Dokken "Breaking The Chains"

Breaking the Chains is the debut studio album by heavy metal band Dokken.

The album was originally released in 1981 in Europe as Breakin' the Chains on the French label Carrere Records. This version contains some different mixes and titles of songs from the later US 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 contained a song called "We're Illegal", which was later turned into "Live to Rock".

The album was renamed and released in the US in 1983 by Elektra Records and reached number 136 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album was considered a flop by the label, which had the intention to drop the band. However, Dokken management convinced Elektra that 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. 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.

Track listing

1981 Breakin' the Chains (Carrere Records)

All tracks are written by Don Dokken and George Lynch, except where noted.

Side one

1. "Breaking the Chains" 3:43
2. "Seven Thunders" (Dokken, Lynch, Mick Brown) 3:56
3. "I Can't See You" (Dokken, Juan Croucier) 3:12
4. "In the Middle" 3:44
5. "We're Illegal" (Dokken, Lynch, Croucier) 3:39

Side two

1. "Paris" 3:46
2. "Stick to Your Guns" 3:25
3. "Young Girls" 3:14
4. "Felony" 3:25
5. "Nightrider" (Dokken, Lynch, Brown) 3:14

Total length: 35:01

1983 Breaking the Chains (Elektra Records)

Side one

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

Side two

1. "Nightrider" (Dokken, Lynch, Mick Brown) 3:13
2. "Seven Thunders" (Dokken, Lynch, Brown) 3:55
3. "Young Girls" 3:14
4. "Stick to Your Guns" 3:25
5. "Paris Is Burning" (live in Berlin, December 1982) 5:07

Total length: 36:24

- US pressing issued with inner lyric sleeve & orange Elektra center labels.

- Pressed by Allied Record Company (represented by the "AR" on the center labels)

- Reissued by Elektra now solely as Dokken & with the title Breaking the Chains. The track "We're Illegal" is replaced with "Live to Rock (Rock to Live)". The track "Paris" is replaced with a live version retitled "Paris is Burning". Alternate artwork has the album title at the top of the sleeve. The release's sound is said to differ from the original Carrere pressing, possibly after a quick remix.

- Whilst Ratt's Juan Croucier is pictured on the album, Don Dokken has since said that Peter Baltes actually played bass on this record.

Recording information:

- Recorded & engineered July-Sept. 1981 at Dierks Studios, Hamburg, West Germany.

- Mixed at Total Access Recording Studios, Redondo Beach, CA.

- Digitally mastered at JVC Mastering Center, Hollywood, CA.

- Track B5 recorded live in Dec. 1982 in Berlin, Germany.