Customer Reviews

In the Beginning

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This CD is really a release of Pre-Madonna, which came out through Harmony Music in 1997. The original release had a tenth track, an edited version of "Ain't No Big Deal 97".

As far as early recording goes, this is the best, for it seems Steve Bray took the actual demos Madonna recorded and enhanced and fixed them.

Some of the songs are outstanding, especially "Stay (81)" and Don't You Know, which were combined to form the song "Stay" as it appeared on the Like A Virgin album. Both were good as they are (and better than the version appear on the album) and I wonder why Madonna didn't record them the way they were originally written.

Laugh to Keep From Crying features Madonna at her Chrissie Hynde best while Crimes of Passion shows how a lot of her songs that came later would resemble it structurally (Into the Groove, True Blue, Causing a Commotion, Can't Stop, Cherish, Express Yourself).

This is a must for die hard Madonna fans. They are NOTHING like the Otto Von Wernherrr recordings that Madonna made. Unlike In the Beginning, Otto used Madonna's backup vocals and looped them over and over and over against some really bad music. THOSE stay away from. THIS one, if you missed Pre-Madonna in 1997, here is your chance to get these early Madonna recordings.

If you think you know the early Madonna, you don't.

"In The Beginning" is a surprisingly solid collection of Madonna's early songwriting with partner Stephen Bray. Unlike the trademark "Minnie Mouse on helium" singing style of her first two albums, "In The Beginning" showcases a deep-voiced, sultry Madonna that will make you do a double-take at first listen.

Some of these songs made the cut to Madonna's first album... but in radically different forms. "Burning Up 1981" is a far cry from the familiar album and single version from 1983. Here you get a glimpse of what might have happened if Madonna had pursued a career in rock rather than dance music. "Everybody" is presented in two different versions here: the original dance version (not too much of a stretch from the familiar album version) and a 1997 reggae (yes, reggae) remix that Madonna probably would not have commissioned.

Getting back to the rock 'n' roll Madonna... "Laugh To Keep From Crying" could well be this album's standout song. Like "Burning Up 1981," "Laugh..." is guitar-driven rock. Not heavy metal by any means, but 80's girl-group rock. Somewhat like The Bangles, The Pretenders, or the Go-Gos. Lets you know that, had she wanted, Madonna could have been a rocker: she had the attitude, and the deeper voice she sings in here sounds strong, confident, and very effective.

The rest of the collection consists of additional unreleased tracks ("Crimes Of Passion," "Ain't No Big Deal" and "Don't You Know") that sound like the beginning of the 80's New York dance sound of Madonna's familiar early works. "Crimes of Passion" sounds like a preliminary version of "Into The Groove" (completely different lyrics, of course, but the musical arrangement has the same feeling as ITG).

If you're a hardcore Madonna fan, "In The Beginning" will show you an interesting dichotomy between the dancefloor diva that she became versus the rocker she easily could have been.

Madonna proves how talented she truly is long before she was recognized and adored by the world. Her rendition of The Pretenders' "Laugh to Keep from Cryin'" is a revelation. She played the guitar-harmony in this tune. Her decision to center her early career on dance music however proves she really knew what she was doing--to "conquer the world" with her artistry.

So many imitation CD's have come out with supposed Madonna vocals before her success. Actually, a lot of them are the same CD with a different cover. This CD, however, truly is Madonna's voice with the original mixes and some updates. It comprises of many of her demos that she used to get a record deal.

If you have followed her career from the get-go, you are in for a treat! You will hear the original versions of "Stay" and "Burning Up." Different arrangements, intensities, etc. And the songs aren't bad! Avoid anything by Otto Von Werner (or whatever his name is). This is the CD with the real deal.

A great album that chronicles the evolution of a superstar and media queen! A must-have for fans that will not disappoint.

I own the cd pre-madonna which was released by a company called harmony. This cd is the exact same except it doesn't have the track ain't no big deal 97 edit version. Also the songs are listed in different order than on pre-madonna. This cd is really great for madonna collectors. It's basically a blue print to her first album. A couple of the songs didn't make it to her first album but they should have. One of my favorites is crimes of passion which reminds of get into the groove. Ain't no big deal the 81 version is also awesome. Every song is great. As everyone else has been saying stay away from madonna the early years. That cd is very sorry. Someone gave me the cd & I swear it deserves to be burned. I only listened to it for 30 seconds & that was enough for me. I have had it for 3 yrs now & I haven't picked it up since.

i agree with the reviewers. a madonna fan should have this one. your collection is not complete without "in the beginning" or "pre-madonna" or "beginnings 1980-1981." actually, these are all the same album, 9 (or 10) tracks recorded before she was able to ink a deal with sire records in 1982. madonna and her friend stepehen bray recorded these demos and presented them to record producers but were turned down (and look who's laughing now!).

yes, this is the real thing - not the trashy otto von wernher (whatever) songs that could have been curious collections if otto did not dip his finger in the original versions.

in this cd, stephen tells the story of madonna in his own perspective and how they were able to collect such a body of work. not just for the curious ones, this album includes the ORIGINAL versions of everybody and burning up (her early tracks), PLUS her supposedly first single, "aint no big deal." (although i agree that the reggie lucas-produced track that came out in 1983 really sounds better).

aside from these, you hear what madonna sounded during that time, and did she sound GREAT with songs like "crimes of passion" (an early into the groove rewrite) and "laugh to keep from crying" (very original), the original version of "stay" (the re-produced track from like a virgin are actually TWO songs: "stay" and "don't you know."

while "stay" was good, i like "don't you know better." it has a groove reminiscent of that period, and yet, it can jive with the new madonna sounds (jump, hung up, music).

"pre-madonna", looking back, is actually madonna's early and original immaculate conception. it somewhat predicted what she was to become (a superstar!) by the songs she earlier recorded.

just one comment: i hope this would again be re-released with a much better album art to give justice to madonna's stature. and maybe, a more complete and longer background story. that's the stuff legends are made of. and here, we're talking about the one and only madonna.

long live the queen....

Compare to other early years reacord, just like "Shake", "Get Down", it's a excellent early years record, Stephen Bray use put a lot of afford in it. I think he don't need to re-arrange or re-mix some tracks to issue it, but he did. Just like everybody, he made two version of 97' and 81', both are good and he also try to keep the vocal track as better as maybe. That's not every bootlet copy or early year record can do. DON'T MISS THIS RECORD IF U LIKE MADONNA, it will be treasure to her Fans, it's not a record that can campare with another "early years". I'm a host under radiorepublic.com, in my Third Chapter, I boardcasting Ain't No Big Deal 81, after that, a lot of listener sent E-mail to me wonder where can I found this CD.

Ok, I don't have this album but I'm sure after I'll do I'll agree with most of you liking it. I just want to know why, if these are demos(...) of her original songs, she's not on the cover and why it's not Sire Records printing it. Does she want these records to be listened to (stupid question)? Who remixed them "'97"? I presume this is not a bootleg and demo owners are behind it, so they can do whatever they want. On the contrary to the 'In the Beginning' albums, this should contain original songs by her. About those 'Early Years/In the Beginning/Best and the Rest of/Otto von Wernherr' albums: Does anybody know what exactly they are (I have a lot of those since 1989 and like them, after listening to them a lot)? I read on the 'Ray of Light' reviews someone said she sang backup for this guy. I have never heard her say something about these or read about them officially. I mean, they are out on the market. Why not a word? Since this is few of the things I'm in the dark of about her, would someone help me?

I bought this CD when my Madonna friends told me how good it was. I trusted them that it was good, and I'm glad that I did! I LOVE IT! My favorite track is "Stay '81." This song is a classic. I even like it better than the original "Stay." Plus, the album has "Everybody '81." What else can I say? I love every track. One of the most surprising tracks is "Laugh To Keep From Crying." When I first heard this one, I didn't really think it was Madonna. This song is like a rock song...it reminds me of the Pretenders. Check this CD out!

Tha album is a must-have to see and realize the evolution of the star. There is enough talent and energy shown here to prove what will follow later. She surprisingly rocks on "Laugh To Keep From Crying", and "Aint No Big Deal" is clearly the predecessor of hits such as Into The Groove and Causing A Commotion. The "reggae" version of Everybody is even better than the album version that we know!