Eaten Alive (album)
Eaten Alive is the sixteenth studio album by American singer Diana Ross, released on 24 September 1985 via RCA in the US and EMI outside the US. Primarily written and produced by Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees, the album also includes a contribution from Michael Jackson who co-wrote and performed on the title track. It includes her international hit single "Chain Reaction", which topped the charts in the UK and Australia. The album reached #45 in the US, #11 in the UK and Australia and the top ten in Switzerland, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands.
| Eaten Alive | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 24, 1985 | |||
| Recorded | 1985 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 40:25 | |||
| Label | RCA (North America) Capitol (world, later reissues labeled EMI and Parlophone) | |||
| Producer | Gibb-Galuten-Richardson Michael Jackson (co-producer on "Eaten Alive" only) | |||
| Diana Ross chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Eaten Alive | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
The album was released on the RCA label in the US where it was deemed a commercial failure, selling less than 300,000 US copies.[2] It fared better internationally as an EMI label release to which Ross had been signed directly since 1981 (though Ross's relationship with EMI dates back to the beginning of her international career since they distributed Motown releases).
Overview
The album was primarily conceived by Barry Gibb, who had co-written and co-produced successful albums for Barbra Streisand, Dionne Warwick, and Kenny Rogers earlier that decade. Most of the tracks were co-written by Gibb and at least one of his other siblings, though some were written by all members of the Bee Gees. The album includes the UK and Australia #1 hit "Chain Reaction", along with the Top 10 R&B title track - written and co-produced with Michael Jackson. "Experience" was also released as a single, reaching #47 on the UK Singles Chart.
Videos were made for each of the three singles, with the title track being done in the style of the film The Island of Dr. Moreau. The video for "Chain Reaction" paid homage to American Bandstand-type shows of the 1960s. Both "Eaten Alive" and "Experience" co-starred actor Joseph Gian.
Due to the success of "Chain Reaction", the album would reach the Top 20 in many European territories. Barry Gibb accompanied Ross in the background on most of the tracks with Jackson also performing on "Eaten Alive". Despite perceptions, the title single, "Eaten Alive" hit the Top 20 in several European territories including Italy where it reached #10, Sweden #14 and Switzerland #17. It also peaked at #3 on the Billboard Dance Charts.
The album was remastered and re-released on September 29, 2014 by Funky Town Grooves, with bonus material on a second CD.[3] This reissue was licensed from RCA, which owns rights to the album in the U.S. and Canada and is available in these countries (plus, through imports from Solid Records, also in Japan, even when actually Warner Music owns rights here[4]).
Track listing
All tracks are written by Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Eaten Alive" | Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb, Michael Jackson | 3:54 |
| 2. | "Oh Teacher" | 3:40 | |
| 3. | "Experience" | Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb, Andy Gibb | 4:57 |
| 4. | "Chain Reaction" | 3:49 | |
| 5. | "More and More" | Barry Gibb, Albhy Galuten, Andy Gibb | 3:06 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I'm Watching You" | 3:51 | |
| 2. | "Love on the Line" | 4:21 | |
| 3. | "(I Love) Being in Love with You" | 4:33 | |
| 4. | "Crime of Passion" | 3:34 | |
| 5. | "Don't Give Up on Each Other" | Barry Gibb, George Bitzer | 3:45 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Eaten Alive" (Extended Re-Mix) | 5:52 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Eaten Alive" (Single Mix) | 3:53 |
| 2. | "Eaten Alive" (Single Mix Instrumental) | 3:59 |
| 3. | "Eaten Alive" (Hot Extended Dance Mix) | 5:53 |
| 4. | "Eaten Alive" (Hot Extended Dance Mix Instrumental) | 5:52 |
| 5. | "Experience" (Single Version) | 4:06 |
| 6. | "Experience" (Instrumental) | 4:50 |
| 7. | "Experience" (Special Dance Mix) | 5:46 |
| 8. | "Chain Reaction" (Special Single Mix) | 4:21 |
| 9. | "Chain Reaction" (Special Dance Mix) | 6:55 |
Personnel
Musicians credited in the liner notes:
- John J. Barnes – keyboards
- George Bitzer – keyboards, synthesizer, piano
- Nathan East – bass guitar
- Don Felder – guitar
- Michael Fisher – percussion
- Steve Gadd – drums
- Albhy Galuten – synthesizer, arrangements
- Gary E. Grant – trumpet
- Jerry Hey – trumpet
- James Newton Howard – keyboards, synthesizer
- Kim S. Hutchcroft – saxophone
- Paul Leim – drums
- Greg Phillinganes – keyboards
- Bill Reichenbach Jr. (credited as Bill Reichenbach) – trombone
- Tom Scott – saxophone
- George Terry – guitar
- Larry Williams – keyboards
- Diana Ross – lead vocals
- Barry Gibb – backing vocals, guitar, arrangements
- Michael Jackson – backing vocals on "Eaten Alive"
- Bruce Albertine – backing vocals
- Myrna Matthews – backing vocals
- Marti McCall – backing vocals
Production
- Producers – Albhy Galuten, Barry Gibb and Karl Richardson.
- Co-Producer on Track 1 – Michael Jackson
- Engineers – Jack Joseph Puig and Karl Richardson
- Assistant Engineers – Larry Ferguson, Dan Garcia, Scott Glasel and Julie Last.
- Recorded at Bill Schnee Studio (Hollywood, CA) and Middle Ear Studio (Miami, FL).
- Mixing – Humberto Gatica (Tracks 1 & 3); Elliot Scheiner (Tracks 2, 7 & 9); Jack Joseph Puig (Tracks 4, 5, 6 & 10); Karl Richardson (Track 8).
- Mixed at Middle Ear Studio; Lion Share Recording and Studio 55 (Los Angeles, CA).
- Re-mixing on Track 11 – Francois Kervorkian and Ron St. Germain
- Mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound (New York, NY).
- Art Direction and Design – Ria Lewerke
- Artwork – Diana Ross Enterprises, Inc.
- Photography – Moshe Brakha
The Eaten Alive Demos
The Eaten Alive Demos as sung by Barry Gibb were made available as downloads on iTunes in October 2006. The album contained most of the songs except for the title track and "Chain Reaction".[5] In the spring of 2009, when iTunes changed into DRM-free downloads with higher bit-rates; all of the Barry Gibb demos were no longer available. In August 2011 all of the Barry Gibb demos reappeared on iTunes shortly after the opening of the download store on his official website where many of the same tracks were available. Another demo of the title track by Michael Jackson is known to have been recorded, but, to this date, has not yet surfaced.
References
- Wynn, Ron (1985-08-23). "AllMusic review". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
- http://www.greasylake.org/the-circuit/index.php?%2Ftopic%2F116321-the-supremes-diana-ross-stevie-wonder-and-ray-charlesusa-album-sales%2F
- "Eaten Alive 2 CD Deluxe Edition". FunkyTownGrooves.com. FunkyTownGrooves.com. Archived from the original on 10 September 2014. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
- "Diana Ross - Eaten Alive (2014, CD)". Discogs.com. Discogs contributors. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- "Gibb Songs 2006 - Selected record releases". Columbia.edu. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
