Earthshaker

Though it may not seem like much time, the five short years during which they recorded for A&M Records marked the most consistent period of Y&T's unfortunate career. And though they would sign a new contract with Geffen thereafter, their subsequent, glam-drenched efforts would prove even less inspired. So while hardly all encompassing, Best of '81 to '85 will satisfy the curious fan better than any other package, save perhaps for their excellent live album, Open Fire. The band's drab studio technique notwithstanding, tracks like "Open Fire," "Hurricane," "Mean Streak," and "I Believe in You" make a strong, cohesive statement about the group's songwriting, if not their performance. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia

Yesterday and Today is the self-titled debut studio album by American hard rock/heavy metal band Yesterday and Today, released in 1976 through London Records…

Following the unexpected commercial underachiever that was their fourth album, Black Tiger, San Francisco's Y&T were reeling in confusion. All had seemed rosy back in 1981, when their comeback effort, Earthshaker, had been heralded as an instant classic by media and fans alike; but its successor had lacked both substance and energy by comparison, leaving the group uncertain of what to try next…

Y&T's difficulties in the recording studio continued with their sixth album, 1984's In Rock We Trust. You'd think the San Francisco quartet could have figured this out by now, but despite experimenting with a number of different approaches, recording techniques, and big-name producers, Y&T had yet to successfully capture their scorching live energy on vinyl…

Years before unleashing their critically acclaimed Earthshaker album in 1981, San Francisco's Y&T had enjoyed a brief, semi-covert existence in the mid-'70s, when they still went by their original name, the pre-shortening Yesterday & Today. Signed to the tiny London label, the quartet recorded two albums during this phase, the first of which was this eponymous 1976 debut…

Fronted by former model Doro Pesch, the German metal band Warlock consisted of guitarists Rudy Graf and Peter Szigeti, bassist Frank Rittel, and drummer Michael "Micha" Eurich. Originally formed in 1983, the group was heavily influenced by such fellow European metal outfits as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Accept, both musically and with their lyric/subject matter. The quintet issued their debut album in 1984, Burning the Witches, following it up with 1985's Hellbound, 1986's True As Steel (the same year Warlock played at England's annual mammoth metal festival, Castle Donnington), and 1987's Triumph and Agony. Warlock called it quits by 1988, as Pesch launched a solo career.

Ritchie Blackmore is an British guitarist and songwriter, began his professional career as a session musician as a member of the instrumental band The Outlaws and as a backing musician of pop singers Glenda Collins, Heinz, Screaming Lord Sutch, Neil Christian, etc.. Blackmore was also one of the original members of Deep Purple, playing jam-style rock music which mixed simple guitar riffs and organ sounds During his solo career, he established neo-classical metal band called Rainbow which fused baroque music influences elements with hard rock…

Accurately dubbed "the Queen of Chicago blues" (and sometimes just the blues in general), Koko Taylor helped keep the tradition of big-voiced, brassy female blues belters alive, recasting the spirits of early legends like Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Big Mama Thornton, and Memphis Minnie for the modern age. Taylor's rough, raw vocals were perfect for the swaggering new electrified era of the blues, and her massive hit "Wang Dang Doodle" served notice that male dominance in the blues wasn't as exclusive as it seemed. After a productive initial stint on Chess, Taylor spent several decades on the prominent contemporary blues label Alligator, going on to win more W.C. Handy Awards than any other female performer in history, and establishing herself as far and away the greatest female blues singer of her time. Collection includes: Koko Taylor (1969); South Side Lady (1973); I Got What It Takes (1975); The Earthshaker (1978); From The Heart Of A Woman (1981); Queen of the Blues (1985); Jump For Joy (1990).