[Fighting Tooth and Nail] -- Dokken was nearly relegated to the one-release discard bin after the band's debut failed to meet record company expectations. But in the struggle between band management and label execs, Dokken earned a second chance, and the result is a classic of early 1980s metal: Tooth and Nail. Released 40 years ago this month, Dokken's second studio album peaked at #49 on the Billboard 200 and also reached platinum sales. It was a springboard for three relatively successful singles.
"Into the Fire" was the first single, and it peaked at #21 on the Mainstream Rock (US) chart. Next up was "Just Got Lucky," one of my favorite Dokken tracks, which made it as high as #27 on that same Mainstream Rock (US) chart. Their third single, which would become one of their signature power ballads, was "Alone Again" and it reached commercial success on two charts: #20 on Mainstream Rock (US) and #64 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Dokken is often categorized as hair metal (or pop or glam metal). Vocalist and namesake Don Dokken decries such a label, insisting he and the band were "more on the metal side than the pop side" of that musical equation, and he is reluctant to be compared with Mötley Crüe or Poison (lasvegassun.com; August 2004). But noone is going to mistake Dokken for, say, Metallica or Accept. So, while guitarist George Lynch lends the band some muscle and aggression (such as with the title track, "Tooth and Nail"), their songs still have pop hallmarks, particularly vocally (reference the aforementioned "Just Got Lucky" and "Alone Again"). And this album, taken as a whole, definitely makes the case for Dokken to be considered more generally on the melodic side of heavy metal.
Flashback: Tooth and Nail (September 14, 1984)
And that's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.
I'll see you in seven!
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