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Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know (Dead or Alive album)

Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know is the third studio album by the English pop band Dead or Alive, released in December 1986 on Epic Records. Continuing their association with the Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) production team, Dead or Alive scored several hit singles from this album, including "Brand New Lover" and "Something in My House".[7] In addition to an image of singer Pete Burns, the cover features one of the game walls at the Château de Raray, where some of the scenes for La Belle et la Bête were filmed. The cover photographer was Bob Carlos Clarke. The phrase "Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to Know" itself comes from a statement by Lady Caroline Lamb describing controversial English literary figure Lord Byron.

Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know
Studio album by
Dead or Alive
ReleasedDecember 1986 (US)
February 1987 (UK)[1]
Recorded1986
Genre
Length40:58
LabelEpic
ProducerStock Aitken Waterman
Dead or Alive chronology
Youthquake
(1985) 		Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know
(1986) 		Rip It Up
(1987)
Singles from Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know
  1. "Brand New Lover"
    Released: 12 September 1986[3]
  2. "Something in My House"
    Released: 29 December 1986
  3. "Hooked on Love"
    Released: 23 March 1987[4]
  4. "I'll Save You All My Kisses"
    Released: 28 September 1987[5]
  5. "Son of a Gun"
    Released: January 1988
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Smash Hits6.5/10[6]

Production of the album was marked by arguments between the band and SAW, with the latter frustrated by the band's refusal to branch into house music,[8] and singer Pete Burns unwilling to hand over songwriting duties to the producers.[9] Burns expressed frustration with his record company's attitude to his single choices, complaining the label only relented on scheduling "Brand New Lover" for release after Bananarama had a hit with their Dead or Alive-inspired cover of "Venus", and alleging they also refused to give "Something in My House" a Halloween release date.[8][10]

While Burns claimed vicious studio arguments during production of the album made him ill,[9] recording engineer Karen Hewitt stated the singer appeared to thrive on his often explosive and confrontational dynamic with Mike Stock and Matt Aitken during the album sessions.[8] Fellow album engineer Yoyo described tensions as mostly good humoured and centred on artistic disagreements, rather than personal animosity.[11][12]

Track listing

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Side one

  1. "Brand New Lover" – 5:18
  2. "I'll Save You All My Kisses" – 3:35
  3. "Son of a Gun" – 4:15
  4. "Then There Was You" – 3:45
  5. "Come Inside" – 4:28

Side two

  1. "Something in My House" – 7:20
  2. "Hooked on Love" – 3:55
  3. "I Want You" – 4:12
  4. "Special Star" – 4:10

Personnel

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Dead or Alive

  • Pete Burns – vocals
  • Mike Percy – bass guitar, guitars
  • Tim Lever – keyboards
  • Steve Coy – drums

Additional personnel

Chart performance

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Chart (1987) Peak
position
Australian (Kent Music Report)[13] 37
Canada Top 100 Albums[14] 52
Finnish Album Chart[15] 14
Japanese Oricon Albums Chart 19
Sweden Top 60 Albums[16] 21
UK Top 75 Albums[17] 27
US Billboard 200[18] 52

References

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  1. ^ "Music Week" (PDF). p. 27.
  2. ^ Green, Jim; Robbins, Ira. "Dead or Alive". Trouser Press. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  3. ^ "Music Week" (PDF). p. 43.
  4. ^ "New Singles". Music Week. 21 March 1987. p. 39.
  5. ^ "Music Week" (PDF). p. 43.
  6. ^ Schlesinger, Derrin (11–24 February 1987). "Albums" (PDF). Smash Hits. Vol. 9, no. 3. p. 63. ISSN 0260-3004. Retrieved 20 November 2023 – via World Radio History.
  7. ^ "Dead or Alive". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
  8. ^ a b c "A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 14: I'm The One Who Really Loves You to Brand New Lover on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  9. ^ a b Arena, James (7 July 2017). Europe's Stars of '80s Dance Pop: 32 International Music Legends Discuss Their Careers. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-7142-0.
  10. ^ "A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 17: Ain't Nothing But A House Party to Something In My House on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  11. ^ "A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: BONUS: Yoyo on the '80s: Kylie Minogue, Mel & Kim, Dead Or Alive, Rick Astley, Bananarama and more on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  12. ^ "A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 41: Looking Back with Matt Aitken on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  13. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 85. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and 19 June 1988.
  14. ^ "RPM 100 Albums". RPM. 46 (1). archived at Library and Archives Canada. 11 April 1987. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
  15. ^ "Artistit DE - DIA" (in Finnish). Suomen listalevyt. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  16. ^ "Dead Or Alive – Mad Bad And Dangerous To Know". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
  17. ^ "Mad Bad And Dangerous To Know". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
  18. ^ "Mad Bad, & Dangerous to Know > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums" at AllMusic. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
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