TheRockPit (dot) net adds. . .
Dokken's last studio album featuring the original line up "Shadowlife" came out
in 1997, of course pretty much since that date we’ve been wanting something new
from them. We've had some nibbles recently with a live album, and a handful of
dates, but as we stand George is still out there with his various projects and
Lynch Mob, Don is still with the current Dokken line-up and Jeff is still
doing his thing and Mick is retried for now.
This isn't a new Dokken album and if I'm honest I' not sure who plays on the
five "new" tracks aside from Don, but it feels like George, Jeff and Mick. "The
Lost Songs: 1978-1981" on Silver Lining Music which is released on 28th August
2020 is just that - songs from the very early days of Dokken that led to that
sizzling debut 'Breaking the Chains' in 1981.
As the press release says "It was during those vital years that a young,
motivated Dokken from Southern California stepped into Media Arts Studio in
Redondo Beach to lay down some unfiltered, unpasteurized rock ‘n’ roll songs.
He then brought those with him to Hamburg, Germany where Dokken (influenced by
the likes of Scorpions) forged a historic alliance, working with a young German
producer called Michael Wagener, who would later help craft multi-million
selling albums for the likes of Motley Crue, Metallica, and Skid Row - as well
as Dokken."
So here we are - from the opening track "Step Into the Light" which really
captures the feel of that early music, these unpolished gems really are a treat
for fans.
Four studio tracks though, including the rocking "We're Going Wrong"; the
lilting and blue sky "Day After Day"; the cranked up "Felony" and the storming
title track are all from the "Back in the Streets" EP you'll be familiar with
already if you have that release.
They are broken up here by the smouldering mid-tempo "Rainbows" and the rather
cool "No Answer" which is a song that I've not heard before and one that stands
out here amongst the "new" stuff, almost signaling Dokken's early 90's sound.
Sure it's a little rough around the edges but there's the kernel of a great
song there.
There are four further tracks to enjoy too: the almost "too good not to have
made a studio releas" "Hit and Run" that did previously appear on "From
Conception: Live 1981" and which really sets the template for things to come.
Another fuzzy gem comes with "Broken Heart" which has a bit of Priest about it
and is very raw here.
And we end with the two tracks that appeared live on "Back in the Streets" and
they appear in exactly the same form here: "Liar" and "Prisoner" which really
do preempt what happened next. I still love them after all these years!
If you're a fan and you can put up with the fact that just over half of this
release is the"‘Back in the Streets" EP then those five additional nuggets are
the rough diamonds that will make this essential.
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