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DOKKEN to release The Lost Songs 1978-1981

The early days of Dokken are celebrated in a new collection titled ‘The Lost Songs’, to be released 28 August. Covering the period 1978 to 1981, the eleven tracks are an interesting guide to how the young Don Dokken worked to get from Northern Germany to the multi-platinum sales and stadium gigs we know him for.

A fair selection of the treasures on ‘The Lost Songs’ are from these early European days. ‘Felony’ carries a Van Halen style fuzz-coated riff, while ‘Day After Day’ showed that Don was already more than able to write a radio friendly Rock ballad.

The writing and creation of The Lost Songs is a tribute to early struggles in both Germany and LA. Don would return to LA for a spell after those brief European gigs and he worked with Juan 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’, this new collection 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.

‘The Lost Songs’ not only shares that magic with the fans, it gives them the final, vital and undeniably missing (until now) early album in the Dokken collection.

Watch the track ‘Step Into The Light’ below.

Musicians who appear on The Lost Songs: 1978-1981:

Hella Rock Festival

Don Dokken – vocals, guitar
Jon Levin – guitar
BJ Zampa – drums
Juan Croucier – bass
Greg Leon – guitar
Gary Holland – drums
Mick Brown – drums
George Lynch -guitar
Rustee Allen – bass
Bill Lordan – drums
Greg Pecka- Drums

Track listing:

Step Into The Light
We’re Going Wrong
Day After Day
Rainbows
Felony
No Answer
Back In The Streets
Hit And Run
Broken Heart
Liar
Prisoner

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