The Very Best of Dokken in Bloomington, MN

Dokken
was one of the finest bands to come out of the Los Angeles
hair metal
scene of the '80s, and
The Very Best of Dokken
proves it.
Don Dokken
was a terrific singer, and guitarist
George Lynch
's splashy fretwork was a superb fit. (Bass guitarist
Jeff Pilson
and drummer
Mick Brown
were important factors in the group's songwriting as well.) Perhaps it's no surprise that tensions were high between
and
Lynch
, continuing a long tradition pioneered by
the Rolling Stones
'
Mick Jagger
Keith Richards
Deep Purple
's
Ian Gillan
Ritchie Blackmore
. By 1999,
had left the band and been replaced by
Winger
alumnus
Reb Beach
.
is a great 16-song compilation arranged in chronological order; it's essential listening for anyone interested in
Reagan
-era
hard rock
heavy metal
's '80s studio albums were occasionally uneven, so this collection, which also includes decent liner notes, is the best place for the uninitiated to start. Highlights include
"Breaking the Chains,"
"Into the Fire,"
"Just Got Lucky,"
"Alone Again"
(one of the finest
power ballads
ever),
"In My Dreams,"
"Dream Warriors,"
"Burning Like a Flame."
Other notable tracks include the fiery instrumental
"Mr. Scary"
;
"Walk Away,"
the sole studio cut on
's 1988 live album,
Beast from the East
"Mirror Mirror,"
from
's 1990 solo album,
Up from the Ashes
; and the anti-drug
"Too High to Fly,"
from the somewhat underrated yet aptly titled 1995 reunion album,
Dysfunctional
. ~ Bret Adams