Every Dokken album ranked from Worst to Best

[@skyscrapers4565]

The sound engineer for Back For The Attack deserves a nobel prize

[@thebaldshredder]

Yes! That album sounds amazing.

[@DokkenFan]

Awesome List!! I would only make 2 changes.... Dysfunctional at #4 simply because "To High To Fly" is in my opinion in thier top 5 best songs ever, and I would think that most of us consider Up From The Ashes a Dokken album. You could have ranked it as well either at 4 or 5 with Dysfunctional.

[@holydiver73]

11. Shadow life 10. Broken Bones 9. Hell to Pay 8. Long way Home 7. Dysfunctional 6. Erase The Slate 5. Lightning strikes Again 4. Breaking The Chains 3. Tooth and Nail 2. Under lock and Key 1. Back for the Attack Under lock and Key and Back from the Attack can always be interchanged between the 1 and 2 spot I love them that much. If I were to crowbar Don’s first Solo album Up From the Ashes’ in there it would be number 3. Don Lodi g his voice the way he has is absolutely heartbreaking given how great he used to be. It makes me so sad to see him like this. It’s the saddest thing in Rock n Roll history, even worse than when Elvis died, seeing our Don the shadow of his former self.

[@42yearoldboy5]

Nice video I really enjoyed it! You’re a good speaker!!! Don’t know if anyone gives a shit about what a newer fan thinks (only been listening to them faithfully for a few months) but here’s how I see it! 1)under lock and key 2)tooth and nail 3)back for the attack 4)lightning strikes again 5)erase the slate (strong fifth) 6)dysfunctional 7)breaking the chains 8)broken bones 9)hell to pay 10)long way home 11)shadow life

[@thebaldshredder]

Thanks!

[@williamweiss6128]

Love your top 3. Have them in my truck listened to them today. Like the nasty sound of Tooth And Nail but also like Back For The Attack. Can't choose. Like it all.

[@cornchipsnovemberland3565]

I agree with much of your commentary...However, I've always considered "Up from the Ashes" a Dokken album...Don has never sounded better and it is unfortunate that this lineup did not release more material (Mikkey Dee just killing it!)....IMHO, only "Back for the Attack", which is a perfect gem of an LP and likely my favorite hard rock record of the 1980's, is better...young Don was an incredible tenor, his 20th century vocal performances are stunning and elegant, easily my favorite singer of the era.... 1. Back for the Attack 2. Up from the Ashes 3. Tooth and Nail 4. Under Lock and Key 5. Lightning Strikes Again 6. Erase the Slate 7. Dysfunctional 8. Hell to Pay 9. Broken Bones 10. Long Way Home 11. Breaking the Chains 12. Shadowlife

[@thebaldshredder]

Up From The Ashes is awesome. Don sounds amazing and the guitar work is stellar.

[@mikal]

Agreed with your number one, by a mile. And I know it's not technically a studio album, but I would really be tempted to put The Beast From The East in the list, near the top. I like a lot of the song versions more on that live album than on their original studio records. And they do have that one new song on it, Walk Away, which I think is incredible.

[@thebaldshredder]

Yep great album and song!

[@Mikewilkins69]

This list was pretty spot on. I would rank Erase the Slate #4 but I'm a Reb Beach enthusiasts. He does this tapping trick that sounds like a keyboard soloing that I wanted to learn when I was a teenager but could never find his REH video back in the day. Now that everything that has ever existed is on KZbin I finally got to woodshed with it after waiting frickin' 25 years. Lol

[@nandrosthesilentmagician]

Very nice ranking. It was so awesome hearing how other people rank my favourite band of all time. I’m glad you gave lightning strikes such a good ranking. It definitely is a phenomenal album. Thanks for this. I really enjoyed it 👍

[@thebaldshredder]

🤘

[@robmcfall4078]

Completely agree with your top 3. Back for the Attack is a perfect album and Mr Scary is probably my all time favourite guitar instrumental, even though I own almost all the Shrapnel Records releases from the 80s. Your summing up of the album was great. Thanks for the content.

[@RockingBro_Frank]

Back for the Attack...is one of my all-time favorite albums...so good! 🤘❤️🇨🇦

[@Randy-ix2xy]

I think You nailed the album ranking list!!! This is the first time I got hear Your list. I totally agree with You! Dokken is my favorite Hard Rock Band. Randy R. Pine Grove, PA

[@mattgrant6910]

I’ve just discovered them and they are what you say , the best . Truly amazing George Lynch just clicks with me , I just like what he does . His playing just makes sense , where he goes and how he gets there . Back for the attack is my favourite. Every song is great . Burning flame being the song I play ten times a day . Like your video .

[@jtoms3]

1. Tooth and Nail 2. Back for the Attack 3. Breaking the Chains 4. Under Lock and Key 5. Dysfunctional 6. Erase the Slate 7. Broken Bones 8. Lightning Strikes Again 9. Hell to Pay 10. Long Way Home 11. Shadowlife (I put it at the bottom but I also think it may be better than a lot of fans think it is.)

[@scottykb2817]

DOKKEN is also my favorite band. I'd have to rearrange some of your list, but to each their own. Here we go.... 11) Shadowlife 10) Hell To Pay 9) Broken Bones 8) Breaking The Chains 7) Lightning Strikes Again 6) Erase The Slate 5) Long Way Home (my fave non-Lynch & Pilson Dokken album) 4) Dysfunctional 3) Tooth & Nail 2) Back For The Attack 1) Under Lock & Key (my personal Holy Grail of Dokken albums)

[@glenngentry4730]

Under Lock and Key my favorite as well. Just wish it had more than 10 tracks on it.

[@thesentinel5523]

2008 was a great year for heavy metal. Many bands released excellent comeback albums like Metallica, Yngwie Malmsteen, Dokken, Testament, etc.

[@shiningphantasy1393]

I'd rank them best to not nearly the best: 1. Back for the Attack 2. Under Lock and Key 3. Up From the Ashes 4. Erase the Slate 5. Tooth and Nail 6. Lightning Strikes Again 7. Dysfunctional 8. Broken Bones 9. Breaking the Chains 10. Long Way Home 11. Hell to Pay 12. Shadowlife I'm factoring in the Japan bonus tracks on any of the 90's and later albums, which gives an album like Erase the Slate an extra boost, and I think that Up From the Ashes is close enough to being a Dokken studio album that I include it. Placing one and two are very interchangeable; it's really more like 1A and 1B; if Under Lock and Key had an all-time great power ballad instead of Slipping Away it would claim the top spot.

[@thebaldshredder]

Good list 🤘

[@shiningphantasy1393]

@@thebaldshredder Thanks, I'll add that while Long Way Home was not what I would have hoped based on the talented lineup it was questionable song selection that was the problem and not really on John Norum. I remember Barry Sparks commenting that they had hard rocking, more Dokken-esqe songs written and ready to go but the producer and Don didn't want to go in that direction and chose ill-advised pieces like the awful I've Found instead. Even swapping out two of the tracks such as Everybody Needs and I've Found and replacing them with uptempo blazing pieces or a good heavy melodic mid-tempo selection would have made a big difference.

[@thebaldshredder]

Yeah I was super disappointed in Long Way Home.

[@jayteesgear]

Walk away always made me sad cuz you just KNEW they were done! Probably one of my fave solos by him. Thx for mentioning all those other albums! I need to grab em asap. Levin & Beach deserve credit

[@BURNOUT3272]

Always wondered why walk away wasn’t on the back for the attack 🤔 I saw an article before the album was released and don had said they had a song called walk away that would be on it…

[@gun_toting_lefty]

Good review! Going from Dokken to Tooth... Jeff Pilson was an amazing find for the band and I've really come to appreciate his contribution to Dokken's overall sound. Tooth and Nail really hooked me! My top 3: #1 ULAK, #2 BFTA #3 Tooth. Back for the Attack - George Lynch Unleashed! I used to joke with my buddies that George did a hostile takeover on this one!🤣🤣. Interesting. I never heard the Paul Gilbert rumor. Smart move though if true.

[@Briansgate]

I'm an 80s kid, and I agree with your list. I would put Under Lock and Key at number 1, but, otherwise, I like the way you think.

[@thebaldshredder]

Top 3 are all neck and neck

[@Mysterio-Solar]

Definitely."Back For the Attack" is the Best Dokken Album . That was my go to Album in 1988 with Out Of the Cellar by Ratt and Pyromania by Del Leppard . I'd have to Rank my Top 3 as BFTA , ULAK , TAN . It wouldn't surprise me if George Lynch was taking lessons with Paul Gilbert or even from Michael Angelo Batio . George likes the Overdrives MAB has designed . Paul , George , and Michael are all 3 innovators of Guitar Gear and Guitar Construction .

[@cristianpavez6832]

Great video and ranking!! Bass track on 'Breaking The Chains' album was playing by Peter Baltes from Accept; "Long Way Home' album was originally planned like a Don Dokken solo album, with more mellow ballads and others acoustic sounds but the label pressure to BE a Dokken album; 'Dysfunctional' is great but I prefer the japan version with more heavy and raw sound and better tracklist. The Top 3 for me: 1. Back Attack 2, Under Lock 3. Tooth!!! Ever fav song: In My Dreams, the Lynch solo on that song is insane and amazing!!

[@lynnlingle5653]

Thanks for the rankings. Mine differs a bit at the top. But I can see why you have them in that order.

[@charleswood123]

Long way home is a masterpiece. Connected hard with it during a divorce. Shame to see it almost at the bottom. It’s got some softies but they’re so powerful

[@thebaldshredder]

Well we all have different responses to music. That one didn't do much for me. Glad you enjoy it.

[@BOBANDVEG]

Lynch mob????

[@LesterMitchell]

This is awesome man. I haven't heard all the CDs, so this helps! 🔥

[@thebaldshredder]

Get on it. 🤘

[@timjenkins502]

George Lynch is one of my alltime favorite players

[@thebaldshredder]

Me too

[@badbirdkc]

I'll have to revisit the latter albums. I remember not liking any of the post Erase the Slate CDs. I mean, not at all. I've always thought of Up from the Ashes as the unofficial fifth Dokken album. But I would go: 1. Back for he Attack, 2. Under Lock and Key, 3. Tooth and Nail, 4. Erase the Slate, 5. Dysfunctional, 6. Breaking the Chains, then everything else, and in last place by a mile, Shadowlife. Back for the Attack has always been my favorite, but, man, Under Lock and Key is creeping up. I think In My Dreams is my favorite Lynch solo. Tooth and Nail is all raw power. Back for the Attack is pure mastery of their metal edge. But on a purely production quality level, Under Lock and Key might be the best sounding rock album I've ever heard.

[@thebaldshredder]

You didn't like Lightning Strikes? Musically is very much like classic Dokken and Jon Levin tears it up.

[@theonegoose]

I'm partial to Dysfunctional since it was the most recent exposure I had to diffing through dokkens discography.

[@drew.reviews]

I agree with you on Hell To Pay and Lightning. So underrated. I'm not sure how I would rank the "classic 3" but to my ears (I've played guitar for seven years and gig every weekend) George's tone is absolutely unmatched on those. I also prefer the more raw tone of the original Don Dokken's Breaking the Chains

[@fernandofhernandez899]

Back for the Attack also has the coolest album cover, i had it on Long Play vinyl . mr scary

[@PittPenguin]

My top faves are: 1. Beast from the East, Live, not sure if we can count this one? Next would be, in order of preference: Tooth and Nail Under Lock and Key Back for the Attack The difference between these for me though is marginal 👌🏼

[@TarynnElizabeth619]

I might get some shit for this, but here goes. 1. Back to the attack 2. Tooth And Nail 3. Erase the Slate 4. Under lock and key 5. Dysfunctional 6. Breakin the chains For the record. Breakin the chains with the first Dokken album that I owned, I got it shortly after came out. A few years later, my friend Seth played me tooth and nail on his headphones right next to the lockers at school. I immediately went with my mom and got as soon as we had dinner after she got home from work. I remember it came out a few weeks after my 15th birthday, because Seth only had it for about a week, when I heard it. Without a doubt they are one of my favorite bands, as well as Queensrÿche and Accept, from the 80s metal era. A lot of the girls wondered why I didn’t like Bon Jovi, poison, etc. probably because I played guitar at a very young age, and I was into the better guitar players and more intricate songs. Still a tomboy to this day.! Still playing and still building guitars.! 🎸💙

[@thebaldshredder]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing.

[@RockingBro_Frank]

I wanted to like lighting strikes again. Full disclosure I didn't know they made it years after the fact. When I found out I ordered it right away. I don't remember one song from it. I may revisit it one day especially since your video reminded me.

[@thebaldshredder]

Don's voice is a little rough but the songs and guitar work are great.

[@Dodgeman325]

I agree! Back for the attack #1. I would put Under Lock & Key 2…

[@JD-vj4go]

I saw them live around the Back for the Attack error and Lynch killed it. Edit I gotta go listen to Mr Scary

[@treeduck3705]

My top 3 is slightly different: 1. Under Lock and Key 2. Back For the Attack 3. Tooth and Nail George Lynch obviously progressed and went to a new level with each subsequent album. With Back For the Attack he just reached a ridiculously great peak.

[@jOHNNYDEM]

I always felt that Paris Is Burning belonged on Tooth and Nail. Tooth and Nail saved their necks. The label gave them an ultimatum…go big or go home. It sounded hungry and they had to find themselves at this very moment. …It was the best and only lineup that mattered up through Back For The Attack. Classic Trilogy all the way! Hang tight for a Dream Warriors cover coming soon on my Channel!

[@thebaldshredder]

Yeah even George's solo on Paris Is Burning is more aggressive like his playing on Tooth and Nail.

[@jOHNNYDEM]

@@thebaldshredder it’s pretty obvious that Paris Is Burning was “tacked on” to Breaking The Chains before release. It almost made it’s way onto Tooth.

[@drew.reviews]

Paris is definitely one of my favorites.

[@snuffereet]

Great list man! Hey what do you think of the two singles they've released from "Heaven Comes Down" album? I think both of them are killer songs!!! I'm hoping the WHOLE album is like that!

[@thebaldshredder]

I like them. Can't wait to hear the whole album!

[@dusty3913]

Back for the Attack has the most insanely coke-fueled, frantic, amazing Lynch solos of any album he’s done. #1 for sure.

[@napesdrk1174]

I pretty much agree 100%. Mr scary will always be my #1, thus I agree.

[@thebaldshredder]

Mr. Scary is iconic.

[@srf6161]

Dysfunctional holds up to anything today.....George has reinvented himself more than any other player and continues to do so.

[@thebaldshredder]

Yes that's a great album.

[@rhoadnaroahs]

Juan Croucier didn't play on Breaking The Chains, just toured with Dokken. Also, Long Way Home started out as a DD solo album which is probably why it sounds more modern.

[@thebaldshredder]

I believe it was actually Dysfunctional that started as a Don Dokken solo album. Then Mick and Jeff came back followed by George to round out the reunion.

[@blackscorpion-h8i]

1. Tooth And Nail 2. Back For The Attack 3. Under Lock And Key 4. Erase The Slate 5. Breaking The Chains

[@Randy-ix2xy]

I have a skrew guitar pick from a doro presch show around 1993. Did John Levin use skrew picks?

[@treeduck3705]

I had to throw Shadow Life out. In fact I had to bury it in the dried out pond in the back field, just to get it out of my mind!

[@therockbeast6214]

Do a motley crue ranking soon

[@amoruzz]

Not a bad order, but the last three I would have to shuffle. It's typical that most guitarist's are always listening to the guitar, so they can be biased and that's why they pick "back for the attack". I remember when it came out and immediately feeling the aggressiveness of Georges playing was on fire and a bit more self indulgence. However, the band was having it's cracks in the foundation, so to speak around that time too. So, I didn't like the overall song's compared to "Under lock and key". Under lock and key had everything and was well balanced all the way around, each musician was being heard melodically, the writing and singing is all there, the mixing, amp tones and the way they set up the guitar solos in the studio was an art, imo. Fabulous! So, Lock and Key is my top pick, then both Tooth and Nail and Back for the Attack are close to neck and neck with Tooth and Nail maybe edging out Back for the Attack songwise and the guitar work on Back for the Attack edging out Tooth and Nail. Also, Beast from the East is a good live album too. To support your comments about John being a great pick for Dokken is spot on. 👍

[@thebaldshredder]

Back For The Attack, Under Lock and Key, and Tooth & Nail are all VERY close for me. Three absolutely killer albums in a row!

[@ellisonlowrimore7751]

Agreed 💯🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽

[@thebaldshredder]

thanks

[@willsxx1]

Under Lock and Key is pinnacle Dokken for me, yes the other top 3 could be interchangeable but for me its ULK first as thats the record that brought me in, the others with different members I think should be ranked amongst themselves, for me on those Erase the Slate is the best of those, might have to go back and listen again and re-rank the others but thats my rankings right at the moment!😎

[@thebaldshredder]

The top 3 are very close together.

[@willsxx1]

@@thebaldshredder agreed, and they all could be argued for #1, those 3 in a row though were such a great stretch of time! Then it fell apart. Have you thought of ranking all of their separate efforts apart from the original line up like Up from the Ashes-DD/ Lynch Mob/War & Peace?

[@thebaldshredder]

@@willsxx1 hadn't thought about that

[@mritorto1]

i only knew of the albums with george lynch on it

[@thebaldshredder]

You should check out the last 3 with Jon Levin on guitar.

[@robgen06]

good list

[@thebaldshredder]

🤘

[@Randy-ix2xy]

I had to add I watched other people's rankings. I'm 54yrs old. They don't, in my opinion give dysfunctional enough credit. I think it's due to their age. They do pretty well overall.

[@thebaldshredder]

It was a good album.

[@stevendavid5370]

Your ranking of Dokken albums is not for me to agree or disagree with your ranking. The reasons for to rank each album in the spot you ranked them was fair (I don't necessarily agree with you) for your assessment. There was two albums I thought should be ranked higher/lower than you gave it, but then this video would be about my ranking these albums. So who cares?

[@thebaldshredder]

Of course everyone will have a different opinion. Thanks for watching.

[@therockbeast6214]

My favourite hair metal band Along with def Leppard and motley crue

[@thebaldshredder]

My two favs are Dokken and Def Leppard!

[@therockbeast6214]

@@thebaldshredder my top 10 1 def Leppard 2 dokken 3 ratt 4 cindrella 5 motley crue 6 danger danger 7 kix 8 y and t 9 xyz 19 stryper

[@timburns3840]

@@thebaldshredder do you listen to Lillian Axe too?

[@thebaldshredder]

@@timburns3840 no. Are they good?

[@timburns3840]

@@thebaldshredder they "overtook" both Def Lep and Dokken as my fav years ago, but as you stated to someone here, music is subjective. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHPRpneVoc-hf6s Check out this tune

[@cc_1983]

Wanted to check out the second album with John Levin although it’s not on Spotify - Shame!

[@thebaldshredder]

That sucks. Lightning Strikes Again is awesome.

[@gregcleaver-photographer5385]

I would swap back for the attack and under lock and key I think ulak has better overall songwriting and the best overall collaborative sound and band connection (gelling together)

[@thebaldshredder]

I love them both.

[@jeffreyrachubinski4716]

Top 3 band for me. I would swap Hell To Pay and Erase The Slate and swap ULAK and T&N, but other than that couldn't agree more.

[@Samhaim1234]

Must the same . I like too the Don's solo album

[@markpalavosvrahotes5575]

Are there young kids these days who still listen to the 80s band? If not they should.

[@markpalavosvrahotes5575]

Well what do you think? Don’t mean it be pushy but if you could give me a brief answer on this.

[@thebaldshredder]

If there are, I don't know any. A lot of young kids are into K-pop and just staring at their phones. I'm glad I grew up in the 80s. BTW, my kids listen to it... because they have no choice when we're in the car! lol

[@markpalavosvrahotes5575]

@@thebaldshredder Do they like it?

[@thebaldshredder]

Some of it.

[@doctorrock6743]

Hell to Pay should appear instead of long way home,and the choice of shadow Life in the last position IS fine,but i dont think that dokken has never done something wrong,they are supreme

[@SixxQueen91]

Long Way Home is my favorite

[@thomasayer7511]

Dokken Rules!

[@thebaldshredder]

Yes

[@bradgreen987]

Sad, now that Don couldn't sing himself out of a paper bag now. Saw them in '88, we're top notch back then! What happened to his hand?

[@thebaldshredder]

Botched back surgery I think. Messed up the nerves and basically paralyzed his hand.

[@RealBillyGarcia]

I would have made your top 3 all tied for 1st. 😎

[@thebaldshredder]

Yeah it's pretty much a tie.

[@stephensanchez9590]

Jon Levin is not a lynch clone I love lynch my all time favorite guitarist but Levin is amazing but all three albums with Levin are great I think to many fans do not give them albums a chance my favorite is back for the attack and under lock And key then tooth and nail ,anyhow I think that's the reason you really don't hear hardly anything of those three albums from Jon Levin when they are in concert ,I have watched many on KZbin and most fans want to hear the classics where I would like them to mix it up

[@srf6161]

Nothing wrong with Shadowlife...1 bad song

[@thebaldshredder]

Something had to be at the bottom of the list and for me it's this one. Glad you like it.

[@JD-vj4go]

Thank you for not calling them a metal band.

[@thebaldshredder]

Never considered them metal. Melodic hard rock with burning solos.

[@JD-vj4go]

@@thebaldshredder Lynch was why I'd listen to Dokken.

[@jayteesgear]

Yes!

[@amos6610]

Wooow! broken bones is better then breaking the chains???

[@thebaldshredder]

100%

[@amos6610]

@@thebaldshredder very well... my top is. 1. Tooth and nail 2. Back for the attack 3. Breaking the chains 4. Under lock and key