Breaking the Chains (album)

Breaking the Chains
Studio album by Dokken
Released	1981 (Europe) September 18, 1983 (U.S.)
Recorded	Dierks Studios, Germany
Genre	Heavy metal, hard rock
Length	36:24
Label	Carrere Records Elektra
Producer	Michael Wagener and Dokken
Dokken chronology
Back in the Streets (1979) Breaking the Chains (1983) Tooth and Nail (1984)

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

The album was originally released in 1981 as Breakin' the Chains on Carrere Records (France). This version contains some different mixes and titles of songs. "Paris Is Burning" is called "Paris" and is actually a studio version. 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 U.S. in 1983. It reached number 136 on the Billboard 200. The title track was named the 62nd greatest hard rock song by VH1. The album was considered a flop by the Elektra label, which had the intention to drop the band. However, Dokken management convinced the label that they could make a more successful album, which materialized in Tooth and Nail in September 1984.

In a discussion with George Lynch on 1/26/2011, he mentioned the existence of 500 copies of the Carrere Records "Breaking the Chains" album printed with the Don Dokken moniker, instead of Dokken. This version also featured different album cover art. Lynch also mentioned that the bassist that actually played on the album was Peter Baltes (Accept).

The title track is on the radio station V-ROCK in the video game, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories.

1981 Track listing

1. "Breaking the Chains" - 3:51
2. "Seven Thunders" - 3:43
3. "I Can't See You" - 3:08
4. "In the Middle" - 3:12
5. "We're Illegal" - 3:39
6. "Paris" - 3:13
7. "Stick to Your Guns" - 3:55
8. "Young Girls" - 3:14
9. "Felony" - 3:25
10. "Nightrider" - 5:07

1983 Track listing

1. "Breaking the Chains" (Don Dokken/George Lynch) – 3:51
2. "In the Middle" (G.Lynch/D.Dokken) – 3:44
3. "Felony" (D. Dokken) – 3:07
4. "I Can't See You" (D. Dokken/Juan Croucier) – 3:12
5. "Live to Rock (Rock to Live)" (G. Lynch/J. Croucier/D. Dokken) – 3:38
6. "Nightrider" (D. Dokken/Mick Brown/G. Lynch) – 3:13
7. "Seven Thunders" (G.Lynch/M. Brown/D. Dokken) – 3:56
8. "Young Girls" (G. Lynch/D. Dokken) – 3:14
9. "Stick to Your Guns" (D. Dokken) – 3:24
10. "Paris Is Burning [Live]" (G. Lynch/D. Dokken) – 5:08

Personnel

Band members

• Don Dokken - Lead vocals/Rhythm guitars
• George Lynch - Lead guitars
• Juan Croucier - Bass/Backing vocals (credited but did not play)
• "Wild" Mick Brown - Drums/Backing vocals

Uncredited musicians

• Peter Baltes - Bass
• Bobby Blotzer played drums on "Young Girls", "Stick to Your Guns", & "Paris Is Burning"

Production

• Michael Wagener - producer, engineer, mixing
• Wyn Davis - mixing
• Joe Gastwirt - mastering