Earthshaker

1981's Earthshaker is the only unanimous moment of Y&T's lengthy career. The only studio album that came close to capturing the power and energy of the San Francisco quartet's legendary concerts onto disc, the band's third L.P. was their first for new label A&M, and the first to see their original moniker Yesterday & Today shortened to its better-known incarnation. Vein-busting metal anthems like "Hurricane" and "Knock You Out" boast a menacing swagger not seen before or since, and, even though they slow things down just a bit, melodic hard rockers like "Let Me Go" and the classic "Rescue Me" never waver in intensity or purpose. Admittedly, a few of the mid-paced rockers ("Hungry for Rock," "Young and Tough") have not aged all that well, but in the manic "Squeeze," bassist Phil Kennemore takes over lead vocals so that regular frontman Dave Meniketti can deliver one of the most passionate, over-the-top lead guitar performances of his career. And Y&T save the best for last, climaxing with their signature power ballad, the dramatic "I Believe in You" — easily one of the decade's best examples of the style, bar none. Simply put, Earthshaker is a virtual force of nature, and its no wonder Y&T found it an impossible act to follow.