Y&T - Contagious 12" Vinyl LP Album

- Line-up changes and Geffen debut

Album Front Cover Photo of Y&T - Contagious Visit: https://vinyl-records.nl/

Released in 1987, Contagious marked Y&T’s first album for Geffen Records and reflected the band’s push toward a polished, radio-ready heavy metal sound. The record introduced drummer Jimmy DeGrasso, replacing long-time member Leonard Haze, and added session keyboardist Steffen Presley, expanding the band’s sonic palette. With Dave Meniketti’s soaring vocals and guitar work, Joey Alves’ riffs, Phil Kennemore’s driving bass, and the added backing of The Sphinctones, Y&T aimed to stay relevant in the competitive hard rock market of the late ’80s.

Table of Contents

"Contagious" Album Description:

Y&T's eighth studio album, "Contagious," marks a pivotal moment in the band's history, both musically and in terms of personnel. Released in 1987 through Geffen Records in Germany, the album presents a blend of hard rock and heavy metal that resonated with fans and critics alike. This page explores the creation of the album, delving into its historical context and the notable changes within the band.

Background:

The late 1980s was a dynamic period for rock music, witnessing the rise of glam metal and the flourishing of diverse sounds within the hard rock genre. Against this backdrop, Y&T embarked on the creation of "Contagious." The album followed a string of successful releases, including "Mean Streak" and "Down for the Count," establishing Y&T as a force to be reckoned with in the hard rock scene.

Personnel Changes:

One of the significant aspects of "Contagious" is the lineup shift within Y&T. Drummer Leonard Haze departed from the band in 1986, paving the way for Jimmy DeGrasso to step into the rhythm section. This change brought a fresh energy to the band's dynamics, influencing the album's overall sound and feel.

Recording Process:

The recording sessions for "Contagious" were carried out with meticulous attention to detail, capturing the essence of Y&T's live energy while exploring new sonic territories. The album's production showcased advancements in studio technology, contributing to its polished yet raw sound. The collaboration between band members and the production team played a crucial role in shaping the final product.

Musical Highlights:

"Contagious" features a diverse range of tracks, from the hard-hitting title track to the melodic "I'll Cry for You." The album's musicality reflects the band's ability to seamlessly navigate between powerful riffs, emotive lyrics, and infectious melodies. Dave Meniketti's vocals and guitar work, combined with the rhythmic foundation laid by the revamped lineup, contribute to the album's enduring appeal.

Legacy and Impact:

"Contagious" received positive reviews upon its release and has since become a classic in Y&T's discography. Its impact is evident in the continued admiration from fans and its influence on subsequent generations of hard rock and metal bands. The album's enduring popularity underscores its significance in the evolution of the genre.

Production & Recording Information:

Music Genre:

Heavy Metal / Hard Rock with melodic glam influences

This album reflects Y&T’s late 1980s shift toward a polished, radio-friendly heavy metal sound, combining their classic hard rock roots with glam-metal elements tailored for the MTV era.

Label & Catalognr:

Geffen Records – Cat#: 924 142 (924142)

Album Packaging

This album includes the original custom inner sleeve with album details, complete lyrics of all songs by Y&T and band photos.

Media Format:

Record Format: 12" LP Vinyl Gramophone Record

Year & Country:

1987 – Germany

Producers:
  • Kevin Beamish – Producer
    American record producer and engineer best known for producing REO Speedwagon's 1980 multi-platinum album Hi Infidelity. Beamish has worked with a wide range of rock and metal acts, shaping their sound for commercial success.
  • Scott Boarey – Executive Producer
    Music executive involved with various Geffen Records projects during the 1980s, ensuring production quality and overseeing major hard rock releases of the era.
Recording Location:

Sound City Studios

Legendary Los Angeles studio, famous for iconic albums by Fleetwood Mac (Rumours), Nirvana (Nevermind), and Metallica. Known for its warm analog sound and historic Neve console.
Mastering Engineer & Location:
  • Greg Fulginiti – Mastering Engineer at Artisan Sound Recorders
    Highly respected mastering engineer, credited on hundreds of classic rock, pop, and metal albums from the 1970s–1990s. Worked with artists such as The Eagles, U2, and Elton John, ensuring top-tier audio fidelity.

Band Members / Musicians:

Band Line-up:
  • Dave Meniketti – Lead vocals, Guitar
    Founding member and frontman of Y&T. Renowned for his powerful vocals and expressive guitar work. His style influenced many hard rock and metal singers of the 1980s, and he remains the band’s driving force. Meniketti also enjoyed a successful solo career with blues-rock albums.
  • Joey Alves – Guitars
    Longtime rhythm guitarist for Y&T (1974–1989). Provided the heavy riffs and harmonies that defined the group’s classic sound. Alves played on all of the band’s major 1980s releases, including Earthshaker, Black Tiger, and In Rock We Trust.
  • Philip Kennemore – Bass
    Co-founder and bassist of Y&T. Known for his energetic stage presence and solid groove, Kennemore was part of every album until his passing in 2011. Due to illness, he could not participate in the 2010 tour to support the Facemelter album. His playing anchored the band through their transformation from Yesterday & Today into international heavy metal icons.
  • Steffen Presley – Keyboards
    Session keyboardist who contributed additional textures to Contagious. Presley has worked across various genres and later became active as a composer and arranger for rock and progressive projects.
  • Jimmy DeGrasso – Drums
    Drummer who joined Y&T in the mid-1980s and played on Contagious. After leaving Y&T, DeGrasso went on to perform with major acts including Megadeth, Alice Cooper, Suicidal Tendencies, and Ozzy Osbourne. Highly respected for his technical precision and versatility.
  • The Sphinctones – Background vocals
    A backing vocal group providing layered harmonies on the album, adding depth and a more commercial hard rock feel typical of late-1980s heavy metal.
Band Member Birth Information

Dave Meniketti
Born 12 December 1953
Oakland, California, USA

Joey Alves
Born 3 August 1953/54 – Died 12 March 2017
Oakland, California, USA

Phil Kennemore
Born 20 January 1953 – Died 7 January 2011
Wichita, Kansas, USA

Jimmy DeGrasso
Born 16 March 1963
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA

Steffen Presley
Born 1954
USA

Complete Track-listing:

Tracklisting Side One:
  1. Contagious Single
    Released as the lead single and title track, it represents Y&T's signature 1980s hard rock sound.
  2. LA Rocks
  3. Temptation
  4. The Kid Goes Crazy
  5. Fight for Your Life
Video: Y&T - Contagious (Official Music Video)
Tracklisting Side Two:
  1. Armed and Dangerous
  2. Rhythm or Not
  3. Bodily Harm
  4. Eyes of a Stranger
  5. I'll Cry for You
Video: Armed And Dangerous
Album Front Cover Photo
Front cover of Y&T's 1987 album Contagious, released on Geffen Records in Germany. The artwork shows the bold golden Y&T logo outlined in red, placed prominently against a textured black granite-like background. Beneath the band name appears the album title Contagious in red capital letters. At the center, a dramatic visual effect depicts shattered glass fragments and a splash mark as if something has violently struck the surface. Along the lower edge runs a jagged glowing orange crack resembling molten rock or lightning, adding intensity to the design.

The album cover displays the striking Y&T logo in metallic gold with red outlines, centered at the top against a dark, rough-textured, granite-like background. Just below, the title Contagious is written in sharp red capitals.

At the heart of the artwork lies a dynamic effect: shards of glass and a splash imprint, suggesting a sudden impact or explosion bursting outward. The fragments scatter across the textured surface, creating a sense of raw energy and disruption.

A jagged, glowing fissure of fiery orange cuts across the bottom edge of the cover, resembling molten lava or lightning breaking through rock, reinforcing the album's aggressive and electrifying heavy metal identity.

Album Back Cover Photo
Back cover of Y&T's 1987 album Contagious, released on Geffen Records in Germany. The upper section lists the ten track titles in bold red-orange text against a speckled green and black textured background. To the right, the catalog number 924 142-1 and barcode are clearly visible. The lower central area features a striking black-and-white group photograph of the band members in dramatic 1980s attire and hairstyles, posing against a mottled stone-like wall. Beneath the photo are production credits naming Kevin Beamish as producer and Scott Boorey as executive producer, along with the Geffen Records logo.

The back cover combines both design and band presence. At the top, the full track list is printed in sharp red-orange text, set against a textured green-and-black backdrop that continues the album’s bold graphic theme.

On the right-hand side, the catalog number and barcode are displayed, confirming this Geffen Records German pressing. Just below sits the centerpiece: a dramatic black-and-white portrait of the four Y&T members.

Dressed in flamboyant 1980s hard rock style with layered jackets, patterned shirts, and voluminous hairstyles, the band members project a confident and defiant image. Their intense gazes and strong poses convey the power and energy of the album’s heavy metal identity.

Production credits appear beneath the photo, acknowledging Kevin Beamish as producer and Scott Boorey as executive producer. The Geffen Records logo sits prominently at the bottom, anchoring the design in the era’s major label rock legacy.

First Photo of Custom Inner Sleeve
Custom inner sleeve of Y&T's 1987 album Contagious, featuring four individual black-and-white portrait photos of the band members. Top left: Dave Meniketti stands with his guitar, wearing a dark jacket and bracelets, exuding calm confidence. Top right: Jimmy DeGrasso is seated behind his drum kit, arms resting on his knees, with a youthful, intense look. Bottom left: Philip Kennemore leans on his bass guitar, his expression thoughtful and serious, framed by his voluminous curly hair. Bottom right: Joey Alves gazes sideways while holding his guitar, dressed in an open shirt and jacket, projecting a cool rock attitude. Each image is framed against a neutral studio backdrop.

The custom inner sleeve presents four separate black-and-white studio portraits of the Y&T band members, offering fans a close and personal view of each musician.

Dave Meniketti appears at the top left, holding his guitar with quiet authority, dressed in a dark jacket with layered jewelry. To his right, Jimmy DeGrasso sits behind his drum kit, arms folded across his knees, gazing forward with youthful intensity and tousled hair.

On the lower row, Philip Kennemore rests his arm on his bass, his expression serious and contemplative, hair full and striking. Beside him, Joey Alves is captured mid-profile, guitar in hand, dressed in an open shirt and jacket, embodying the effortless confidence of an 80s rocker.

Together, these portraits highlight the individuality of each band member while reinforcing the unity of Y&T during the Contagious era.

Second Photo of Custom Inner Sleeve
Custom inner sleeve of Y&T's 1987 album Contagious, displaying the complete printed lyrics for all ten tracks. The layout is a dense black-on-white text arrangement, divided into clear song sections with titles such as Contagious, L.A. Rocks, Temptation, The Kid Goes Crazy, Fight for Your Life, Armed and Dangerous, Rhythm or Not, Bodily Harm, Eyes of a Stranger, and I'll Cry for You. Along the left margin are detailed production credits including producers, engineers, studios, and acknowledgments. The design emphasizes readability, allowing fans to follow along with the album's themes while listening.

This custom inner sleeve is fully dedicated to the lyrics of Contagious. All ten songs are carefully typeset in black on a clean white background, arranged into distinct sections for easy reference.

Song titles including Contagious, L.A. Rocks, Temptation, and Fight for Your Life are highlighted at the start of each section, followed by complete lyrical passages. The right-hand columns carry tracks like Armed and Dangerous, Bodily Harm, and I'll Cry for You.

Along the left margin appear detailed production credits: naming producer Kevin Beamish, executive producer Scott Boorey, engineers, recording and mastering studios, and acknowledgments to collaborators. This combination of creative content and behind-the-scenes credits made the sleeve both functional and collectible for fans in 1987.

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Close up of Side One record’s label
Close-up of Side One label for Y&T's 1987 album Contagious, released on Geffen Records in Germany. The label background is solid black with the Geffen Records logo in gold and white at the top, showing the stylized 'G' sphere. Below, the word Geffen Records appears in bold white letters. The center text provides detailed track listings for Side One, including 'Contagious', 'L.A. Rocks', 'Temptation', 'The Kid Goes Crazy', and 'Fight For Your Life'. Surrounding the center hole are credits naming Kevin Beamish as producer and Scott Boorey as executive producer, with catalog number 924 142-1 printed at the bottom along with GEMA/BIEM rights indications. White perimeter text outlines copyright and reproduction restrictions.

This close-up of Side One’s record label features a stark black background with the Geffen Records gold-and-white logo positioned prominently at the top. The logo sphere with its stylized “G” dominates the design, giving the label an instantly recognizable identity.

Beneath the logo, the label text is arranged in crisp white print. The band name Y&T and album title Contagious stand out, followed by the detailed track list for Side One: “Contagious,” “L.A. Rocks,” “Temptation,” “The Kid Goes Crazy,” and “Fight For Your Life.”

Production credits are included directly on the label, listing Kevin Beamish as producer and Scott Boorey as executive producer. The catalog number 924 142-1 is printed boldly near the bottom, while performance rights (GEMA/BIEM) and technical specifications such as stereo playback and 33 RPM are also noted.

Perimeter text circles the label edge, outlining copyright warnings and reproduction restrictions, marking this as the authentic 1987 German Geffen pressing of the album.

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Updated Y&T - Contagious 1987 Geffen Records Germany 12" Vinyl LP album front cover https://vinyl-records.nl
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Thumbnail Of Y&T - In Rock We Trust 12" Vinyl LP album front cover

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Thumbnail Of Y&T - Summertime Girls 12" Vinyl LP album front cover

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