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“Eaten Alive”

Date range confirmed in François Allard and Richard Lecocq’s “Michael Jackson: All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track” (“In July 1985, Michael Jackson delivered his demo…”)

Michael Jackson, “Eaten Alive” rear album cover message (archived)

You are truly Supreme, good to be with you again. I love you. Michael J. 1998

Joseph Brennan, Columbia University post based on copyright registrations (archived)

What happened [for the second demo after Barry Gibb’s] is that Diana Ross’s friend Michael Jackson listened to the demos, and decided that ‘Eaten Alive’ needed something else in it. Barry offered to share credit with Michael if he wanted to supply what was missing. Michael took away a cassette of the demo and sent a tape back a few days later. Maurice later described this new demo as Michael singing and playing keyboard with a drum machine. The second copyright registration, June 1, bears the note ‘words and music in the choruses have been completely rewritten’.

...Michael Jackson sings on the choruses of ‘Eaten Alive’. He was also present during recording of the instrumental tracks, and judged whether they were suitable by dancing to them in the studio. Lastly he supervised the mix, settling on one that Albhy was not so happy with.

Chris Cadman, author, “Michael Jackson the Maestro”

Originally written, and registered in March 1985, by Barry and Maurice Gibb. Michael heard their demo and felt it needed something else; Barry offered to share credit with Michael, if he wanted to supply what he thought was missing. Michael agreed and a second demo – recorded by Michael – was registered in July, with the note, ‘words and music in the choruses have been completely rewritten’.

Both demo versions, recorded in Los Angeles, remain unreleased.

Michael stayed at Barry’s Florida home while working and recording on Eaten Alive. Michael also advised on several other tracks the Gibb brothers were working on for Diana.

Recorded by Diana Ross in mid 1985 in Los Angeles, with Michael and the Gibb brothers on backing vocals, for her album of the same title, issued in September 1985.

Performed by Diana at the American Music Awards in 1986.