Bite (Altered Images album)

Bite
Studio album by Altered Images
Released	17 June 1983
Recorded	October 1982 - March 1983
Genre	Pop
Label	Epic (UK) Portrait (US)
Producer	Mike Chapman, Tony Visconti
Altered Images chronology
Pinky Blue (1982) Bite (1983)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Smash Hits	[1]
Allmusic	[2]

Bite is the third and final studio album by the Scottish band Altered Images. It was released in 1983 and was produced by famed producers Mike Chapman and Tony Visconti. It features the UK top ten single "Don't Talk to Me About Love" as well as other singles: "Bring Me Closer", "Love to Stay" and "Change of Heart".

Overview

This album followed the success of their previous two albums as well as a number of hit singles in the UK. For this album, the group recorded with producer Mike Chapman between October and December 1982 and then with Tony Visconti in March 1983.^[3] The resulting album was a change in direction from the group's earlier post punk route, becoming a more polished pure pop sound. This direction was controversial with the group's fanbase, and although the album peaked in the UK Top 20 (#16),^[4] it sold less than the group's previous two albums, both of which had been certified Silver by the BPI.^[5]

The first single, "Don't Talk to Me About Love", reached UK #7, becoming one of the group's biggest hits, although further releases became less and less popular ("Bring Me Closer" UK #29, "Love to Stay" #46, "Change of Heart" #83).^[6] Soon after the final single and the group completed a UK tour, they disbanded.

Originally released on vinyl album and cassette, the album was later re-issued on compact disc in 2004 with several bonus tracks as Bite...Plus. This version substituted a live version of "Another Lost Look", which had been featured originally on the B-side to "Love to Stay", and failed to include the original album version. Also, it included the single version of "Love to Stay" where originally an extended dance version of the track had appeared on the vinyl album, although the extended version does appear at the end of the CD issue.^[7]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Altered Images

Side One

1. "Bring Me Closer" – 3:17
2. "Another Lost Look" – 3:26
3. "Love to Stay" – 5:36 (3:23 on Bite...Plus)
4. "Now That You're Here" – 4:43

Side Two

1. "Don't Talk to Me About Love" – 4:50 (3:48 on Bite...Plus)
2. "Stand So Quiet" – 4:23
3. "Change of Heart" – 3:43 (3:35 on Bite...Plus)
4. "Thinking About You" – 5:02

CD bonus tracks

1. "Surprise Me" – 3:04
2. "I Don't Want to Know" – 3:48
3. "Last Goodbye" – 3:20
4. "Bring Me Closer" (Dance Mix) – 6:14
5. "Don't Talk to Me About Love" (Extended Version) – 7:01
6. "Love to Stay" (Dance Mix) – 5:40

Personnel

• Clare Grogan - Lead vocals
• Johnny McElhone - Bass
• Stephen Lironi - Drums
• Tony McDaid - Guitar
• Peter Vettese - Keyboards
• Andy Hamilton - Saxophone
• Bernie Michael - Backing vocals
• Leroy Osbourne - Backing vocals
• Morris Michael - Backing vocals

• Bryan Evans - Engineer (tracks 1, 4, 6, 8)
• Robin Black - Engineer (tracks 2, 3, 5, 7)
• Tony Visconti - Producer and String arrangements (tracks 1, 4, 6, 8)
• Mike Chapman - Producer (tracks 2, 3, 5, 7)
• Altered Images / Martyn Atkins - Artwork and design
• Neil Kirk - Photography

References

1. Hepworth, David (23 June 1983). "Album Reviews: Altered Imagaes – Bite". Smash Hits (London, England: EMAP). p. 13.
2. Allmusic review
3. Discogs - Bite production details
4. Chartstats - Bite UK chart details
5. BPI - Certified awards - Altered Images
6. Chartstats - Altered Images UK chart discography
7. Amazon - Bite...Plus