DOKKEN - The Lost Songs: 1978-1981 (NEW*LIM.500 BLACK V. 180gr*US MELODIC METAL)

Silver Lining Records 2020 - Brandnew 180g vinyl, Printed Innersleeves ! DOKKEN UNLEASHES  - THE LOST SONGS: 1978-1981 ! 11 cracking gems from the vaults of Don Dokken, titled The Lost Songs: 1978-1981?.

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 Crüe, Metallica, and Skid Row - as well as Dokken.

From the sunbaked SoCal hook of Step Into The Light to the Back In The Streets furious, fledgling, late- Sunset Strip sound, The Lost Songs: 1978-1981 shows Dokken in the unfettered early days of balls-out attitude, as well as showcasing the song-writing skills which would see them sell over 10 million albums and him become an international rock n roll star. Further cuts like Felony carry a thuggish fuzz-coated riff -think early Van Halen in really greasy embroidered denims- while Day After Day showed that Dokken could pen a radio-slaying ballad. The feral edge of Broken Heart and developed Dokken trademark of No Answer further illustrate the bands fast growth, with Hit and Run standing as the very essence of exactly what Dokken would end up being to millions of ears for years to come. The result is an exciting look back at the genesis of Dokken, and the realization that from the very beginning, Don Dokken was lean, mean and hungry enough to make it all count in the years to come.

It wasn’t always multi-platinum sales and stadium gigs for Dokken. There was a first-phase and there were early days, and it is those bold first steps to stardom which are celebrated comprehensively on Dokken’s The Lost Songs: 1978-1981 album, out on August 28th 2020 through Silver Lining Music.

Featuring spectacular sleeve art by renowned US artist Tokyo Hiro (Motörhead, Motley Crüe), The Lost Songs: 1978-1981 show the crackle and craft of a hungry young Don Dokken as he embarked upon a journey which started in Southern California and Northern Germany. It is a trek which is testimony to the sheer endeavour and perseverance Don Dokken showed in those few years between 1978 and 1981, starting from when he spent time at a guitar store called Drake’s Music, owned by Drake Levin in Manhattan Beach, California.

The writing and creation of The Lost Songs: 1978-1981 are further tribute to enduring early days of struggle in both Germany and LA, Don would return to LA for a spell after those brief European gigs, and he worked with Croucier on material, including perhaps the truest view of Dokken’s then-future “Hit And Run”, which incredibly did not end up on the eventual Breaking The Chains release. From the sunbaked SoCal hook of “Step Into The Light” to the furious, fledgling, late-Sunset Strip sound of “Back In The Streets,” The Lost Songs: 1978-1981 shows Don in his unfettered early days of balls-out attitude, qualities doubtless forged in the sheer nature of the adventures undertaken in writing, recording and deciding Europe was the place to keep cutting his teeth.

TRACK‐LISTING

Side A

01 - Step Into the Light

02 - We’re Going Wrong

03 - Day After Day

04 - Rainbows

05 - Felony

06 - No Answer

Side B

07 - Back In the Streets

08 - Hit and Run

09 - Broken Heart

10 - Liar

11 - Prisoner