Search - Diana Ross :: Eaten Alive

Much better than its predecessor or successor!

Reginald D. Garrard | Camilla, GA USA | 07/26/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It was the mid-80's and Diana Ross was forty-five. After "jumping ship" from Motown, Ross signed with RCA and "Eaten Alive" was her fourth album on the label. The singer had had marginal success with her first RCA release but the follow-ups didn't make too much headway on the charts.



Unfortunately, "Eaten Alive" didn't do much better. And that's a shame because this was one of the singer's best solo efforts, due in part to the strategies of producers Barry Gibb, Karl Richardson, and Albhy Galuten. The trio understood Ross's limited range, her iconic status, and the singer's age, saddling her with songs that complimented each.



Ross pays tribute to her Supremes roots with the "Baby Love" sounding "Chain Reaction". She gets to be a little "torchy" with "More and More". And she's allowed to go a little crazy on the title cut, co-produced by and featuring Michael Jackson on background vocals.



Another good cut is "Experience," reminiscent of Dionne Warwick's "Heartbreaker," also penned by the Brothers Gibb.



The strongest track, however, is "Crimes of Passion," one that allows both the singer and her accompanying musicians and vocalist to cut loose.



Perhaps, if Ross had stayed with Barry and company, she might have had the same hitmaking track record that she had in the 60's and 70's."