Y AND T black tiger UICY-20243

The Roar of the Tiger: Y&T’s ‘Black Tiger’ on SHM-CD (UICY-20243)

Today’s entry focuses on a definitive album from the American hard rock legends Y&T. We are looking at the 2011 Japanese reissue of their 1982 classic, “Black Tiger,” released on the A&M Records label (Universal Music) with the catalog number UICY-20243. This particular copy includes the original obi strip.

Released as part of the “My Generation, My Music” series, this edition is pressed on SHM-CD (Super High Material CD). This high-fidelity format is designed to be playable on standard CD players while utilizing higher-quality materials to improve audio transparency, making it the ideal way to experience the crisp production work of Max Norman.

“Black Tiger” is widely considered a masterpiece of melodic hard rock. For Japanese fans in particular, this album holds a special place due to the inclusion of the track “Forever.” This song, with its emotional “crying” guitar melody and dramatic structure, is often cited as the ultimate example of “Yoshikibi” (stylistic beauty) in metal. The flow from the multi-layered guitar intro “From The Moon” into the driving energy of “Open Fire” and “Forever” is legendary.

Beyond those hits, the album showcases the band’s versatility and Dave Meniketti’s immense talent as both a vocalist and guitarist. It features high-energy rockers like the title track, the shuffling groove of “Barroom Boogie,” and the epic closing ballad “Winds Of Change.”

UICY-20243 is a fantastic high-quality reissue that captures Y&T at their absolute peak. It is an essential item for collectors of 80s hard rock, offering a pristine listening experience of a genre-defining record.