com/2007/06/21/yt-earthshaker/
Also worthy of mention are three Meniketti solo albums too (2 studio, 1 live) that, like everything he seems to grace, are worth exploring.
April 8, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Mmm…not explored his solo albums off to look on ENay now – thanks.