Released in May 1984 to mixed critical reviews (CREEM magazine called it a piece of #$%&*), SOPHISTICATED BOOM-BOOM was greeted with relief by Dead Or Alive fans who'd read Pete's earlier complaint of "Nobody will let me make an album." The album featured three previously released singles- What I Want, I'd Do Anything, and the Top 40 hit That's The Way (I Like It).

Dead Or Alive flew to America to do a few gigs in support of the album. (Click here to read a contemporary interview) On U.S. soil, Pete quickly learned that Americans viewed his bitchy comments as a threat to his U.S. popularity, particularly about the Pope of Pop, Boy George. He said later, "I don't think they knew who I was or what they were dealing with and were asking me to be nice to Boy George." Upon their return to England, DOA released a remixed version of What I Want, which failed to chart.

The above tracklisting is for the US release of the album. Because 'What I Want' and 'Misty Circles' had already been released in the US, the American version of SOPHISTICATED BOOM-BOOM began with those two tracks. The original, British tracklisting is as follows: