"Dead or Alive" was recorded in September 1959 at the
Bradley Studios, located in
Nashville, Tennessee. The sessions were produced by Owen Bradley, who would serve as Anderson's producer through most of years with Decca Records. "Dead or Alive" was released as a single by Decca Records in October 1959. It spent a total of eight weeks on the
Billboard Hot Country and Western Sides chart before reaching number 19 in February 1960. It was Anderson's third chart hit and third major hit as a recording artist. The song was not issued on a proper album following its release. ==Track listings==