Customer Reviews

Madonna (Bonus Tracks)

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2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Madonna debuted with this record in late 1983, initiating the most successful female pop career in history. At the time, disco was dead and dance music was verboten on pop radio. Along with Shannon, Madonna helped bring dance music back into the mainstream. Thus, although "Madonna" sounds like safe pop music now, it was actually pretty cutting edge at the time. "Everybody" was her first single; it became a solid dance hit but didn't cross over to pop radio or the Hot 100. With its unusual shuffling beat, it should have been a hit and still sounds great today.

"Madonna" eventually yielded three pop hits, each one charting higher then the previous - Holiday (#16), Borderline (#10), and Lucky Star (#4). "Borderline" was her first ballad, although relatively up-tempo. Her voice is thinner here than it would be on later ballads, but she still sounds lovely. The video was also a huge hit and introduced people to Madonna's breakthrough style. I became aware of Madonna for the first time through that video and have been a fan ever since. "Lucky Star" sounds a bit dated with too many synthesizers, although it's still a great pop song. Although "Holiday" was the smallest hit, it's perhaps the most enduring of the three: a real party anthem.

Along with these hits, the non-singles are also uniformly solid. "Burning Up" is the closest thing to a rock song that Madonna made during her early years, although the guitars are paired with a terrific dance beat. "Physical Attraction" is another highlight - a dance song that really shows off Madonna's sex appeal and slither. "Think of Me" and "I Know It" are the two least memorable songs on this CD - straight ahead dance tunes without much of Madonna's panache. With just 8 songs, "Madonna" breezes by quickly and sometimes seems a bit insubstantial. However, the CD is an undeniable dance classic that began the Queen of Pop's career. Most highly recommended.

In an excellent move, the folks at Warner Music have decided to re-release Madonna's self-titled debut album in conjunction with the start of her "Drowned World" tour. I had purchased the original release many years ago, but decided to purchase this edition due to the addition of two previously unreleased tracks that were only available on vinyl.

Being that "Burning Up" is one of my favorite Madonna songs of all time, I purchased this album because the 12" remix of the single was available on CD for the first time in over two decades. When I pushed the play button on my compact disc player, I was truly amazed on the quality of the sound. If I only could use to words to describe the sound quality on this album I would choose "crystal clear." Truly, this remastered edition was a great idea and I was so elated to hear all of Madonna's great early hits from "Lucky Star" to "Everybody" again.

In addition to the "Burning Up" 12" remix, this remastered album also features a remix of "Lucky Star" remixed by John "Jellybean" Benitez himself. Both remixes are amazing and the album brought back many memories growing up during the decade of decadence. If you are a true Madonna fan, you will want to add this album to your collection.

These days, many people compare Madonna's early music to Britney Spears or the Spice Girls, but there really is no comparison. Today's bubble gum pop stars have a host of producers, songwriters, and stylists to create a cookie-cutter image for them that can be marketed to the mainstream. Madonna, however, was a very different story. At the time she recorded this album, Madonna was living in the ghettos of New York City, and hanging out at clubs that were largely populated by minorites. In other words, she was NOT part of the mainstream! In addition, most of the songs on this album began life as demos that Madonna wrote and recorded HERSELF in a tiny apartment without the help of a host of producers or marketing execs. She also had developed her own unique fashion sense. Madonna didn't have to consult a crew of stylists; even when she was penniless in New York, she had her own style down pat! Unlike today's manufactured pop princesses, Madonna was a true musical and visual artist at work, long BEFORE she signed a record contract.

That said, this album invented dance-pop as we know it. Highly synthesized and highly danceable, this was the style of music that took the 1980s by storm, and still exists today in many forms (including the electronica that Madonna currently dabbles in!). The album was revolutionary, because it brought the underground worlds of urban dance music and punk into the mainstream world of pop. The punk elements are heard in the scorching single "Burning Up", which prominently features an electric guitar and a rock-like bassline, but in a clubby, danceable song. Also, Madonna's personality comes through very strong on this album, so you never feel like you are listening to an anonymous "dance diva". Even on pedestrain fare like "I Know It" and "Physical Attraction", Madonna sings with so much conviction that you KNOW she means it!

When the album was first released, people assumed Madonna was African American, and her music was played primarily on R&B stations... she was not immediately accepted by the pop world, and was truly a cutting-edge "fringe" artist who redefined pop. In addition to being a great historical document, this album is worth buying because it's so much FUN! What party is complete without classics like "Holiday", "Everybody", or "Lucky Star"? These songs have stood the test of time, because, unlike Britney and Co., Madonna is an innovator, NOT an imitator, and she has been innovative since day one, as this album proves.

Madonna's self-titled debut was released in July 1983

BEFORE:
Madonna Ciccone was a NY club sensation. Moving to NYC from Bay City MI with less than $50 to her name, Madonna slowly made her way up. Before the release of this album, she had already scored one huge dance single with Everybody, and was climbing the dance chart with Burning Up at the time of release.

AFTER:
While not an overnight success (when the album peaked, it had been out 15 months), Madonna's debut proved to be "the little album that could". Lambasted by critics at first, and at first resisted by a disco-backlashed radio environment. Madonna quietly crept into the nations conscience in 1984. Borderline, Holiday and Lucky Star have all become radio standards.

Madonna's debut is one of the greatest dance records ever. Released not too long after Flashdance began to make dance music accepted again, every single track off this album was played in clubs around the world in 83/84. There is no "substance" song on this that Madonna has added as she got older and wiser, but in the terms of this album, it was amazing. Like A Virgin was the blockbuster, but "Madonna" was a stronger album in my book, and it also lasted on the Billboard album chart for FOUR YEARS.

Every song is a classic on this. Still one of her best.

Madonna's very first album.

Well, to be exact, her very first release was a 12" single of "Everybody". Then a mini-album in the form of another 12" single which includes the songs "Burning Up" and "Physical Attraction". After that, Madonna was given the green light to record a full album. These three songs are here of course, in slightly different versions (except for Physical Attraction, which got slapped on the album unscathed). But the highlights are the hits Holiday, Borderline, and Lucky Star.

When "Madonna" came out, most critics dismissed it first hand as a batch of disco tunes. But "Madonna", unlike most albums today, took its time to grow into a hit. Every single it released became a bigger hit than the single that came before it. It spawned Madonna's first top 20 (Holiday), top 10 (Borderine) and top 5 (Lucky Star) singles. It became so unexpectedly successful that "Like A Virgin"'s release was delayed.

The album itself is testament to Madonna's ability to improve herself artistically. Just compare her voice and music in this debut to "Ray of Light". The difference here is astonishing and remarkable. The songs Holiday, Boderline and Lucky Star have aged remarkably well and still pop up on radio stations today.

Compare to her later albums, the production on "Madonna" is sparse, her vocals is tinny and high pitched, but it is still a classic, and many critics who dismissed it have, for the most part, changed their opinions.

Probably the easiest way for me to review this album would be to start with a comment on the actual songs, followed by a comment on the new "Digitally Remastered" package itself.

Madonna's first album, simply titled "Madonna" in the USA, Canada and South Africa (and "The First Album" in Europe, the UK and Australia), is a mix of electro-synth-funk-pop, reminiscent of the early 80's. Much of the material, in fact all of it, is dance oriented and smacks of earthy gusto - heavy electric guitars, melodic synth and casual, everyday pop. The album opens with "Lucky Star", an upbeat, exhilarating tune that catapulted Madonna into the upper realms of the record charts. This is followed by "Borderline" - a far more mellow piece of material yet, nevertheless, highly charged. Other hits worth mentioning on this album are "Burning Up" (a funky, playful dance tune with some serious guitars), "Holiday" (a buoyant pop track which, to this day, has been one of Madonna's steadfast signatures) and "Physical Attraction" (probably my favourite piece - heavily synthetic and onomatopoeic, with image-filled lyrics like "...it's just making me want you more and more..."). The album closes with Madonna's very first single release, "Everybody", a playful banter of the early 80's New Wave Invasion - fresh, catchy ("Everybody, come on, dance and sing") and irresistibly jiggy.

The remodelled version of this 1983 album can simply be described as "flawless". "Digitally Remastered" it is, and in more ways than one. The entire package has been enhanced, including the lyrics booklet and back cover. All three pictures in the CD booklet have been polished, and the back cover of the CD is delightful - I personally have never seen this picture of Madonna before. Serious fans will love it! The British and European fans will be delighted, as even the album cover will be new to them. The South Africans, however, may be a little disappointed at the loss of the beautiful "chain nipping" picture in the new enhanced CD booklet.

One finds it hard to believe the clarity of each song on this refreshing, digitally enhanced CD. At times, some tunes sound even more dance oriented than before - as their beats are far more distinctive and positively deafening. "Physical Attraction" and "Lucky Star" are examples. The drums are pulsating, and the synthesisers are lucid and precise. The inclusion of two bonus tracks will please many fans. "Lucky Star" (New Mix) is not characteristically different to the album version - it is merely an extended version. "Burning Up" (12" Version), however, is a surprising delight! The song sounds far more polished and funky, and doesn't appear to "drag on" like most 12" versions. The beat is improved, and the drums resonate in a "get up and dance" manner.

Surprising to me was the fact that the 12" extended version of "Everybody" was included on the new "Digitally Remastered" CD, yet was not inscribed as such. The original "Madonna" album, in actual fact, hosted the edited version. A fan of remixes, I would personally have loved to see more bonus tracks on this CD. Perhaps a 12" version of Borderline or 2001 remixes of Holiday, Lucky Star and Physical Attraction. For now, though, we won't be greedy. This digitally remastered CD is sufficiently satisfying as is. A delight for the real fan, and a surprise for the musically uninformed.

Many years back I woke up in the early hours on a Sunday morning in a park in Barcelona. I was still incredibly drunk. I had a few bucks in my pocket, my passport and a picture disc copy of Madonna's fist lp. Strangely I had no recollection of how I got the lp but it was enclosed in a record shop plastic bag, so i was sure I had not stolen the thing. The lp itself had a rather attractive topless photo of the singer looking somewhat like Marilyn Monroe.
Within my wallet was a basic map of the city and so I felt confident enough of finding my hotel......eventually. I was in no mood to move quickly or think much beyond finding an open cafe or at least walking in vaguely the right direction. During my slow meandering I noticed that the only people on the streets were me and the cops. All good folk were in bed, getting ready to go to church, on their way to church or at church. A cop with a strange metal helmet on eventually stopped me and asked for identification. When satisfied, he checked out my Madonna picture disc. As he smirked checking out the record I could not help but think he looked like a futuristic matador from the year 2050. My blood shot eyes and sex pistols t-shirt convinced me not to attempt telling "officer friendly" I was on my way to mass. He knew I was lost and so I showed him my hotel address. He invited me to follow him and I assumed we were going to my destination. We passed streets I recognized, this time without the pick pockets and prostitutes harassing passers by.
Eventually I walked into a local police station and was escorted to a recreation area towards the back of the station. Several male cops were drinking, smoking, and playing cards and generally relaxing. The Madonna record was placed on the turn table and suddenly every Spaniard knew English, belting out the lyrics. Understandably in the early 80's you couldn't walk 3 blocks without hearing a Madonna song. It certainly seemed like the Spanish cops took too her stuff like "bulls to a red rag." I had a few beers and staggered back to my hotel. I slept for many hours and on waking debated with myself about if I had dreamed about the interaction with the cops. I had these cheesy Madonna songs buzzing around my head.
Sometime later I answered a knock on the door and one of the cops down at the station shook my hand and returned my record. It had confirmed the experience had occurred.

I remember owning this on vinyl and recently purchased on cd. She really opened the door in my world in the 80's. She has done just about everything. Sings, acts, writes books, charity work. Successful.

Madonna's debut album released in 1983, produced by Reggie Lucas, features some stunning songs. It brought together some of her dance/club hits ("Everybody", "Physical Attraction", "Burning Up"), but also features the smash hit singles "Holiday", "Borderline" and "Lucky Star". The first smash out of the gate was "Everybody". It hit the Billboard's Disco Chart back in early 1982, before this album's release, and peaked at #3. The double-sided 12" "Burning Up/Physical Attraction" followed this release, and peaked at #3 also. After Madonna had bagged up 2 Top 3 hits on the Disco Chart, Madonna stormed into the Billboard Hot 100 to release "Holiday", which charted at #16, giving Madonna her first Top 40 hit. "Borderline" (#10) and "Lucky Star" (#4) followed. This album peaked at #8 on The Billboard Top 200, and spent a whopping 168 weeks on the chart. Madonna wrote 5 of the 8 tracks on this album, which has sold 5 million in the US since its release, 10 million worldwide.

1. "Lucky Star" (10/10)
2. "Borderline" (10/10)
3. "Burning Up" (10/10)
4. "I Know It" (9/10)
5. "Holiday" (10/10)
6. "Think Of Me" (10/10)
7. "Physical Attraction" (10/10)
8. "Everybody" (10/10)
9. "Burning Up" [12" Version] (10/10)
10. "Lucky Star" ['New' Mix] (10/10)

Overall, this album is really one to own if you are a Madonna fan. No Madonna fan should be without her fantastic debut! "Lucky Star" and "Borderline" are really excellent tracks. They are brilliant singles and 2 of Madonna's best! "Burning Up" and "I Know It" aren't my favourite songs from the album, but they are still solid listens. "Holiday" is definately a Madonna classic, and one of the best songs on this album. "Think Of Me" is yet another excellent song, whereas "Physical Attraction" and "Everybody" are more brilliant listens. Every Madonna fan should hear these songs!! The 2 bonus remixes that appear on this album are also great, especially the remix of "Lucky Star". I completely recommend this album to die-hard Madonna fans!

My top three "Madonna" pics:-
3) Lucky Star
2) Holiday
1) Physical Attraction

When this album hit the scene, "new wave" was getting old and there were so many gimmicks to the Top 40 groups (mostly British) that the fresh American face of Madonna with her totally unique style of clothes and good ole fashioned dance/pop tracks was just what a teenager like myself needed. It may seem mild today, especially considering Madonna's subsequent antics since then, but in the early 80's "Burning Up" was racy and ribald; just the kind of thing teenagers LOVE.
The 12'inch of "Lucky Star" was a valued posession of every teen with any coolness. All the drag queens at the bars I could almost never get in but would loiter outside of, were forever performing "Holiday", But it was when the "Borderline" video came out that the essence of Madonna's beauty, style, sex appeal and strength really shone through and made us forever hail her as the "Queen". Although some of the songs on this album are a bit simple and cutesy, it's a must have for all Madonna fans. This is where it all started!