Don’t Come Easy is the Debut album by Tyketto, an American hard rock band, based in New York City, New York, United States. The group was put together in 1987 by the former Waysted vocalist Danny Vaughn, with Brooke St. James (guitar), Jimi Kennedy (bass), and Michael Clayton (drums).
In the heyday of the hair bands, Tyketto found themselves in a rather unfortunate situation. the band stepped onto the scene with passion and resilience. Their timing might have seemed unlucky secured a record deal just as the genre was on the verge of a rapid decline in 1990, a time when the hair metal scene was still blissfully unaware of its impending downfall.
– catching the tail end of an era – but for true fans, Tyketto represented something more than just musical trends. These musicians crafted their sound with genuine dedication. They weren’t just another band riding the wave, they’re a bridge between the exuberant 1980s and the more introspective sounds that would follow.
Tyketto’s core members include lead singer Danny Vaughn, guitarist Brooke St. James, bassist Jimi Kennedy, and drummer Michael Clayton. The band’s moniker was inspired by a graffiti tag spotted in their Brooklyn, New York, stomping grounds.
Danny Vaughn, the group’s most renowned member, had previously been part of Paul Chapman’s former UFO guitarist band DOA. However, that project didn’t quite take off, as Paul went on to join Waysted, collaborate with Pete Way, a former bassist and bandmate from UFO’s.
Danny also joined Waysted for a spell, from around 1985 to 1987, before departing to form his own band, Tyketto. It wasn’t until 1989 that Danny finally landed a major-label deal.
Tyketto’s debut “Don’t Come Easy” landed like a musical postcard from the hair metal era – a melodic hard rock missive that nodded to the genre’s giants without quite scaling their commercial peaks. smooth-edged charm dialed up a notch, but stopping short of blues-drenched intensity. It’s the kind of album that true believers of melodic rock would appreciate – solid, passionate, with just enough edge to keep things interesting, even if it didn’t quite break through the noise of the overcrowded rock scene.
The record exists in that sweet spot between polished AOR and raw hard rock – not pristine enough to be a radio-friendly, but too sophisticated to be dismissed as mere hair metal fodder. For fans who like their rock with a bit of heart and less commercial polish, “Don’t Come Easy” offered a genuine, unvarnished listening experience that has only grown more appreciated with time.
“Forever Young” bursts out of the gates like a classic rock anthem that knows exactly what it wants to be – a rebellious yet melodic slice of pure ’80s energy. The track struts with an air guitar-worthy riff that pays homage to the era without getting bogged down in its own excess. youthful rebellion, Tyketto carves out their own sonic territory – less street-tough, more arena-ready sounds.
In the MTV-dominated landscape of the early ’90s, the band struck gold with not one, but two music videos that captured the last gasp of the music video golden age. “Forever Young” and “Wings” became visual calling cards for the band, each video a time capsule of melodic hard rock’s final, glorious moments. These tracks were the musical equivalent of a sunset – beautiful, slightly melancholic, and Rocks! Rocks! Rocks!
The videos showcased Tyketto’s unique blend of AOR polish and hard rock grit – a sound that was simultaneously familiar and fresh. “Wings” especially demonstrated the band’s ability to wrap complex emotions in a package of pure, unapologetic rock music that could fill an arena or soundtrack a late-night drive.
Danny’s vocals are a standout – his deep, soft, and powerful tone is ideally suited for this style of music. While the instrumentalists are undoubtedly skilled, Danny’s vocal performance is undoubtedly the highlight of the album. The guitar work, particularly on “Lay Your Body Down,” is also noteworthy, with the guitarist showcasing his experience and flair, even if he doesn’t necessarily stand out in the hair metal genre that emphasizes fun and energy over technical prowess.
In an era when every self-respecting rock band needed its acoustic moments, Tyketto delivered with tracks like “Seasons” and “Walk on Fire” – those carefully crafted ballads that could melt the hearts of rock fans and radio programmers alike. These weren’t just token slow numbers, but genuine emotional showcases that proved the band understood the unwritten rules of rock storytelling.
These tracks demonstrated Tyketto’s musical versatility – showing they could strip back the layers of distortion and still create something compelling. They weren’t just following a trend, but contributing to the rich tradition of rock ballads that could make a stadium full of leather-clad fans go silent and reflective.
For the uninitiated, “Don’t Come Easy” might slip by as just another rock record. But for true believers of the hair metal gospel, this album is a revelation – a meticulously crafted love letter to an era of rock that burned bright and fast. Tyketto didn’t just play music; they captured a moment, a feeling, a spirit that transcended the typical pop metal formula.
Timing, that cruel mistress of musical destiny, dealt Tyketto a brutal hand. Released at the precise moment when grunge was sharpening its flannel-clad knife, “Don’t Come Easy” became a beautiful casualty of musical revolution. It’s a record that pulses with the kind of melodic energy and raw emotion that defines the very best of pop metal – crisp, powerful, unabashedly passionate. Each track stands as a testament to what could have been, a glimpse of a band that was tragically ahead of its moment yet perfectly of its time.
In the grand pantheon of hair metal, Tyketto’s debut is like a brilliant shooting star – blazing brilliantly for just a moment, but leaving an indelible mark on those who witnessed its flight. These weren’t just songs; they were anthems of an era, crafted with such precision and heart that they deserved far more than the brief moment of recognition they received.
Don’t Come Easy
(Geffen, 1991)
- Producer – Richie Zito
- Mixed By – David Thoener
- Engineer – Phil Kaffel
- Recorded At – A&M Studios
- Recorded At – O’Henry Sound Studios
- Mixed At – A&M Studios
- Mastered At – Artisan Sound Recorders
Line Up:-
- Danny Vaughn – Vocal
- Jimi Kennedy – Bass
- Michael Clayton – Drums
- Brooke St James – Guitar
Tracklisting:-
- Forever Young
- Wings
- Burning Down Inside
- Seasons
- Standing Alone
- Lay Your Body Down
- Walk on Fire
- Nothing but Love
- Strip Me Down
- Sail Away
Facts:
The album had a budget of $200,000.
The song “Lay Your Body Down” was originally going to be called “Bourbon Street,” after a strip club in New Jersey that members frequented. However, Geffen executive John Kalodner asked that it be changed because it was the name of an important street in New Orleans. John hated New Orleans! Although Danny was confused by the reasoning, he agreed to change the song’s name.
At the end of the song “Seasons”, Danny initially added a James Brown-style ad-lib, but John was not happy with it, saying that it sounded like a black woman singing, which wouldn’t fit in a white rock band.
Official Website: https://www.tyketto.com