Y&T Music Does It Again

South Florida’s Y&T Music Does It Again

By Debbie Brautman

It didn’t look like Y&T Music, South Florida’s very own ultra-cool record label, could top last year’s special release of the Welsh band Badfinger’s album Head First: 50^th Anniversary Special Edition. Released on Dec 13, 2024, it is the long-lost Badfinger album that features founder/singer/songwriter and guitarist Pete Ham’s final studio recordings. This long-awaited release was mixed and remastered from the original master tapes. It was intended to be Badfinger’s 3^rd album for Warner Brothers, recorded at the Beatles’ Apple Studios in 1974, but was shelved for legal reasons. A rough mix version was finally released in 2000 on Snapper Records, but the recent rediscovery of the original multi-tracks, thought to be lost, breathed new life into this long-hidden treasure. There is a wealth of material beyond their major hits, “Baby Blue,” “Day After Day,” “No Matter What,” and “Come and Get It.” Y&T Music jumped on the opportunity to release such a special recording, especially since Pete Ham is Y&T Music founder Rich Ulloa’s all-time favorite musician. Ulloa is as humble as they come and has been instrumental in releasing so much great music on this local independent label since 1991. Before that, in 1981, he opened the coolest indie record store, Yesterday & Today, on Bird Road in Miami. It was absolutely the place to be for music. Since adding partners Jim Wurster (Creative force) and Don Sarley (Business guy), Y&T Music, his record label has been on overdrive.

Fast forward to April 2025, Y&T Music released a limited-edition Pete Ham CD named Acoustic, featuring rare home demos by Pete Ham. This release coincides with the 50^th Anniversary of his tragic death by suicide at age 27. This is an interesting release for diehard Badfinger/Pete Ham fans. It’s also for Beatles’ fans, as Badfinger are sometimes a dead ringer for the Beatles. Some songs are previously released tunes in alternate versions, while others are previously unreleased acoustic tunes, with some in snippets. The demos are from well-known Badfinger classics like “Midnight Sun,” “We’re For The Dark,” and “I Can’t Take It.” “We’re For the Dark” is an original solo demo from 1970 and sourced from an acetate. It’s one of the highlights and there are many unfinished gems and experimental pieces. “Look Around” is a fragment of an unfinished song from 1970. “Army Man” is an alternative take of “Whiskey Man,” which appeared on Pete Ham’s posthumous release Golders Green. Also interesting is how “I Can’t Forget” began before it was completed as their fabulous song “Perfection.” This album contains 30 acoustic songs/fragments on the digital format and 31 on the Limited-Edition CD. The bonus track is a rock ‘n’ roll medley of Ham’s original “Are You Ready” combined with the classic songs, “Mean Woman’s Blues” and Gene Vincent’s “Be-Bop-a-Lula.” The time span began when Badfinger was known originally as The Iveys in 1966 and continues through 1975. This CD was released with full cooperation of the Pete Ham Estate. Restoration and mastering was expertly done by Kevin McElligott. The album’s tracks were compiled and edited by Badfinger archivist Tom Brennan, who also wrote the liner notes. Only 1,000 copies of the CD are available. This is a special release for devoted Badfinger fans, and there are many.

If that wasn’t enough, Y&T Music just released Dance of Love and Death, in April. It’s the first new original music in years by 82-year-old folk and blues singer-songwriter Eric Andersen. It’s a 2 CD set to boot. Like Leonard Cohen, the man has a way with words and his smooth and sensuous vocals are incredibly soothing. This modern recording is an album that you will want to play repeatedly. The songs are great, with clever lyrics and hooks that stick. It was perfectly recorded with excellent sound. Steve Addabbo produced it and plays guitars and multiple instruments. The title track, “Dance of Love and Death” is worth the price of the CD alone. Lenny Kaye of The Patti Smith band plays on this track and the song “Inevitable.” “Love is a Sacred Thing” is a beautiful thing from start to finish with incredible violin by famed Michele Gazich and harmony vocals by his wife Inge. “Don’t It Make You Wanna Sing the Blues” features more beautiful violin, viola and strings by Michele Gazich. “After This Life” is an up-tempo humorous song about what he wants to do after this life, like kiss Marilyn Monroe and do everything he never got to do. “River Spree (Berlin)” has the cool factor of mentioning the 1984 Wim Wenders movie Paris,Texas, and has haunting music to match the tragic tale of a former girlfriend’s demise. “Inevitable” is an infectious and clever song which is a complete winner. In fact, they all are in their own way. Andersen wrote all the songs on this double CD except “Cross of Gold,” which is by Grammy winning singer-songwriter Robin Batteau. “At the End of the Day” is a touching duet with his wife Inge Andersen. This album is dedicated to Inge - In deep appreciation for all her support, beautiful harmonies and love. In “Season in Crime (Crime Scenes)” he sings, “There ain’t no place in heaven cause they locked the pearly gates.” The 2^nd CD ends with an eight-minute blues song called “Broken Bone Blues,” where he laments, “When you get in trouble, the blues are your best friend.” In fact, his debut New York show in 1964 was opening for John Lee Hooker at Gerde’s Folk City. As Andersen puts it, “In the end, you always return to the blues.”

He became known performing in Greenwich Village in the 1960s as part of the folk  singer-songwriter scene. Bob Dylan covered his song “Thirsty Boots,” as did Judy Collins. Other renown artists that covered his songs are Johnny Cash, Linda Ronstadt, The Grateful Dead and Ricky Nelson, to name a few. He co-wrote songs with Lou Reed, Townes Van Zandt, Bob Weir and Rick Danko. What a creative talent! It’s been a long wait for Andersen’s gorgeous and fascinating new music, but it has been well worth the wait!

The third impressive Y & T Music release for 2025 is Jim Wurster’s studio album, Transcendental Inclinations. Long before Wurster became a partner in Y&T Music, he was a local rock hero in the alt/goth/rock band Black Janet in the late 80’s/early 90s. He transitioned into a superb Americana artist with multiple releases over the years, including collaborations with his band The Atomic Cowboys and various other superb tribute collaborations. His 2018 album Life was very well received and drew comparisons to Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave and Townes Van Zandt. Besides his extraordinary voice, which is unique and filled with character, his songwriting excels. He is a true artist. This new album features Wurster on vocals and acoustic guitar along with some of South Florida’s top musicians - Bob Wlos, Mike Vullo, Mike “Bongo” Hawn, and Jack Stamates. Wlos and Vullo produced it and play a multitude of instruments from pedal steel, guitars, dobro, bass to banjo, mandolin, piano, drums, and harmonica. The Norman Pumpernickel Choir provide harmony and background vocals. It’s also a treat to hear Omine Eager sharing vocals on “Sweet Melancholy,” which she co-wrote with Wurster. She’s one of South Florida’s finest musical artists.

Transcendental Inclinations often leans more towards traditional country and begins with “Tried and True,” that sets the tone. After a dobro intro, Wurster sings, “I don’t drive no pick-up, I don’t drink much beer, don’t wear no boots, never rode a steer, but I like country music. It’s got a lot of soul, but not that F’in crap that they play on the radio.” He lists Willie, Waylon, Lefty, Merle, Patsy and Tammy as some of the real country musicians he loves. The title track “Transcendental Inclinations” swings. His cover of Johnny Burnette’s “Tear It Up” authentically rocks, as does his cover of the classic rocker “Rave On,” which Buddy Holly perfected. On “The Sun is Always Blue,” his delivery is perfect, “I took your number off my cell, I curse your name all the way to hell, but no matter what I do, the sun is always blue, I just can’t get over you.”

“High Rolling Holy Roller” shows his sense of humor, poking fun at a religious hypocrite. “Pure From the Heart” is pure Wurster, “Love isn’t found in boxes of chocolate…Love isn’t found in jealous rages… It is found in souls that set no conditions… the kinda love that we dream.” “Wash Me In The River” is Wurster storytelling imagery at its best. Johnny Cash would’ve covered this if he were still alive. If you want a real Country/Americana album, then this one’s for you.