Breaking the chains...

Nostra Dam
May 27, 2024
6 min read

Updated: Oct 30, 2024

Dokken is an American group formed in 1976 in Los Angeles and originally composed of Don Dokken, Juan Croucier and Bobby Blotzer, who initially performed under the group name 'Airborne' before taking the final name 'Dokken'. A group that can boast of having sold no less than 10 million albums around the world to date, just that !

Group which released a first Single “Hard rock woman” in 1979, a Single which went somewhat unnoticed…

They will have to wait until 1981 and the release of the album “Breaking the chains” to achieve their first success at least on the albums side, because on the Singles side none will be classified unfortunately.

It will take three more years to see them finally take off in 1984 thanks to the release of the album “Tooth and nail”, an album which will finally allow them to achieve their first major success on the Singles side with the enormous title “ Alone again.”

Success confirmed and amplified the following year in 1985 with the release of the album “Under lock and key”. But only the album will do better because no Single from this new album will be able to compete with the Singles from the previous album...

It was the following album “Back for the Attack” which finally brought them in 1987 the semblance of consecration after which they had been chasing since their beginnings. Album which will be a real global hit, notably thanks to the Single “Burning like a flame”.

A feat that they will never be able to repeat despite the release of other albums and other Singles subsequently.

To discover or rediscover...

Discography (among others...) :

80s Decade :

I can't see you 1981
Young girls 1981
We're illegal 1982
Breaking the chains 1983
Into the fire 1984
Just got lucky 1984
Alone again 1985
The hunter 1985
In my dreams 1986
It's not love 1986
Dream warriors 1987
Burning like a flame 1987
Prisoner 1988
Heaven sent 1988
So many tears 1988
Alone again 1988
Walk away 1989

90s Decade :

Too high to fly 1995
Hole in my head 1995
The maze 1995
Puppet on a string 1997
Until I know 1997
Bitter regret 1997
Change the world 1999
Drown 1999
Shattered 1999
Who believes 1999

2000s Decade :

Sunless days 2002
Little girl 2002
There was a time 2002
Escape 2004
Care for you 2004
I surrender 2004
Standing on the outside 2008
How I miss your smile 2008
Judgement day 2008

2010s Decade :

Empire 2012
Best of me 2012
The victim of the crime 2012

2020s Decade :

Fugitive 2023
Gypsy 2023
Over the mountain 2023

Tracks :

1979...a first title which, as is very often the case, will go under the radar. Afterwards you have to start well one day as they say...

1981...the move to the next decade will not really change the situation in terms of success in the Singles Charts unfortunately...

1981...on the other hand, in terms of Album Charts, their first opus will already be talked about a little more. It's getting better, it's undeniable...

1982...still no notable improvement the following year but the group is progressing regardless. It's all going to pay off at one point or another...

1983...they will have to wait one more year and this year 1983 to finally see their efforts rewarded. We're not talking about a mega hit but the title will at least be ranked, which is already quite a lot...

1984...the year of takeoff, finally. Their new opus is going to be a real success and will allow the ranking of 3 titles, just that...

1984...the first two will not be the most favored but will still come out on top. Waiting for the next one...

1985...it is this title which will bring them their first major success on the Singles side. Limited success in the United States but success all the same !

1985...slight relapse in 1985 with only one title under his belt and a level of success that was limited to say the least. Too bad because it all went well...

1986...business resumed the following year with a more than obvious return to the forefront. We will have to take advantage of it because it will be their only success of the year...

1986...the only success on the Singles side because the album from which they were taken would at least be popular with the public. The essential is preserved...

1987...a year 1987 which will finally see them live up to their expectations with a new opus which will be a hit on both sides of the Atlantic...

1987...new big hit with this new title. New title which will remain as the second biggest success of their entire discography...

1988...a title that will only work in the United States. It must be said that it will only be released there, which obviously explains that...

1988...as much as 1987 was a great vintage for the group, 1988 was going to be quite the opposite. Hard law of the trade...

1988...they are not unworthy, far from it, but let's not lie, the best years are already behind them. Such is life as they say...

1988...the adventure is far from over, of course, but the group will never again find the level of success reached during 1987...

1989...new rebound at the very end of the decade but it will only happen on this title. This still leaves a minimum of hope for the future of events...

1995...we lost sight of them for almost 6 years but here they are again no matter what. A return which at least allows them to show that they still exist...

1995...especially since this new opus will do relatively well in the United States, which can only reassure them about having made this decision to come back...

1995...an adventure which continues quietly but above all surely. So in music you should never give up...

1997...the rest will be a little more complicated to manage than expected all the same with a pure and simple disappearance of the Singles Charts...

1997...this new opus will be classified whatever it may be but in the depths of the classification which still calls into question what to do next...

1997...they will therefore have to ask themselves the right questions and quickly, otherwise the exit door risks opening faster than expected...

1999...the end of the 90s which sees them really struggling with a new opus which will not even be classified. Times are getting harder and harder, it is clear...

1999...it doesn't bother them that much at this stage but they will have to reinvent themselves over the next decade if they want to avoid the end of the adventure which is fast approaching...

1999...their desire to believe in it again and again commands respect but we will still have to pull ourselves together to avoid pure and simple disappearance...

1999...so last title of the decade or last title altogether ? Only the future can answer this existential question to say the least...

2002...they will attempt the transition to the 2000 decade but success continues to elude them in a certain way. In any case they hang on, they hang on...

2002...and as in music nothing is ever finished, who knows if a return to the front of the stage does not remain within the realm of possibility...

2002...in principle they would be frankly wrong not to hope for it in any case. Now they just have to do what they need to do to make this happen...

2004...it won't be for the start of the 2000s in any case because this new opus will unfortunately not do better than its predecessors...

2004...they will therefore have to be patient, hoping that the trend will be reversed at one point or another...

2004...and yet they are not unworthy, far from it. But the wind is not blowing in the right direction regarding them at this stage, it is clear...

2008...a new opus which will allow them to come to the surface a little, finally. So you just had to believe it a little...

2008...back in the race on the albums Charts side because on the Singles Charts side there will be no notable improvement, nor return to favor...

2008...they are still in their 3rd decade of career, which is no small thing. Certainly the best is behind but still...

2012...they will even allow themselves the luxury of attempting a 4th decade. They have been there for 30 years already and they have absolutely no intention of stopping there at first glance...

2012...anyway as long as they enjoy doing what they do there is no reason for them to throw in the towel prematurely...

2012...and it's probably not the core fans who will complain about it in any case. A ready-made audience that always asks for more and even more...

2023...a decade 2010 which will only see the release of one album. We could have feared the worst regarding the continuation of the adventure but here they are again regardless...