Y & T -

Y&T (Yesterday and Today) is an American hard-rock/metal band, formed in 1972 in Oakland, California. They signed with London Records for the 1976–78 albums Yesterday and Today and Struck Down, then moved to A&M for the 1981–85 albums Earthshaker, Black Tiger, Mean Streak, In Rock We Trust, Down for the Count, and the live Open Fire. On Geffen, they cut the 1987–90 albums Contagious and Ten.

Between 1983 and 1990, Y&T landed six songs on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Top 50, including their 1985 live version of “Summertime Girls.”

Members: Dave Meniketti (vocals, guitar), Phil Kennemore (bass, 1974-2010), Leonard Haze (drums, 1974-86, 2001-06), Joey Alves (rhythm guitar, 1974-89), Jimmy DeGrasso (drums, 1986-2001), Stef Burns (guitar, 1989-2003)

Background

In 1972, drummer Leonard Haze formed an all-covers trio with Oakland mates Bob Gardner and Wayne Stitzer. They soon welcomed guitarist/singer Dave Meniketti (born December 12, 1953), a budding virtuoso inspired by Jimi Hendrix, Leslie West of Mountain, and Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin. Haze named their band after the current album on his turntable: the 1966 US Capitol Beatles release Yesterday and Today.

When Stitzer quit, Gardner switched from bass to rhythm guitar while Yesterday and Today onboarded bassist Phil Kennemore. In January 1974, Gardner cleared for rhythm guitarist Joey Alves.

In 1975, Yesterday and Today played support slots for rising Bay Area stars Journey and conquering English rockers Queen, who swept through California for their breakthrough third album, A Night at the Opera. As Queen’s opener, Yesterday and Today impressed the president of London Records, who signed the band.

Yesterday and Today

Yesterday and Today released their self-titled debut album in November 1976 on London Records.

Yesterday and Today hits in compact forms with twin-guitar attack, brisk rhythmic jolts, and a hard boogie underpin. Guitarist Dave Meniketti and rhythm guitarist Joey Alves push riffs and harmony lines to the front, while bassist Phil Kennemore and drummer Leonard Haze drive the backbeat beneath the breaks. Meniketti appears on every writing credit, Alves and Haze each co-wrote five songs, and Kennemore shares credit on “Animal Woman” and “Game Playing Woman.”

“Animal Woman” and “25 Hours a Day” open with a direct charge, while “25 Hours a Day” adds vocal-guitar exchanges that keep the front line under strain. “Game Playing Woman” and “Come on Over” settle into a thicker mid-tempo stomp with harder snare crack and denser rhythm guitar. “My Heart Plays Too” drops into a slower ballad cadence and gives Meniketti room for a more contoured lead line. “Earthshaker” jolts side two with sharper acceleration, “Alcohol” throws the vocal to Haze for a rowdier turn, and “Beautiful Dreamer” closes on brighter lift before Meniketti claims the long second-half solo.

A1. “Animal Woman” (3:40) — Joey Alves, Phil Kennemore, Dave Meniketti
A2. “25 Hours a Day” (3:39) — Alves, Meniketti, Leonard Haze
A3. “Game Playing Woman” (5:23) — Meniketti, Kennemore, Haze
A4. “Come on Over” (3:08) — Meniketti, Alves, Haze
A5. “My Heart Plays Too” (6:37) — Meniketti

B1. “Earthshaker” (3:19) — Meniketti, Haze
B2. “Fast Ladies (Very Slow Gin)” (4:29) — Meniketti, Haze
B3. “Alcohol” (4:30) — Meniketti, Alves, Haze
B4. “Beautiful Dreamer” (5:31) — Meniketti, Haze

Yesterday and Today recorded Yesterday and Today at His Master’s Wheels in San Francisco with producer Louis Bramy. Initial pressings included a printed inner lyrics sleeve.

“Earthshaker” appeared as a 7-inch single in Japan in 1976. London later issued “Alcohol” (b/w “25 Hours a Day”) as a US 7-inch in 1977.

Struck Down

Yesterday and Today released their second album, Struck Down, in June 1978 on London Records.

“Struck Down” and “Road” hit on quick riffs and blunt thrust, while “I’m Lost” keeps the pressure high through tighter vocal phrasing and biting lead breaks.

“Nasty Sadie” leans on dirtier rhythm guitar and a harder stomp, “Tried to Show You” holds a leaner drive, and “Dreams of Egypt” opens wider space through a slower pull and a darker riff shape. Meniketti’s lead work cuts through the thicker mix each time the songs open enough room for a longer break.

A1. “Struck Down” (4:33) — Dave Meniketti, Leonard Haze
A2. “Pleasure in My Heart” (4:44) — Meniketti, Haze
A3. “Road” (2:58) — Meniketti, Haze
A4. “Nasty Sadie” (3:48) — Haze, Joey Alves, Meniketti

B1. “Dreams of Egypt” (4:14) — Haze, Meniketti
B2. “Tried to Show You” (3:43) — Meniketti
B3. “I’m Lost” (2:59) — Meniketti, Phil Kennemore, Haze
B4. “Stargazer (Round & Round)” (4:36) — Kennemore

Yesterday and Today recorded Struck Down at the Record Plant in Sausalito and Los Angeles with producer Jimmy Robinson. Pianist Robert Russ, backing vocalist Cherie Currie, and organist Galen Cook appear on the finished album.

Initial pressings were issued with a printed inner sleeve that carried lyrics and a band photo.

Earthshaker

Y&T released their third album, Earthshaker, on June 30, 1981, on A&M.

Earthshaker fires in short bursts with angular riffs, arching choruses, and leads that slice through each arrangement.

“Hungry for Rock” opens with a blunt shove, “Dirty Girl” lands on a heavier stomp and a tougher vocal attack, and “Squeeze” snaps hardest through its wiry main figure and fast solo break. “Rescue Me” drops into a smoldering mid-tempo pull, “Hurricane” hits with a heavier riff spine, and “Knock You Out” packs its punch into three compact minutes. “I Believe in You” closes at greater length, starting from a calmer line before the band climbs toward two extended guitar statements and a larger final rise.

A1. “Hungry for Rock” (3:47)
A2. “Dirty Girl” (5:06)
A3. “Shake It Loose” (2:55)
A4. “Squeeze” (4:04)
A5. “Rescue Me” (4:44)

B1. “Young and Tough” (3:47)
B2. “Hurricane” (3:23)
B3. “Let Me Go” (3:12)
B4. “Knock You Out” (2:59)
B5. “I Believe in You” (7:13)

Y&T recorded Earthshaker at the Automatt in San Francisco and mixed it at Mediasound in New York City with co-producers Bob Shulman and David Sieff. Gary Lubow, Ken Kessie, Wayne Lewis, and Gary Ladinsky handled engineering, and Harvey Goldberg completed the mixes with Greg Mann assisting.

Chuck Beeson handled the art direction, and Norman Moore devised the cover concept and design.

A&M issued “I Believe in You” (b/w “Rescue Me”) as a single in 1981. The band lifted “Dirty Girl” as a single in 1981. A UK 12-inch pressing added “Knock You Out” and “Hungry for Rock.”

Black Tiger

Y&T released their fourth album, Black Tiger, on August 24, 1982, on A&M.

Black Tiger hits in quick bursts with crisp guitar attack, compact drum impact, and sharp riff turns. Meniketti drives the lead figures, Alves locks the rhythm lines against him, and Kennemore with Haze hammer a hard backbeat through the set. Y&T wrote all nine tracks.

“From the Moon” opens as a short instrumental cue, then drops straight into “Open Fire,” which surges on faster tempo and a harder front-line shove. “Hell or High Water” rides a chant-backed refrain and taut lead work, while “Black Tiger” enters through a denser intro and presses into darker weight. “Don’t Wanna Lose” and “Forever” smooth the vocal line without thinning the guitar attack. “My Way or the Highway” lands with a more defiant shove, and “Winds of Change” closes on a broader six-minute climb with a more reflective vocal line.

A1. “From the Moon” (0:42)
A2. “Open Fire” (4:10)
A3. “Don’t Wanna Lose” (4:09)
A4. “Hell or High Water” (3:44)
A5. “Forever” (5:47)

B1. “Black Tiger” (4:18)
B2. “Barroom Boogie” (4:20)
B3. “My Way or the Highway” (4:43)
B4. “Winds of Change” (6:20)

Y&T recorded Black Tiger at Ridge Farm Studio in Rusper, England with producer-engineer Max Norman. Bill Freesh mixed the album at Record Plant Studios in Los Angeles.

John Taylor Dismukes supplied the cover illustration, Chuck Beeson handled the art direction, and the sleeve introduced the classic Y&T logo for the first time.

A&M issued “Don’t Wanna Lose” as a 7-inch single in 1982. “Forever” appeared as a 7-inch single in 1982.

Black Tiger reached No. 53 on the UK albums chart.

Mean Streak

Y&T released their fifth album, Mean Streak, in September 1983 on A&M.

Mean Streak strikes with fast starts, clipped riffs, taut chorus returns, and added low-end weight from Taurus pedals. Meniketti drives the lead figures, Alves braces the rhythm lines beside him, and Kennemore with Haze hammer the backbeat through the set. Y&T wrote all nine tracks.

“Mean Streak” tears forward on a mercurial riff and hard snare crack. “Hang ’Em High” keeps the same hard charge, while “Straight Thru the Heart” and “Breaking Away” work a stuttering mid-tempo pull with tighter rhythmic stops. “Lonely Side of Town” and “Midnight in Tokyo” down-shift with expanded vocal lines and contoured leads that impart tension between choruses. “Take You to the Limit” and “Sentimental Fool” soften the attack into smoother cadences, but “Down and Dirty” shuts the album with a rougher kick and a final burst of drive.

A1. “Mean Streak” (4:06) — Y&T
A2. “Straight Thru the Heart” (4:14) — Y&T
A3. “Lonely Side of Town” (4:48) — Y&T
A4. “Midnight in Tokyo” (5:41) — Y&T

B1. “Breaking Away” (4:42) — Y&T
B2. “Hang ’Em High” (5:30) — Y&T
B3. “Take You to the Limit” (4:57) — Y&T
B4. “Sentimental Fool” (3:11) — Y&T
B5. “Down and Dirty” (3:54) — Y&T

Y&T recorded Mean Streak in 1983 with producer and first engineer Chris Tsangarides, second engineers Mike Herbick and Richie Corsello, arranger Nigel James, assistant engineer Scott Boorey, and mastering engineer Bernie Grundman.

John Taylor Dismukes illustrated the front cover, Mike Fink handled the rear design, Larry Du Pont tinted the rear photo, and Chuck Beeson directed the sleeve presentation.

On release, “Mean Streak” became the album’s single in 1983; US promo copies paired it with “Midnight in Tokyo.”

A&M also issued “Midnight in Tokyo” as a single in 1983, including a Japanese 7-inch pressing backed with “Mean Streak.”

Mean Streak reached No. 103 on the Billboard 200, No. 35 on the UK albums chart, and No. 26 in Sweden.

In Rock We Trust

Y&T released their sixth album, In Rock We Trust, in July 1984 on A&M.

In Rock We Trust compresses the band’s attack into shorter transitions, harder chorus hits, and a brighter studio punch. Meniketti drives the lead figures, Alves nails the rhythm lines beside him, and Kennemore with Haze hold a firm backbeat under the faster cuts. Geoffrey Leib shares the core writing across the album, while Benjamin “Bennie” La Barge joins the credits on “I’ll Keep on Believin’ (Do You Know)” and “Lipstick and Leather.”

“Rock & Roll’s Gonna Save the World” opens with a shout-along charge, “Masters and Slaves” locks into a firmer riff spine and pointed guitar breaks, and “Break Out Tonight!” hits with fast downstroke rhythm and a blunt vocal push. “Don’t Stop Runnin’” carries brisk momentum through call-and-response backing lines, while “She’s a Liar” threads wiry bass motion under the guitar chords. “I’ll Keep on Believin’ (Do You Know)” and “This Time” slow the tempo and give Meniketti room for broader, more contoured lead phrases.

A1. “Rock & Roll’s Gonna Save the World” (4:39)
A2. “Life, Life, Life” (4:38)
A3. “Masters and Slaves” (3:58)
A4. “I’ll Keep on Believin’ (Do You Know)” (3:50)
A5. “Break Out Tonight!” (4:23)

B1. “Lipstick and Leather” (3:25)
B2. “Don’t Stop Runnin’” (4:20)
B3. “(Your Love Is) Drivin’ Me Crazy” (4:57)
B4. “She’s a Liar” (3:34)
B5. “This Time” (5:36)

Y&T recorded In Rock We Trust at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley with producer Tom “Colonel” Allom and engineer Andy DeGanahl. David Luke and Buddy Thornton assisted, and Sterling Sound handled the mastering.

John Taylor Dismukes supplied the illustration, and Chuck Beeson handled the art direction.

A&M issued “Don’t Stop Runnin’” as a single in 1984. It became Y&T’s first major radio hit and reached No. 33 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart.

In Rock We Trust became the band’s highest-charting album to that point and reached No. 45 on the Billboard 200, No. 33 in the UK, No. 16 in Sweden, No. 43 in the Netherlands, and No. 78 in Canada.

Open Fire

In June 1985, Y&T released Open Fire, a live album sourced from their recent transatlantic tour.

Open Fire condenses the band’s early-1985 stage set into a lean eight-song sequence that keeps the guitars at the front, the pace high, and the crowd response close to the mix. Most of the material comes from the A&M run that began with Earthshaker and peaked with In Rock We Trust, while one new studio cut points ahead to the next phase. The live recordings were taken at venues around Greater London and at the Keystone in Palo Alto on April 5–6, 1985.

A1. “Open Fire” (4:26) — from Black Tiger
A2. “Go for the Throat” (4:51) — non-LP song at the time
A3. “25 Hours a Day” (4:22) — from Yesterday and Today
A4. “Rescue Me” (5:53) — from Earthshaker

B1. “Summertime Girls” [Studio Version] (3:30) — first issued here; later on Down for the Count
B2. “Forever” (5:55) — from Black Tiger
B3. “Barroom Boogie” (4:35) — from Black Tiger
B4. “I Believe in You” (8:02) — from Earthshaker

Y&T recorded the live material for Open Fire at various venues in Greater London in early 1985 and at the Keystone in Palo Alto on April 5 and 6, 1985 with producers Scott Boorey and the band. Guy Charbonneau captured “Go for the Throat” and “Open Fire” with the Le Mobile truck, Niko Bolas remixed the live tracks at A&M Studios, and Kevin Beamish separately produced and engineered the studio recording of “Summertime Girls” at Sound City in Van Nuys.

Open Fire reached No. 70 on the Billboard 200 and No. 43 on the Swedish albums chart.

“Summertime Girls” appeared as a single in 1985. It became the band’s biggest hit, reaching No. 55 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 16 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart. In the United States, A&M also issued “Summertime Girls” with “All American Boy” on the flip side, while Japanese pressings used “Forever” as the B-side.

Down for the Count

Y&T released their seventh studio album, Down for the Count, on November 4, 1985, on A&M.

Down for the Count trims the arrangements into shorter chorus returns, brighter surfaces, and tighter verse-to-bridge turns. Meniketti drives the lead figures, Alves braces the rhythm lines beside him, and Kennemore with Haze hold a hard backbeat through the set. Y&T wrote eight tracks; Dave Robbins and Van Stephenson wrote “All American Boy,” and Kenny Loggins with Jim Messina wrote “Your Mama Don’t Dance.”

“In the Name of Rock” opens with a broad rise, chunky riff motion, and a large refrain. “All American Boy” and “Anytime at All” push harder toward stacked chorus vocals and brighter keyboard lift, while “Anything for Money” cuts back to a more frantic attack. “Face Like an Angel” pairs a rising lead figure with heavier chorus thrust, and “Summertime Girls” locks guitar riff and keyboard pattern into a tight singalong line. “Looks Like Trouble” and “Don’t Tell Me What to Wear” restore more grit on side two, while “Hands of Time” closes on slower tempo, wider keyboard swells, and a long vocal climb.

A1. “In the Name of Rock” (5:32)
A2. “All American Boy” (2:24) — Dave Robbins, Van Stephenson
A3. “Anytime at All” (4:32)
A4. “Anything for Money” (3:22)
A5. “Face Like an Angel” (4:36)

B1. “Summertime Girls” (3:28)
B2. “Looks Like Trouble” (4:07)
B3. “Your Mama Don’t Dance” (2:50) — Kenny Loggins, Jim Messina
B4. “Don’t Tell Me What to Wear” (4:02)
B5. “Hands of Time” (6:11)

Y&T recorded Down for the Count at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys with producer-engineer Kevin Beamish. Tony Platt handled engineering and remix work, Bruce Barris assisted, and the final remix was completed at Battery Studios in London.

Neon Park supplied the cover illustration, Donald Krieger handled the design, Jeff Gold and Chuck Beeson took the art direction, and Mark Weiss provided the photography.

Down for the Count reached No. 91 on the Billboard 200. It was also the last Y&T studio album by the original Meniketti-Alves-Kennemore-Haze lineup.

A&M issued “Summertime Girls” as a 7-inch single in 1985 before the album appeared, then carried the song over to Down for the Count. It reached No. 55 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 16 on the Mainstream Rock chart.

The band lifted “All American Boy” (b/w “Go for the Throat”) as a 7-inch single in 1985. It reached No. 48 on the Mainstream Rock chart. “Face Like an Angel” appeared as a 12-inch promo in 1985.

Contagious

Y&T released their eighth studio album, Contagious, on September 5, 1987, on Geffen.

Contagious brings Jimmy DeGrasso into the drum chair and leans harder on outside writing while the band pushes a bright, compressed attack. Meniketti drives the lead figures, Alves braces the rhythm lines, and Kennemore anchors the low end beneath the glossed-up mix. Taylor Rhodes shares the title track and “Eyes of a Stranger,” Al Pitrelli and Bruno Ravel join Kennemore on “Temptation,” Robert White Johnson shares “Bodily Harm” with Rhodes, and DeGrasso enters the credits on “The Kid Goes Crazy” and “Armed and Dangerous.”

The title track and “L.A. Rocks” push big riffs, stacked vocals, and flashier street-level shove straight to the front. “Temptation” slows the tempo into a semi-ballad pull and gives Meniketti a heavier vocal line, while “The Kid Goes Crazy” snaps back with reckless speed. “Fight for Your Life,” “Armed and Dangerous,” and “Rhythm or Not” restore the harder attack through burning tempo, thick guitar mass, and larger chorus lift, with “Rhythm or Not” landing with the heaviest low-end push. “Eyes of a Stranger” rides a sleeker pulse, “Bodily Harm” leans on repeated crowd-vocal accents, and “I’ll Cry for You” closes with a short instrumental comedown built from blues-toned lead guitar and sustained notes.

A1. “Contagious” (3:21) — Dave Meniketti, Taylor Rhodes
A2. “L.A. Rocks” (4:41) — Phil Kennemore, Meniketti
A3. “Temptation” (4:26) — Kennemore, Al Pitrelli, Bruno Ravel
A4. “The Kid Goes Crazy” (4:15) — Jimmy DeGrasso, Kennemore, Meniketti
A5. “Fight for Your Life” (4:49) — Joey Alves, Kennemore, Meniketti

B1. “Armed and Dangerous” (4:20) — DeGrasso, Kennemore, Meniketti
B2. “Rhythm or Not” (5:06) — Alves, Kennemore, Meniketti
B3. “Bodily Harm” (3:33) — Robert White Johnson, Rhodes
B4. “Eyes of a Stranger” (4:40) — Kennemore, Meniketti, Rhodes
B5. “I’ll Cry for You” (Instrumental) (2:37) — Alves, Meniketti

Y&T recorded Contagious at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys with co-producers Kevin Beamish and Scott Boorey. Bruce Barris handled engineering, Kevin Elson mixed the album at Fantasy Studios, and Greg Fulginiti mastered the final release.

Hugh Syme handled the art direction, and Glen Wexler supplied the photography.

Contagious reached No. 78 on the Billboard 200 and No. 27 on the Swedish albums chart.

Discography:

Yesterday and Today (1976 • Yesterday and Today)
Struck Down (1978 • Yesterday and Today)
Earthshaker (1981)
Black Tiger (1982)
Mean Streak (1983)
In Rock We Trust (1984)
Down for the Count (1985)
Open Fire (live, 1985)
Contagious (1987)
Ten (1990)
Musically Incorrect (1995)
Endangered Species (1997)
UnEarthed Vol. 1: Unreleased Recordings From 1974 Through 2003 (archival, 2003)
UnEarthed Vol. 2: Demos & Unreleased Recordings From 1974 Through 1989 (archival, 2004)
Facemelter (2010)