The song was released as the first single on September 1, 1985, taken from her album of the same name, which was ultimately a critical and commercial failure in the US.

It became her first lead single to not hit the Top 40 since 1978, although it fared much better on the R&B singles chart - where it reached the Top 10 - helped by BET's heavy rotation of the music video.

It was not until Michael Jackson heard the demo of it that he suggested the chorus could be improved.

The second copyright registration was filed on 1 June 1985 (the same day that Diana performed a sold-out concert at Joe Louis Arena in her hometown of Detroit) with the note 'words and music in the choruses have been completely rewritten'.

[1] The accompanying music video for "Eaten Alive", inspired by The Island of Doctor Moreau, was directed by David Hogan and featured the singer playing a cat-like demon seducing a man played by Joseph Gian after having been pursued by chimeras.