Artist in Depth: Dead or Alive (Part 5)

In 1987, Dead or Alive released their first compilation album Rip It Up, which contained all singles from Youthquake and Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to Know remixed. This album also supported their first world tour, which included stops in the US, Europe, and Japan. The two Japanese dates were filmed and released on VHS.  It was widely believed that the concert was entirely mimed; however, parts of the show were live, while others were pre-recorded or mimed. Nonetheless, the tour was a success and caused their popularity in Japan to explode. The album itself did not prove to be as successful in the UK and US as the past two releases; however, the album reached the Top 5 in Japan and was certified Gold.

Shortly after the world tour ended, the band left Stock Aitken Waterman, and a year later in 1989, Tim Lever and Mike Percy left the band to form careers as mixers and producers. Burns and drummer Steve Coy were now the only members left in the band. They released a self-produced album, Nude. The first of three singles, "Turn Around and Count 2 Ten" became the band's biggest hit in Japan staying at #1 for a massive seventeen weeks. It also peaked at #2 on the US Dance Chart while the album's second single, "Come Home (With Me Baby)" topped both the US Dance Chart as well as the Japanese charts. The final single from Nude, "Baby Don't Say Goodbye" again topped the charts in Japan and peaked at #6 on the US Dance Chart.

"Come Home (With Me Baby)", which was also #1 in Brazil, failed to receive significant radio play due to a reactionary attitude toward the song's seemingly casual attitude toward sex at a time when AIDS awareness was coming into the public consciousness.

Beginning in 1990 with the release of Fan the Flame (Part 1), Dead or Alive began to release their material in Japan only to capitalize on the major success of Nude in Japan, but the 90s would prove to be the beginning of Dead or Alive's downfall.