Y&T – Contagious [Japan HR/HM 1000 reissue series] HQ *Exclusive*

320_1 /// 320_2 /// HQ 1 /// HQ 2

Our friends at Music On CD recently reissued Y&T 1987’s album “Contagious“, long time out of print in Europe and America. However, a few years ago “Contagious” was reissued by Universal Music Japan as part of their ‘HR/HM 1000’ series, that meaning classic Hard Rock / Heavy Metal albums at the affordable price of 1000 Yen.
By contract, Music On CD aren’t able to remaster by themselves any of their reissues – they must press the CD’s as received from the licensing labels. In the case of their recent “Contagious” reissue, they got from Universal Music the same masters used previously for the ‘HR/HM 1000’ Japan reissue: “Contagious” never has been remastered, but sounds great.
So as requested, here’s Y&T 1987’s album “Contagious” at maximum quality.

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 reason? To record a BIG sounding melodic hard rock album with the huge hair metal glossy production of the time to conquer MTV.
The result is one of our 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 – and believe me, it’s incredibly clear and powerful. This really improves all the previous versions of this terrific album.
For us, a MUST HAVE

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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

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