Y&T
wasn't the most popular
metal
band, but they were better than a lot of their ilk, especially in the early '80s. Their biggest failing was that they came along a little bit too early to take advantage of the boom years of the '80s, when
albums were flying out the stores and topping the charts. Too bad, because they had a good formula, part
Van Halen
and part
AC/DC
, who had swagger and hooks. Occasionally, they sounded a little generic, but in a good sense -- they played by
's formulas and delivered satisfyingly.
Hip-O
's
Ultimate Collection
proves this by rounding up 17 tracks (including two live cuts) that hit nearly all the fan favorites and
anthems, plus their lone hit, 1985's
"Summertime Girls."
It's the definitive word on a good band that would have been bigger if they had better timing. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine