Eaten Alive (album)
Eaten Alive is the sixteenth studio album by American singer Diana Ross. It was first released by RCA Records on 24 September 1985 in the United States, with EMI Records distributing elsewhere. It was Ross' fifth of six albums released by the labels. Primarily written and produced by Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees, with co-writing from his brothers Andy, Maurice, and Robin, the album also includes a contribution from Ross' friend Michael Jackson who co-wrote and performed on the title track.
Eaten Alive | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 24, 1985 | |||
Recorded | 1985 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 40:25 | |||
Label | RCA | |||
Producer | ||||
Diana Ross chronology | ||||
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Singles from Eaten Alive | ||||
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While Eaten Alive was deemed a commercial failure in the US, where it peaked at number 45 on the US Billboard 200 and sold less than 300,000 US copies,[1] it fared better internationally, entering the top ten in the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland, while reaching number 11 in Australia and on the UK Albums Chart. Eaten Alive produced the hit single "Chain Reaction", which topped the charts in the UK and Australia, as well as the singles "Eaten Alive" and "Experience".
Background
Eaten Alive was primarily conceived by Bee Gees singer 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 Andy, Maurice, and Robin, though some were written by all members of the Bee Gees.[2] 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]
Critical reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
Allmusic editor Ron Wynn rated the album three stars out of five and wrote: "Diana Ross got a lot of mileage from this album, although it didn't duplicate the success she'd enjoyed with Swept Away. The title track was a Top Ten R&B hit, thanks in part to Michael Jackson's presence on background vocals, and another single also made the charts. Ross wasn't the powerhouse she was in the 1970s, but she was still doing well enough to keep making records."[2]
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.
Track listing
Original release
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Eaten Alive" |
| 3:54 | |
2. | "Oh Teacher" |
| Gibb-Galuten-Richardson | 3:40 |
3. | "Experience" |
| Gibb-Galuten-Richardson | 4:57 |
4. | "Chain Reaction" |
| Gibb-Galuten-Richardson | 3:49 |
5. | "More and More" |
| Gibb-Galuten-Richardson | 3:06 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "I'm Watching You" |
| Gibb-Galuten-Richardson | 3:51 |
2. | "Love on the Line" |
| Gibb-Galuten-Richardson | 4:21 |
3. | "(I Love) Being in Love with You" |
| Gibb-Galuten-Richardson | 4:33 |
4. | "Crime of Passion" |
| Gibb-Galuten-Richardson | 3:34 |
5. | "Don't Give Up on Each Other" |
| Gibb-Galuten-Richardson | 3:45 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
11. | "Eaten Alive" (Extended Re-Mix) |
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| 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 |
Notes
- ^[a] signifies a co-producer
Credits and personnel
Performers
- 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
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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References
- http://www.greasylake.org/the-circuit/index.php?%2Ftopic%2F116321-the-supremes-diana-ross-stevie-wonder-and-ray-charlesusa-album-sales%2F
- Wynn, Ron (August 23, 1985). "AllMusic review". Allmusic.com. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
- "Eaten Alive 2 CD Deluxe Edition". FunkyTownGrooves.com. FunkyTownGrooves.com. Archived from the original on September 10, 2014. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
- "Diana Ross - Eaten Alive (2014, CD)". Discogs.com. Discogs contributors. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
- "Gibb Songs 2006 - Selected record releases". Columbia.edu. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 259. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- "Austriancharts.at – Diana Ross – Eaten Alive" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Diana Ross – Eaten Alive" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
- "Offiziellecharts.de – Diana Ross – Eaten Alive" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
- "Norwegiancharts.com – Diana Ross – Eaten Alive". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
- "Swedishcharts.com – Diana Ross – Eaten Alive". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
- "Swisscharts.com – Diana Ross – Eaten Alive". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
- "Diana Ross | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
- "Diana Ross Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
- "Diana Ross Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
- "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1985". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved January 1, 2021.