Y&T – Contagious [Japan HR/HM 1000 reissue series] (2018) 0dayrox exclusive

Universal Music Japan has started a curious but more than welcomed campaign: the reissue of long time out of print albums from their catalog titled ‘HR/HM 1000‘, that meaning Hard Rock / Heavy Metal at the price of 1000 Yen = about 9,5 USD.
And it’s curious because this series focus on the ‘commercially less successful’ albums from each band, which, anyway, were long time out of print.
We have ordered many, and start here with one of my favorites (and lesser known) Y&T albums: “Contagious“.

For “Contagious”, Dave Meniketti & co. changed recording label, Jimmy DeGrasso replaced founder drummer Leonard Haze, and they got Canadian Kevin Beamish (Keel, MSG, Starship) to produce… the aim? To record a BIG sounding melodic hard rock album with a huge hair metal glossy production.
The result is one of my favorite Y&T albums of all time.

Indeed, it’s 1987 and everything boom on this Y&T record; multi-layered choruses, insane multi-tracked double guitar attack, a bombastic rhythm section and Dave’s lead vocals sounding bigger than ever.
All tracks are pure US glam metal gold from ‘L.A. Rocks’ or the title track to ‘Temptation’ (co-written by Danger Danger’s Al Pitrelli & Bruno Ravel) or ‘Eyes of a Stranger’.

All killers, but if I have to pick a winner here it goes to ‘Armed And Dangerous’… wow, that multi-layered choruses!

Why in 1987 this album didn’t put Y&T over the top and into the spotlight alongside Dokken, Cinderella or White Lion is beyond me. “Contagious” absolutely rocks with a glossy punch and the always solid songwriting team of Meniketti / bass player Phil Kennemore.
“Contagious” never was remastered, nor this reissue, but this Japanese release sounds fantastic.
It may be the new digital transfer technique – which augment the signal / Dynamic Range – so believe me, it’s incredibly clear and powerful. This really improves all the previous versions of this terrific album.
For me, A MUST HAVE

You’ve seen it first here, at 0dayrox

Universal Music Japan ～ 【UICY-78626】
Ｈ Ｒ / Ｈ Ｍ  １０００ ＳＥＲＩＥＳ

01 – Contagious
02 – L.A. Rocks
03 – Temptation
04 – The Kid Goes Crazy
05 – Fight For Your Life
06 – Armed And dangerous
07 – Rhythm Or Not
08 – Bodily Harm
09 – Eyes Of A Stranger
10 – I’ll Cry For You

Dave Meniketti – vocals, guitar
Joey Alves – guitar
Phil Kennemore – bass
Jimmy DeGrasso – drums
additional musicians:
Steffen Presley – keyboards, synths

BUY
www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/UICY-78626