Eaten Alive

Released in 1985, Eaten Alive represents a major collaborative effort between Diana Ross and Barry Gibb, who produced and co-wrote the majority of the record. Following Gibb's successful mid-80s 'resurrection' of artists like Barbra Streisand and Dionne Warwick, this album attempted to modernize Ross's sound for the digital age. The title track features Michael Jackson on co-writing and backing vocal duties, lending the song a rhythmic urgency reminiscent of his Thriller era. Despite its lukewarm reception in the US, the album was a significant international success, particularly due to the single 'Chain Reaction.' This track was a deliberate homage to Ross's Motown roots with the Supremes, effectively bridging her past with the high-gloss production of the present. Sonically, the album is defined by the Bee Gees' signature vocal layering and the crisp, sometimes brittle textures of 1980s studio technology. It stands as a unique, slightly experimental entry in Ross's RCA years, showcasing her ability to adapt her 'diva' persona to the increasingly synthetic landscape of mid-80s pop.