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

[Donna 16,441]

2 hours ago, Roland Barthes said:

I'm pretty sure that keyboard was on sale at an auction several years ago, it had a case with purple velvet inside, i think there used to be a pic on madonnacatalog.com

Thanks for sharing this.  I never knew this.  It's always great to come across fans such as yourself to share valued info.  Love all your pic updates as well.

[Blue Jean 15,254]

On 7/15/2023 at 10:12 AM, GregVsMatt said:

 

This is the version I had

[Honey Little 3,996]

2 hours ago, Blue Jean said:

This is the version I had

Which version of burning up is it?

[Donna 16,441]

 

[GregVsMatt 3,701]

3 hours ago, Blue Jean said:

This is the version I had

Now worth $$$

[Queen hearts 504]

 

[Blue Jean 15,254]

2 hours ago, GregVsMatt said:

Now worth $$$

Pity my mum threw out all my cassettes as they were considered useless

[scallywally 1,122]

1 hour ago, Blue Jean said:

Pity my mum threw out all my cassettes as they were considered useless

Same and I gave all my records & picture discs ect away to someone who wanted them in my will. I said 'you might as well have them now, I dont play records'  kill me now. Who knew theyd make a come back? Ah well they are in a good home. Theyll probably end up on ebay when im dead. 

[Blue Jean 15,254]

4 minutes ago, scallywally said:

Same and I gave all my records & picture discs ect away to someone who wanted them in my will. I said 'you might as well have them now, I dont play records'  kill me now. Who knew theyd make a come back? Ah well they are in a good home. Theyll probably end up on ebay when im dead. 

Ask for them back 

[Donna 16,441]

 

How Madonna Became Pop Music’s Blueprint

After a performance on American Bandstand in January 1984, television host Dick Clark asked Madonna what her dreams were. Her answer: “To rule the world.”

The singer-songwriter was there to promote her self-titled debut album, which had taken over airwaves and dance floors the summer prior. This week marks the 40th anniversary of Madonna’s release — the eight track record that introduced Madonna to the mainstream and began her journey to pop superstardom.

Before she was the Queen of Pop, Madonna was a budding creative looking for her big break. In 1978, she left the University of Michigan and moved to New York with just $35 to pursue a career as a dancer. She found work as a backup dancer, and even performed with the Alvin Ailey and Pearl Lang dance companies, before touring Europe with singer Patrick Hernandez.

When Madonna returned to New York in the summer of 1979, she joined the new wave band Breakfast Club as their drummer. By the following year, she’d left Breakfast Club to form Emmy & The Emmys with musician Stephen Bray. However, after writing and recording a demo together, Madonna decided to promote herself as a solo artist.

She regularly visited nightclubs to persuade DJs to play her solo demo tape. Her persistence paid off — Danceteria’s resident DJ Mark Kamins took a liking to Madonna’s music and arranged for her to meet Seymour Stein, the president and co-founder of Sire Records, who offered her a recording contract.

Recording for Madonna began in the summer of 1982. The singer wrote the majority of the album’s songs and chose musician Reggie Lucas to produce the project. Unfortunately, Madonna clashed with Lucas when the tracks’ final versions didn’t live up to her expectations. She called in DJ John “Jellybean” Benitez to remix the songs — he also contributed the hit “Holiday” to the tracklist — before turning the record in to the label.

Madonna was released in 1983 and straddled the line between dance and pop during the post-disco era. The use of digital instruments, like the Linn drum machine, Moog bass, and OB-X synthesizer gave the album its danceable, synth-pop sound. The polished production complemented Madonna’s bright soprano vocals as she sang tight, catchy refrains about romance, desire, power, and partying. The record peaked at No. 8 on the US Billboard 200, scoring Madonna her first top 10 album.

The album spawned five singles and three of them — “Holiday,” “Borderline,” and “Lucky Star” — charted on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at Nos. 16, 10, and 4, respectively. Their accompanying music videos, supported by the rise of MTV, introduced Madonna’s star power to homes across the country and inspired young women to adopt her style.

Madonna was a quintessentially ’80s album that pushed dance-pop to the forefront and set the standard for pop music in the decades that followed. As the world’s best-selling female recording artist and the most successful solo artist in the history of the Billboard Hot 100, her influence and impact cannot be overstated. Madonna’s subversiveness, attention to detail, willingness to break the rules, and penchant for reinventing herself turned her into a cultural icon and made her the blueprint for the modern pop star.

 

https://www.discogs.com/digs/music/madonna-40th-anniversary-debut/

[A. A. Aardvark 4,842]

On 7/26/2023 at 6:29 PM, LX54 said:

Yup, it's based on this incredible 80's gem 

 

have you seen the video of Madonna on TV from somewhere around a pool ?
 

[A. A. Aardvark 4,842]

On 7/26/2023 at 10:50 AM, Brendanlovesu1 said:

I don't think this is an original demo, it sounds fan made

THAT'S THE ONE !
Someone online has synced this to a live appearance.
and.....
blocked me when I said it was fake.
 

[Donna 16,441]

 

[Donna 16,441]

 

[LX54 1,935]

52 minutes ago, tscott said:

 

That's the exact TV perf I watched back then! Only it was n B&W coz I were too poor to have a colour TV set lol.

Good ol days!! I still have the same feelings when I watch this one!!..Always starstruck and obsessive!! lol

[Donna 16,441]

4 minutes ago, LX54 said:

That's the exact TV perf I watched back then! Only it was n B&W coz I were too poor to have a colour TV set lol.

Good ol days!! I still have the same feelings when I watch this one!!..Always starstruck and obsessive!! lol

It appears to be an edited version of this:

 

[natalis 1,243]

Did she appear on any magazine covers during the debut era?

[Nowheretohide 249]

The Holiday performance in France in better quality. Filmed at Loisirs de Cergy-Pontoise

 

[jesus 346]

 

[Donna 16,441]

14 hours ago, jesus said:

 

Jesus you are loved!  Thanks for providing these rare videos. 

[jesus 346]

Hope this one has not been uploaded already... And thanks @tscott! 

 

[Honey Little 3,996]

On 7/31/2023 at 12:08 PM, LX54 said:

That's the exact TV perf I watched back then! Only it was n B&W coz I were too poor to have a colour TV set lol.

Good ol days!! I still have the same feelings when I watch this one!!..Always starstruck and obsessive!! lol

Reminds me of the Get Together video. But this Holiday video is better in my opinion.

[Donna 16,441]

So beautiful...

[Donna 16,441]

 

[Donna 16,441]

Featuring our very own @dubtronicmixes.