#16 Dokken : Beast From The East (Live)
Released 1988Tracks
1. "Unchain the Night" 5:38
2. "Tooth and Nail" 3:18
3. "Standing in the Shadows" 4:27
4. "Sleepless Nights" 4:08
5. "Dream Warriors" 4:09
6. "Kiss of Death" 5:21
7. "When Heaven Comes Down" 3:44
8. "Into the Fire" 5:02
9. "Mr. Scary" 8:13
10 "Heaven Sent" 5:12
11. "It's Not Love" 6:14
12. "Alone Again" 5:34
13. "Just Got Lucky 5:02
14. "Breaking the Chains" 3:55
15. "In My Dreams" 5:02
16. "Turn on the Action" 4:58
17. "Walk Away" (studio track)
NOTE: CD version (not JAP) loses 3 tracks that were on LP/cassette (which I had) – Standing In The Shadows, Sleepless Nights and Turn On The Action.
This might seem an unusual choice for my first live album in the list but it does what I expect from a good live album and that is to add some life and interest that isn't there on the studio tracks.
It was really intended to be a battle between Back For The Attack and Under Lock and Key for this spot but when I did my little reminiscing exercise it was clear to me that BFTE was my most played (and first) Dokken album – it had most of their best songs and a bonus studio track exclusive to the release. Sure - the drums are very flat and the rhythm guitar a bit scratchy, but I think the performances are great otherwise – esp Lynch who changes things up from the studio versions in a tasteful way. Choosing this album also avoids me having to make the hard decision between the other two albums.
FWIW I had decided that if it came down to it I would’ve gone for Back For The Attack. It's a tie based on just songs but the real key is it has a much more lively, crunchy production whereas ULAK is rather flat in that department , which is a shame as I love that album , esp deeper cuts like Will The Sun Rise. . And that goes for Tooth and Nail too which is why I think the live album is the better representation of those songs. Just that intro at the start to Unchain The Night is magic.
I have included Up From The Ashes as an HM below – IMHO it’s almost as good as anything Dokken recorded and one of the best ever twin guitar attacks put on record. Lynch’s Sacred Groove (half instrumental, half vocal with Glenn Hughes/ Ray Gillen/Nelson) would've been under consideration too if it weren’t for the two atrocious tracks with Mandy Lion – dafuq ?
For those very casual Dokken fans , i might as well mention that it's probably worth tracking down the
song Back For The Attack which was a B-side to Dream Warriors but didn't make the album. Listen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWsiSijRU-QFavourite Tracks:
Unchain The Night ,
Kiss Of Death ,
Mr Scary, It's Not Love, Dream Warriors ,
Alone Again ,
Into the FireHonourable Mention: Don Dokken : Up From The Ashes...........great album that I seem to like a bit more than everyone else
Great twin guitars from Norum and Billy White. It's a shame Billy didn't do more rock like here as he made Norum seem tame on this. Ex- Watchtower so he was probably cruising along , but great stuff to my ears. He has the solos on the linked track.