DAKOTA is one of the seminal American AOR acts. This 2016 reissued 2CD “Looking Back [The Anthology]” is a perfect compendium of their entire discography, with a remastered, revised sound by the band’s founder members.
Created in 1980 by Bill Kelly and Jerry Hludzik from the ashes of ‘The Jerry-Kelly Band’, they have recorded a bunch of excellent albums, with the band’s 2nd ‘Runaway’ (1984) still being one of my all-time favorites in the genre.
Dakota’s blend of Classy AOR and refined West Coast touches is filled with big hooklines, fluffy keyboards and harmony vocals to die for. Later the group also developed a a strong melodic hard rock sound with an updated sound yet retaining the ’80s feel.
Dakota experienced many line-up changes, besides, high class session musicians were part of their studio recordings, such as Richie Zito (Bad English, Heart), Paul Jackson (Pages, David Foster), bassist Neil Stubenhaus (Robin Beck, Steve Lukather), Chicago singer Bill Champlin, Toto keyboardist Steve Porcaro and many more.
Simply put; if you like Classic, pure AOR of the best lineage, “Looking Back [The Anthology]” is a Must Have.
1 Runaway - Dakota
2 Crazy for Your Love - Dakota
3 Brothers in Arms - Dakota
4 Last Standing Man - Dakota
5 Mr. Lucky - Dakota
6 Prelude to Victories - Dakota
7 Little Victories - Dakota
8 Holdin' Your Own - Dakota
9 Brother to Brother - Dakota
10 Hot Nights - Dakota
11 When the Rebel Comes Home - Dakota
12 You Can't Live Without It - Dakota
13 Over in a Minute - Dakota
14 What Were You Thinking - Dakota
15 The Deep - Dakota
16 Don't Count Me Out - Dakota
17 If It Takes All Night - Dakota
18 Mama Teach - Dakota
19 Angry Men - Dakota
20 Next in Line - Dakota
21 Right This Minute - Dakota
22 Only Game in Town - Dakota
23 Not so Much in Love - Dakota
24 Back to Me - Dakota
25 Into the Night - Dakota
26 Heroes - Dakota
27 Run with the Wind - Dakota
28 Hearts on Fire - Dakota
29 Somebody's Hero - Dakota
30 Wish - Dakota
31 Go Easy On My heart - Dakota
Dakota – Looking Back: The Anthology 2016
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