"Chain Reaction" is a song by Diana Ross, written by the Bee Gees, who also provided the backing vocals for the single. The track was released on the album Eaten Alive in 1985 and as a single the following year.

According to the Gibbs biography, the brothers had initial reservations about offering the song to Diana in case it was too Motown for her.

The single became her first #1 single in the UK since I'm Still Waiting in 1971. The song also reached #1 in Australia and was the top selling single of the year (1986) in that country. The song fared less well in the USA where it initially peaked at #95 on the Billboard Hot 100 late in 1985. A few months later, a remixed version of the song was issued as a single (Ross performed this version of the song on the American Music Awards, which she hosted that year). The new version re-entered the chart and performed better, but with the diminished momentum, it stalled at #66.

Steps cover version

In 2001, British pop group Steps covered "Chain Reaction". The song reached #2 in the UK. The song was performed by the Top 4 Finalists on American Idol (season 6).

Music video

The first scene we see is two paramedics lifting a patient on a stretcher out of the back of an ambulance and take him inside the hospital. We first see Claire starting the song and then Faye sings. Then we get to see the band members together. We soon realize that H is the patient and gets up and starts singing. Then Lisa sings her part. Finally, we see the whole group singing featuring two men playing the drums. In the makings of Chain Reaction, it was said that H wanted to be on stetcher so he didn't have to move around

Track listings

CD1

1. Chain Reaction - 3:56
2. One for Sorrow [Tony Moran US Remix] - 3:29
3. Stop Me From Loving You - 3:45

CD2

1. Chain Reaction [Graham Stack Extended Mix] - 6:28
2. One for Sorrow [Tony Moran Extended Club Mix] - 6:38
3. One for Sorrow [Sleazesisters 12" Anthem Mix] - 6:48

Cassette

1. Chain Reaction - 3:56
2. One for Sorrow [Tony Moran US Remix] - 3:29

Australian CD Single (JIVE/EBUL)

1. Chain Reaction 3:56
2. One For Sorrow (Tony Moran US Remix) 3:29
3. Stop Me From Loving You 3:45

Remixes

• Chain Reaction (Almighty Mix) - Promo
• Chain Reaction (Hit Squad Remix) - Promo
• Chain Reaction (Kod De Sac Remix) - Promo

Chart success

The song entered the UK charts at #2 and spent 11 weeks in the top 75. It became their biggest selling single since they released "Say You'll Be Mine / Better the Devil You Know" two years earlier.

Other cover versions

• Australian group Young Divas recorded a cover of the song for their second album New Attitude, released in 2007.

See also

• List of Number 1 singles from the 1980s (UK)