Dead or Alive

Youthquake | Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know

Youthquake (Reviewed by Flix):

Artist: Dead Or Alive
Album: Youthquake
Year: 1985
Genre: Pop
Label: Epic/CBS
Tracklist:

You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) 3:16
I Wanna Be A Toy 3:56
D.J. Hit That Button 3:25
In Too Deep 4:07
Big Daddy Of The Rhythm 3:20
Cake And Eat It 4:36
Lover Come Back To Me 3:06
My Heart Goes Bang 3:10
It’s Been A Long Time 7:54

May of 1985 saw the release of the second Dead Or Alive album – Youthquake. This was a follow up to their 1984 debut album Sophisticated Boom Boom. The Dead Or Alive line-up for Youthquake was the eccentric lead-singer Pete Burns along with Steve Coy, Mike Percy & Tim Lever. The album was produced by Stock/Aitken/Waterman of later Bananarama, Rick Astley & Kylie Minogue fame to name a few. This album proved to be their most successful for Dead Or Alive, landing a #9 spot on the UK Charts. Four singles were released from this album – You Spin Me Round (UK #1), Lover Come Back To Me (UK #11), In Too Deep (UK #14) and My Heart Goes Bang (UK #23).

This is by far their best album. Pete Burns’ angry goth-like voice is perfect for the aggressive dance-tracks that Dead Or Alive became so famous for. Dead Or Alive are still around with Pete Burns being the only member from the Youthquake line-up. This album is still available on CD on most continents. Pick it up and let Pete Burns & Co. spin you round like a record again and again.

Response to this review by Trixter: First off, this album brings back so many memories of fun times! I wore my cassette out! : ) "You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)" has to be one of the GREATEST dance songs ever recorded!! This song was always played at dances.
It's good to know ole Pete is still at it!

Response to this review by Iluvthe80s: I still have my copy on vinyl. A great album.

Response to this review by 80sTrivia: Youthquake, to me, is the definitive Dead or Alive album! The songs on the album really signify the 80s sound in my book. My fave track is "My Heart Goes Bang". If I want to dance, all I have to do is put on Youthquake, and I'm moving!!!!

Response to this review by outofplacechild: For me, its the 1-2-3 adreanaline dance punch of "DJ Hit That Button", "In Too Deep" and "Big Daddy Of The Rhythm" that gets my feet to moving. DOA *RULES!*

Response to this review by 80sTrivia: I didn't like DOA's follow up to Youthquake, Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know, quite as well as YQ. MBDTK had "Brand New Lover", which I love, and my other fave on that album, "Lucky Star". All in all, Youthquake is definitely DOA's best, IMO.

Response to this review by Robyn: This has to be one of the best albums from 1985. My faves are:

"Lover Come Back"
"Big Daddy Of The Rhythm"
"My Heart Goes Bang"

I think that the one thing that I can't stand is that the CD is missing that cool remix of "You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)". It was available on the cassette, why didn't they add it to the CD?
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Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know (Reviewed by NewRomantic):

Dear Or Alive

Mad, Bad and Dangerous To Know.

Track Listing:

1. Brand New Lover
2. I'll Save You All My Kisses
3. Son Of A Gun
4. Then There Was You
5. Come Inside
6. Something In My House
7. Hooked On Love
8. I Want You
9. Special Star

This was the third Dead Or Alive album released in 1987 and continued on in the Stock/Aitken and Waterman style. "Brand New Lover", "Something In My House" and "Hooked On Love" were the tracks released on the Australian market. The small spoken phrases were kept at the begining of some of the tracks, lines such as "I want surprises" (on Brand New Lover) and "I am being haunted" (on Something In My House)featured not only at the begining, but throughout the songs. "Something In My House" also contains a sample from 'The Exorsist' - '...am I the devil? Am I the devil?...'in keeping with the horror theme of the track. There is nothing remarkably different here. the familar "synth stabbing" (particularly on "Special Star") and the "chugging" (a technical word here people....note the sarcasm!) bass lines keep this album flowing along. Of the non released tracks, "Then There Was You" and "Special Star" stand out.
The listner goes from lyrics such as :
'...Your sweet nature darling was too hard to swallow, i've got the solution, I'm leaving tomorrow...' (Brand New Lover) to :
'...You are my special star, the one want , the first in line. You are my special star, let it shine, let it let it shine...' (Special Star)
Sickly sweet? Well possibly, but it is all good fun.

Response to this review by Trixter: I remember having this album, but for the life of me I can't find it! My favorite song was "Brand New Lover". It was good pop fun!

Response to this review by Iluvthe80s: I have it and it is pretty cool! I like the cover of it. Kinda reminds me of The Damned's "Phantasmagoria" album.

Response to this review by Flix: Lots of great dance hits on this album. There's Something In My House if my absolute favorite from this album. Dead Or Alive last really good album before they hit rock bottom.
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