Celebrate "Madonna" The Debut Album's 40th Anniversary: Performances, Demos, Photos, Interviews, Remixes, and More!

[Donna 16,458]

 

40 years ago, this month, a woman by the name of Madonna, released her debut album.  Two singles were released prior to the album.  'Everybody' and 'Burning Up' became top 5 club hits for her.  But it wasn't until radio started playing "Holiday" when things really got going with Madonna.  It became her first top 20 song with 'Borderline' to follow which became her first top 10 record.  'Lucky Star' rounded off the album with a top 5 single before she became a phenomenon in the U.S. and around the world.  A lot of fans have been theres since the beginning.  Were you?  They knew she was something special.  They knew she would take the world by storm when others doubted.  As usual, Madonna proved those who doubted her, wrong.  Songs like "Holiday" and "Lucky Star" found further success as two of her most signature songs.  It was only the beginning of what was to become of her, in 1984 and 1985, where she became a phenomenon, specifically in the United States.  Her follow up sophmore album may have really put her on the map, but no one can doubt her debut album, was a start of something spectactular.  Madonna, the debut album was released on July 27th 1983.  The album eventually reached top 10 status in numerous countries. It has sold over 10 million copies and is her only album that is noted mostly written by her.  The album is pure "classic Madonna".  It's raw and fun.  It is the time where she conveniently tapped into the music industry when disco was dying and punk was thriving.  Yet, she was still able to prevail by producing dance tracks that eventually took the world by storm. While her debut album was growing popular, she managed to take on projects that only propelled her to be even more popular with films such as Vision Quest and Desperately Seeking Susan and working with with Nile Rodgers which ended up producing her follow up album... Like A Virgin.  Her sophomore album only helped make her even more famous world-wide, along with films Despately Seeking Susan and soundtrack songs that followed.

Let's begin to celebrate with our stories and encounters of Madonna when we first heard her for the "very first time"? 

   

[Would You Like To Try 8,346]

I thought something had been announced and my heart skipped a beat haha

[Donna 16,458]

Song released Oct 6th. 1982. A low budget video directed by Ed Steinbrug for  $1500.00 at Paradise Garage was made available for promotion.  Madonna's friend Debi Mazar did the make-up.  Back backup dancers,  Erika Belle and Bags Rilez joined Madonna onstage. Mazar brought a few of her friends to act as a disco crowd in the video.
 

[Donna 16,458]

 

Burning Up was released March 9th, 1983.  The B-side included a song called 'Physical Attraction' which in many regions considered a "double a-sided" album.  The music video for "Burning Up" was directed by Steve Barron, who had previously worked on Toto's "Africa" (1982), Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean", and Eddy Grant's "Electric Avenue" (1983). The director was on vacation when he got a call from Sire Records producer Simon Fields, asking him to direct the video. Barron initially refused, as the song "didn't have the atmosphere" he was looking for. However, Madonna, who was "really keen on the 'Billie Jean' video", insisted until Barron begrudgingly agreed. He went to meet the singer and was impressed with her confidence.

 

 

 

[Donna 16,458]

No official video was released for Madonna's Holiday single in Septembr 1983, but a few live performances of the song have served as the video.  The song went on to become a buge U.S. hit for Madonna.  It became popular for school cheer-leading teams. It was hr first top 20 single and over time became a staple Madonna anthem.  It's the one song most people associate with Madonna.

She went on American Bandstand in January 1984, to perform Holiday, only to say her most famous quote, "To rule the world".  And has she, indeed!!

 

 

In 1991 for the promotion of Truth or Dare, she released a live performance of the song coming from the Blond Ambition Tour:

 

[Chris 1,023]

my 23rd bday is July 26th

[Donna 16,458]

In 1984, Borderline became her first single which became her first top ten song.  The video directed by Mary Lambert who went on to direct other videos by Madonna such as "Like A Virgin", "Material Girl", "La Isla Bonita" and "Like A Prayer". 

 

[Donna 16,458]

Lucky Star became the final single in most regions for Madonna. In the U.S. it reached #4 on the Hot 100 and top 10 in various other countries.  The song was originally scheduled to be released before Holiday became popular.  Eventiually "Lucky Star" was released as the final song from the debut album, shortly before she was to take the world with LIKE A VIRGIN.  The video includes her brother Christopher Cicoone (as a dancer) who went on to work with her for years, including with directing and designing thecstage set for Girlie Show.    

 

[Donna 16,458]

In 2001, the album was remastered and included remixes of Lucky Star and Burning Up,  Digital and streaming platforms replaced songs like Holiday and Everybody with varied versions of the song.  Come listen to the latest version of her debut album at Spotify: 

 

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The first time Madonna performed Everybody on tour in 1985 on the Virgin tour:

 

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After many years not performing the song, Madonna performs "Lucky Star" on the Confessions tour which is infused with her hit song "Hung Up":

 

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"Everybody" became the final song on the setlist for the Girlie Show.  The song includes a "Everybody is a Star" by Sly and the Family Stone.  She previously sampled them for the song "Keep it Together" on the Like A Prayer album and Blond Ambtition Tour.

 

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Wake up... Madonna's first live recorded performance of "Everybody" at Danceteria. Now "get up and do your thing":

 

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Early performance of Holiday when promoting the Madonna album in 1983:

 

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We're just heating things up in this thread.  Burning Up performance from REBEL HEART tour:

 

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Early performance of "Borderline" on THE DANCE SHOW:

 

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On her first WORLD TOUR in 1987, she performed "Lucky Star":

 

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Just as Madonna was getting her start as a muscian, she audition for the TV show Fame.  As she mentions in this video; Everybody has been released. 

 

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An early report of Madonna who appeared at Sam's Club in the early 80's before she became hugely famous.

 

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Performing Holiday on Solid Gold in 1984.   Obviously we can see the the resemblece of her style and look for the film Vision Quest when performing Gambler and Crazy For You.

 

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She's Burning up for your love on the Re-invention Tour:

 

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Interestingly enough, while not released until after her Like A Virgin album, "Ain't No Big Deal" was among the few demos shopped around before she got a record deal.  Seymour Stein initially suggested Ain’t No Big Deal as lead single to her debut, but eventually "Everybody" ended up winning out.  AIn't No Big Deal first made its appearance on the REVENGE OF THE KILLER B's compilation in 1985.  It appeared on the B-side of various single formats starting in 1986, including Papa Don't Preach and True Blue.  

 

[Donna 16,458]

In the early days, Madonna had various songs she was shopping around, and one of those songs was Everybody.  Here is an early version of that song that was released by Stephen Bray on his 1997 PRE-Madonna album:

 

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Performing a sweet live version of Borderline on the Tonight show with Jimmy Fallon.  She wanted to appear on this episode to meet President Obama who appeared the same evening as she did:

 

[Donna 16,458]

Here is an early demo version of "Burning Up" in 1980 when she was among her band Emmy: