Y & T/Tokyo,Japan 1982

It’s decided! The “Japan Heavy Metal Festival”, which played a major role in the formation of the Japanese heavy metal scene in the early 1980s, was held for the second time, which has become semi-legendary. You can thoroughly enjoy Y&T’s masterpiece, which left a particularly strong impression! After forming the band in 1974, “YESTERDAY & TODAY” released two albums in the 1970s. Their sound has a European dampness and melancholy that is similar to British hard rock, and has attracted the attention of rock fans. I was collecting. In particular, the melodious guitar played by Dave Menichetti matched the tastes of the Japanese people, and Menichetti was even described as a “Living National Treasure” along with Gary Moore. However, in the mid to late 1970s, when they made their full-fledged debut, there was a global punk new wave boom and hard rock popularity was declining. Furthermore, in the late 1970s, when hard rock popularity was recovering, VAN HALEN was in the spotlight as another band from the United States, and YESTERDAY & TODAY became a “connoisseur’s” existence. 1981 was a turning point for them. They changed the band name to the simple “Y&T” and effectively made their re-debut with the masterpiece “EARTHSHAKER”. In this work, while further refining the melodic sense that he had had since the 1970s, he presented music with increased hardness and drama, and received rave reviews not only from American fans but also from Japanese fans. In July 1982, Y&T’s first visit to Japan finally came to fruition. It was in the form of a guest appearance (in fact, as a headliner) at the “Japan Heavy Metal Festival,” which started in response to the growing popularity of hard rock and heavy metal in Japan at the time. This “Japan Heavy Metal Festival” is an event sponsored by a famous music magazine. The performing artists were mainly domestic bands, but its achievements include realizing a metal-centered festival-style concert ahead of that “super rock” era, and helping leading domestic bands gain national recognition. It is highly rated. Among them, the one held in July 1982 was attended by LOUDNESS, PINK CLOUD, and EARTHSHAKER, who were amateurs at the time, and is even referred to as a “legendary festival” by Japanese metal fans. Y&T’s participation added even more weight to this. This work records Y&T’s stage from the opening to the encore from the festival held at the Ota-ku Gymnasium, Tokyo on July 31, 1982, which remains in the history of Japanese metal. Of course the recording person is that Miracle Man! From “1st floor, row 12, number 39″, you can enjoy the live performance with a vivid audience recording with a documentary touch! Listeners should be able to understand the excitement in the venue and the high expectations that fans have for Y&T when they hear the loud cheers that suddenly erupt when the disc is played. The clarity of the sound is of course top notch. The sound image, which includes echoes from the venue, also gives you the sense of presence and lively realism that you would expect from a live recording (another nice feature is that you won’t be bothered by cheers during the performance). The set list features up to 8 of the 10 songs from “EARTHSHAKER”, and the listeners are fully satisfied from the opening song, “Hungry For Rock.” Menichetti plays a great role in all songs. His guitar has both a flowing melody and a sharp edge, and his unique yet stable vocals and presence are reminiscent of Gary Moore from the same period. In addition to hard songs, songs such as “Dirty Girl” that make you listen to it carefully show off his ability. Furthermore, the drums of Leonard Hayes, who was said to be “a man who makes a two-bass sound with one bass”, are very powerful. You can clearly see the band’s performance skills, which have been honed through their stage activities since their debut. The middle part is a great listening point, where two songs, “Forever” and “Black Tiger”, are released in succession from “BLACK TIGER” just before the album’s release. Joey Alvis on side guitar and Phil Kennemore on bass also provide solid support, giving the songs a more profound drama (they also bring Menichetti to life in the choruses of each song). Listen to “I Believe In You” and “Rescue Me”, both of which have memorable crying melodies typical of Menichetti (the clapping of hands in the venue during “Rescue Me” also creates a wonderful mood), and the fast-paced “Knock You Out”. A point you can’t miss. Furthermore, “Squeeze” includes a drum solo in the middle, giving it a different look from the album. At the end, Sammy Hagar’s cover “Call My Name” is played full of fun, closing the approximately 67-minute live with the highest excitement! When Y&T came to Japan in 1982, they not only performed at festivals, but also held solo performances in Tokyo. This live performance held on a stormy night became a memory for them, and it is well known that it culminated in the song “Midnight In Tokyo” included in the 1983 album “MEAN STREAK”. In other words, this ’82 performance in Japan was a very important event for both Japanese fans and the band. This sound source that vividly and realistically cuts out that pattern can be said to be a particularly meaningful one among Miracle Man recordings. Live at Otaku Taiikukan, Tokyo, Japan 31st July 1982 TRULY AMAZING SOUND(from Original Masters) 1. Introduction 2. Hungry For Rock 3. Hurricane 4. Dirty Girl 5. Forever 6. Black Tiger 7. I Believe In You 8. Young And Tough 9. Knock You Out 10. Guitar Solo 11. Rescue Me 12. Squeeze 13. Drum Solo 14. Squeeze (Reprise) 15. Call My Name Dave Meniketti – Guitar, Vocals Joey Alves – Guitar Phil Kennemore – Bass, Vocals Leonard Haze – Drums