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.
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]
^Schlesinger, Derrin (11–24 February 1987). "Albums"(PDF). Smash Hits. Vol. 9, no. 3. p. 63. ISSN0260-3004. Retrieved 20 November 2023 – via World Radio History.
^Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 85. ISBN0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and 19 June 1988.
