Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know is the third studio album by the English pop band Dead or Alive, released in December 1986 by 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". In addition to an image of lead vocalist 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 (1946) were filmed. The cover photography was by 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.

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, and lead vocalist Pete Burns' unwillingness to hand over songwriting duties to the producers. 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.

While Burns claimed vicious studio arguments during production of the album made him ill,

Track listing

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

Notes

<sup>†</sup> A shortened edit of the "Dust Monkey's Love Bubble Club" 12" extended remix.

<sup>††</sup> The "US Wipe-Out Part 2" 12" extended remix.

Personnel

Dead or Alive

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

Additional personnel

  • Mike Stock – producer
  • Pete Waterman – producer
  • Matt Aitken – producer
  • Mark McGuire – engineer
  • Burni Adams – tape operator

Chart performance

{| class="wikitable sortable"

! align="left" | Chart (1987)

! align="left" | Peak<br />position

|-

| align="left" | Australian (Kent Music Report)

| align="center" | 37

|-

| align="left" | Canada Top 100 Albums

| align="center" |52

|-

| Finnish Album Chart

| align="center" | 14

|-

| align="left" | Japanese Oricon Albums Chart

| align="center" | 19

|-

| align="left" |Sweden Top 60 Albums

| align="center" | 21

|-

| align="left" | UK Top 75 Albums

| align="center" | 27

|-

| align="left" | US Billboard 200

| align="center" | 52

|}

References