Breaking the Chains | ||||
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![]() First edition cover art | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1981 (Europe) May 1982 (UK) [1] September 1983 (US) | |||
Studio | Dierks Studios, Cologne | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
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Label | ||||
Producer | Michael Wagener, Dokken | |||
Dokken chronology | ||||
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Singles from Breaking the Chains | ||||
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Alternative cover | ||||
![]() 1983 reissue |
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal | 7/10 [9] |
Breaking the Chains is the debut studio album by American heavy metal band Dokken. It was originally released in Europe as Breakin' the Chains on the French label Carrere Records, [10] in 1981. This version contains different mixes and titles of songs from the later U.S. edition. "Paris Is Burning" is called "Paris",and is actually a studio version as opposed to the live recording in Berlin from December 1982. The album also contains a song called "We're Illegal",which later turned into "Live to Rock (Rock to Live)".
The album was remixed,partially re-recorded,renamed and released in the US in 1983 by Elektra Records,and reached number 136 on the Billboard 200 chart. [11] The album was considered a flop by the label,which had the intention to drop the band.[ citation needed ] However,Dokken management convinced Elektra they could make a more successful album,which materialized in Tooth and Nail in September 1984. Breaking the Chains' title track was named the 62nd greatest hard rock song by VH1. [12] It is featured on the radio station "V-ROCK" in the 2006 video game Grand Theft Auto:Vice City Stories .
In a discussion with George Lynch on January 26,2011,he mentioned the existence of 500 copies of the Carrere Records Breakin' the Chains version printed with the Don Dokken moniker,instead of Dokken. This version also featured different album cover art. [13]
All tracks are written by Don Dokken and George Lynch, except where noted
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Breakin' the Chains" | 3:50 | |
2. | "Seven Thunders" | Dokken, Lynch, Mick Brown | 3:50 |
3. | "I Can't See You" | Dokken, Juan Croucier | 3:30 |
4. | "In the Middle" | 3:45 | |
5. | "We're Illegal" | Dokken, Lynch, Croucier | 3:37 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
6. | "Paris" | 3:42 | |
7. | "Stick to Your Guns" | 3:30 | |
8. | "Young Girls" | 3:15 | |
9. | "Felony" | 3:07 | |
10. | "Nightrider" | Dokken, Lynch, Brown | 3:11 |
Total length: | 34:37 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Breaking the Chains" | 3:43 | |
2. | "In the Middle" | 3:43 | |
3. | "Felony" | 3:08 | |
4. | "I Can't See You" | Dokken, Juan Croucier | 3:12 |
5. | "Live to Rock (Rock to Live)" | Dokken, Lynch, Croucier | 3:39 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
6. | "Nightrider" | Dokken, Lynch, Mick Brown | 3:13 |
7. | "Seven Thunders" | Dokken, Lynch, Brown | 3:55 |
8. | "Young Girls" | 3:14 | |
9. | "Stick to Your Guns" | 3:25 | |
10. | "Paris Is Burning" (live in Berlin, December 1982) | 5:07 | |
Total length: | 36:24 |
Tracks 6, 7 and 8 were recorded at Dierks Studios as demos for Carrere. Don Dokken, Peter Baltes, and Bobby Blotzer were involved. [14] Later, the main album sessions commenced with Dokken and Baltes as well as George Lynch and Mick Brown. Lynch overdubbed a guitar solo on track 6. The band soon returned to Germany with Juan Croucier, their regular bassist, to record tracks 5 and 9.
On the original Breakin' the Chains Carrere Records version, released under the name Don Dokken, several song titles are misspelled on the back cover. Namely "I Can't See You" ("I Can See You"), "Stick to Your Guns" ("Still to Your Guns"), and "Young Girls" ("Young Girl"). On the French Carrere vinyl release, the songs are spelled correctly, but George Lynch's name is misspelled as "Georges Lynch".
Chart (1983) | Peak position |
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Japanese Albums (Oricon) [15] | 75 |
US Billboard 200 [16] | 136 |
Dokken is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1978. It split up in 1989 and reformed four years later. The band has had several hit singles which charted on the Billboard Hot 100, such as "Alone Again", "In My Dreams", and "Burning Like a Flame", and has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide. The live album Beast from the East was nominated for the inaugural Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 1989.
Juan Croucier is a Cuban-born American musician. He is best known as the bassist for the hard rock/glam metal band Ratt.
Tooth and Nail is the second studio album by American heavy metal band Dokken, released on September 14, 1984 through Elektra Records.
Back for the Attack is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band Dokken, released on November 2, 1987, through Elektra Records.
Under Lock and Key is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Dokken, released on November 22, 1985, through Elektra Records. The album reached No. 32 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and remained on that chart for 67 weeks. Two singles also charted: "The Hunter" and "In My Dreams", both reaching No. 25 and 24 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock respectively, with "In My Dreams" at No. 77 on the Billboard Hot 100. Under Lock and Key was certified Gold on March 4, 1986, and Platinum on April 14, 1987.
Donald Maynard Dokken is an American musician, best known as the lead singer and founder of glam metal band Dokken. He is known for his vibrato-laden, melodic vocal style which has made him an influential figure in American heavy metal/glam metal.
Beast from the East is a live album recorded by the American heavy metal band Dokken in Japan in April 1988, during tour in support of their album Back for the Attack. It was released on November 7, 1988. The album features live versions of the band's most popular songs from previous four studio albums and also includes a new studio track entitled "Walk Away". The song was accompanied with a music video, which featured members of the band performing atop the Santa Monica Mountains overlooking Topanga Canyon and the Pacific Ocean. The album earned the band their only Grammy Award nomination for the Best Metal Performance in 1990, losing to Metallica's "One".
Detonator is the fifth studio album by American glam metal band Ratt, released August 21, 1990, by Atlantic Records. This is the last album to feature bassist Juan Croucier until his return in 2012, as well as guitarist Robbin Crosby before his death in 2002.
Lynch Mob is an American hard rock band, formed in 1989 by former Dokken guitarist George Lynch, who is the band's only permanent member.
Peter Baltes is a German musician, best known as former bassist of Heavy metal band Accept and as current bassist of U.D.O.
Up from the Ashes is the first solo studio album by Don Dokken, best known as the lead singer of American glam metal band Dokken. The sound of the album continues the more commercial sound that Dokken began to incorporate into their music with Under Lock and Key.
Dysfunctional is the fifth studio album by American heavy metal band Dokken, released in 1995. It was the band's first release after reuniting in 1993.
Back in the Streets is a 1979 EP by the American heavy metal band Dokken, recorded in 1979 during the band's tour of Germany.
Dokken: The Definitive Rock Collection a 2-disc compilation album by the American heavy metal band Dokken, released in 2006 by Rhino Records.
From Conception: Live 1981 is a live album by American heavy metal band Dokken, released in 2007.
"Breaking the Chains" is a song by American heavy metal/glam metal band Dokken, appearing on the band's debut album of the same name. The song was originally released as a single "Breakin' the Chains" in 1981 through Carrere Records exclusively in Europe, appearing as the B-side to the "I Can't See You" single. "Breaking the Chains" was released as a single in 1983 through Elektra Records, being the band's first American single. The song was a modest success, peaking at #32 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. The song remained on the chart for 13 weeks.
Ratt was an American glam metal band that had significant commercial success in the 1980s, with their albums having been certified as gold, platinum and multi-platinum by the RIAA. The group is perhaps best known for hit singles such as "Round and Round" and "Lay It Down", tracks that ranked on Billboard's top 40 at No. 12 and No. 40, respectively, as well as other songs such as "Wanted Man", "You're in Love" and "Dance". Along with bands such as friendly rivals Mötley Crüe, Ratt has been recognized as instrumental in the formation of the early 1980s Los Angeles glam metal scene, also known as "hair metal" or "pop metal".
"In My Dreams" is a song by American heavy metal band Dokken, released in 1985 on the album Under Lock and Key. The song peaked at number 24 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and at number 77 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.
Alone Again and Other Hits is a compilation album released by the 1980s heavy metal band Dokken.
Breakin' The Chains, was initially released in Germany in 1981 as a Don Dokken solo album, then reissued under the Dokken band name. The music was mostly generic heavy metal.
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