Customer Reviews

Beast From the East

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This album was from a tour supporting Back for the Attack and has songs from all of Dokken's first four albums, which most agree are their true prime. Labels and bands love to put out live albums, of course, because they serve as de facto Greatest Hits albums, cost relatively little to make, and don't require new songwriting. On that level, this live album works really well and shows that Dokken can deliver these songs live. It's fun to hear them singing "In My Dreams" and other songs without benefit of studio overdubs. Many live albums contain a lot of dubs. I can't be sure they didn't tamper with this album, but if they did you can't tell.

The production is merely ok, though. There is too much reverb even for a live album and it comes off a bit muddy. It's better than bootleg quality by far, but it's not a crystal clear live album like some of the best I've heard.

Moreover, as a live album it doesn't really transcend the studio albums...Dokken's performance is good, but mostly pretty straight ahead. George Lynch's guitar solo is a special treat, but mostly you hear the songs played much like the albums. This isn't a harsh criticism, but still the album doesn't belong in the very top tier of classic live albums.

I remember when I got for my birthday as a present back in 1989, "Beast From The East" by Dokken. I liked it... but then in 1995-1996 I realized it is the BEST EVER live album a rock band has ever done... I admit it, I've still to listen to "Live in Budokkan" by Cheap Trick... but I have listened to and have, Kiss' "Alive" and "Alive 2", Ozzy Osbourne's "Tribute", Mötley Crüe's "Entertainment Or Death", Journey's "Greatest Hits Live", Van Halen's "Right Here, Right Now LIVE", The Scorpions' "World Wide Live", Rush's "Differente Stages" and many others... but the truth is, this IS the best live album I have EVER heard. First of all, one of the most important factors of a live albums is the crowd. It sounds like a million lions in the album, AMAZING. Then of course comes the musicianship... and the guys make it worth your while. SOmething that I have to bring out especially is the quality of Don Dokken's vocals, he sings like a god, I've NEVER heard a better singer in a live album... not even Steve Perry or Paul Stanley, who were and are unbelievable. You can especially notice this when you compare it to last year's live album by Dokken, they still sound good but there really is no point in comparison. George Lynch is also incredible, being the only guitarist that I've heard who can play tiny little solos between chords in the songs, and make it sound completely and utterly seamless... you gotta hear it to believe it. I give it five stars, and if there were 10, then ten it would be. Buy it. You WILL like it, you will LOVE it!

The All Music Guide has rated this album to be Dokken's best album, but don't forget "Tooth And Nail"(1984) and "Under Lock And Key"(1985) too. Dokken gives one hell of a proformence on their 1988 live album. It tells you that how good Dokken was as a live act, this album shows what the 80's hairbands had to offer, beside's their big hair and spandex pants. These guys (Dokken) had talent big time. But there is still one thing that they should have done on this album? They should have added the 3 songs they took out of this album when it came to CD. The 3 songs they took out were "Standing In The Shadows", "Turn On The Action" and "Sleepless Night". To me, if they ever re-package and re-master this album, they should add those songs as well. This is a fun album to listen too. This was one of my favorite albums for the summer of '88 and it still is. Note to the headbangers of the world: "Be true, bang your head and play it loud! The 80's still rock...........

This is one of the best live albums of the Metal Genre. Don Dokken holds court in Japan, and the fans absolutley love Dokken. He holds the audience in the palm of his hand, and the audience interaction is incredible. This was at the height of their popularity, about 1987-88, as it was shortly after the film "Nightmare on Elm Street, 3" was on the big screen, and Dokken was a big part of that film, as they sang the movie's theme, "Dream Warriors", and even starred in their own video with Freddy Krueger, and Christen! All the Dokken classics are there, and "Its Not Love", Unchain the Night, and Tooth and Nail, have never sounded better live. I loved the artwork on the album cover so much, that I am having it done on my own back! Its about 40 % done, the centerpiece is nearly complete, but the tough part is going to be the ocean in the background. I actually got to show Don Dokken the work in progress as I won backstage passes from a local radio show to a Dokken Concert here in New Mexico. They still sound great, and I recommend this album to any Dokken fan, or metal fan out there.

First off this is a great live release from Dokken playing live in Tokyo, Japan. this is a review of the 2 disc Japanese edition it has 17 songs they are

1.Unchain the night

2.Tooth and Nail

3.Standing in the Shadows* NOT ON US RELEASE

4.Sleepless Nights* NOT ON US RELEASE

5.Dream Warriors

6.Kiss Of Death

7.When Heaven Comes Down

8.Into The Fire

9.Mr. Scary END DISC 1

DISC 2

1.Heaven Sent

2.It's Not Love

3.Alone Again

4.Just Got Lucky

5.Breaking The Chains

6.In My Dreams

7.Turn On The Action* NOT ON US RELEASE

8.Walk Away (studio track)

The 2 disc version runs around 90 minutes or so maybe longer or shorter can't remember but its longer then the US one at 70 odd minutes long. This is the whole show and in order it also shows Dokken in their prime buy this and under lock and key and tooth and nail and MAYBE back for the attack as well. 5 stars is not enough I give it 10

I give this review 3 stars because the original 2 lp, and extened length cassette has a total of 3 extra live songs. You may still buy the cassette, if you look hard enuff.

This is a great document of a great live band. The songs are top notch '80s pop metal songs. This is also the BEST lineup this band has had, although Don and Mr. Scary never really saw eye to eye they made some great music.

The 2 cd set contains the following extra songs: Standing In The Shadows, Sleepless Night, & Turn on the Action.

Look hard for the two cd version, you will like it alot more. I do.

This album is an excellent compilation and performance of the Dokken material from the early/mid eighties. The live performance adds life and evergy to songs that usually don't stand out on the studio albums. Lynch's playing and soloing is superb, not to mention the amazing orchestration on his Mr. Scary. He throws spontaneity and fire into the now overused tremelo and tapping techniques of the eighties. Dokken's voice comes out much more melodic. The band's lyrics at times can be childish, but the songs themselves come forth with a enormous amount of energy and power. Musically, one of the best live albums I've heard.

None of Dokken's studio albums can compare to the searing burst of heavy-metal power that this live album puts out. On this CD you'll hear the boys rock like never before. The studio albums they've made sound tame compared to the way they sound live on this CD. It's Dokken unchained, pure and simple. In addition, the amount of music included on the album is very generous (71 min.!) And the selected songs are great! In fact, I'd even recommend this album over "The Best of Dokken" for a mix of their best music. A MUST HAVE for every fan of Dokken and heavy metal in general!

Released in 1988, I seem to recall seeing the band twice that year, once opening for Aerosmith and later in the summer on tour with the 'Monsters Of Rock' trek with Van Halen, Scorpions, Metallica and Kingdom Come. Anyone else remember that? Wish they'd have shindigs like that these days. I've always liked hearing Dokken, even in the more recent times here. 'Beast In The East' is a good live 2-CD effort. Total of seventeen tracks with a duration of 88 minutes. Tunes I loved experiencing time and time again were "Unchain The Night", "Dream Warriors", "Kiss Of Death", "Breaking The Chains" and "In My Dreams" (great harmony vocals). Recommended if you like '80's metal.

I find this live album from Dokken to be worthwhile and spirited. Out of a total of 14 selections, 13 of them are live, and the other one is a studio track ("Walk Away") recorded especially for inclusion on this release. For those who aren't aware, three songs on the cassette version of Beast from the East ("Standing in the Shadows," "Sleepless Night," "Turn on the Action") aren't included on this CD. According to the information on the back of the CD jewel case, the reason for this is because of time restrictions. The total length of this disc is just over 73 minutes. The live tunes were recorded in Japan during the tour promoting the album Back for the Attack in 1988. All of the live material is taken from the group's previous four studio releases--Breaking the Chains, Tooth and Nail, Under Lock and Key, and Back for the Attack. The songs sport tight musicianship and fulfilling sound quality. Examples of some of the live versions that I like are the power ballad "Alone Again," "When Heaven Comes Down," and guitarist George Lynch's instrumental "Mr. Scary." The guys do a nice job of performing "Alone Again." This live version of "Alone Again" also features some additional material at the beginning that's not on the studio version. As for individual bandmember solos, Lynch provides a skillful, energetic guitar solo. His guitar solo segues into "Mr. Scary." There are no solo spots from the rest of Dokken. Don Dokken's vocal delivery throughout Beast from the East is good. It's interesting to note that Lynch's guitar solo on "Dream Warriors" is completely different from the studio version--I admit that I prefer his guitar solo on the studio version of "Dream Warriors." I enjoy the album closing power ballad "Walk Away." This tuneful confection contains pleasing, ambitious vocals from Dokken and a memorable, taut guitar solo from Lynch. The horizontal CD foldout displays various photos of each member of Dokken. Song lyrics and a biography of the group aren't included, though. Beast from the East is a worthy and enjoyable live disc from Dokken.