"Madonna" by MADONNA - July 1983 US and UK Debut Album on Sire Records featuring Paul Pesco of The System, Curtis Hudson and Lisa Stevens of Hot Streak and Pure Energy, Reggie Lucas of MFSB and Mtume, Anthony Jackson of MFSB, Gwen Guthrie, John "Jellybean" Benitez (May 2001 UK 'Warner Remasters Series' CD Reissue with Two Bonus Tracks with Ted Jensen Remasters - Reissued 2020) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

 

 

 

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This Review And Many More Like It 

Available In my Kindle e-Book (June 2022 Version)

 

LOOKING AFTER NO. 1 

Volume 2 of 2 - M to Z...

 

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"...Burning Up For Your Love..." 

I must be getting old. There was a time, when as a hip and happening young buck who liked all-sorts of uppity singers and dance-dodgy genres of music (including Synth Pop and Disco), that I quite dug the 24-year old Mad Maddie and her lippy sexpot midriffs. 

 

But God this 1983 Dancing-Baby Debut Album is showing its surgical cracks in 2022. Let's get to the Borderlines before I'm hunted down like a dog that's gonna need an eye-patch...

 

UK released 22 May 2001 (re-issued 2020) - "Madonna" by MADONNA on Warner Brothers 9362-47903-2 (Barcode 093624790327) is part of the Warner Remasters Series - an Extended Edition CD Reissue with Two Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows (55:35 minutes):

 

1. Lucky Star [Side 1]

2. Borderline 

3. Burning Up 

4. I Know It 

5. Holiday [Side 2]

6. Think Of Me 

7. Physical Attraction 

8. Everybody 

Tracks 1 to 8 are her debut album "Madonna" - released July 1983 in the USA on Sire Records 9 -23867-1. Produced by REGGIE LUCAS and JOHN "Jellybean" BENITEZ - it peaked at No. 8 in the USA and No. 6 in the UK. 

 

BONUS TRACKS: 

9. Burning Up (12" Version) - 5:56 minutes

10. Lucky Star ("New" Mix) - 7:15 minutes 

 

The spine-visible Digitally Remastered wording on the rear inlay for these Warner Remasters CD reissues all look the same - in this case given a 12-page booklet that reproduces the LPs few photos of a very young and bright Madonna Louise Ciccone. It also throws in the lyrics, album credits and not much more unfortunately. The two Remixes as Bonuses are a nice touch, but 'released in 1983' is hardly the examination of her musical legacy and her debut's impact that fans deserve. Still, the TED JENSEN Remaster from first generation tapes is suitably muscular when the Linn and Oberheim Synth Pop and Disco Beats need it - which is a lot. 

 

Despite only sporting eight tracks, her self-titled debut album "Madonna" was a commercial goldmine and eventually got milked for five American singles across almost two years - "Everybody" (October 1982), "Burning Up" (March 1983), "Holiday" (September 1983), "Borderline" (February 1984 USA) and finally "Lucky Star" (August 1984 USA). "Lucky Star" had been issued in Blighty first in September 1983 – speaking of which - it doesn't take a genius to notice that huge numbers of mixes and remixes are missing from the bonuses - but at least there are Extras worth having. To the music...

 

I had forgotten "Burning Up" – a very on fire for your torso bopper with Drum Machines aplenty and the pinging guitar of Paul Pesco (of The System). "I Know It" is so Disco it hurts and not really her greatest moment. Even if it feels a tad weedy at the outset, the Remaster soon sorts out the monster "Holiday" – a total Eighties winner penned by Curtis Hudson and Lisa Stevens of Pure Energy and later Hot Streak. You can just imagine so many dancefloors filling up to this irresistible beat in that summer of 1983. But the one I like is the very Hall & Oates shake-your-hair vibe to "Think Of Me" – a genuine forgotten album gem.

 

The "Burning Up" twelve-inch version is more attacking than the album cut – and mixed louder – which feels like a good idea (the Remaster really kicks). Keeping that signature synth lead-in, "Lucky Star" is again transformed by a remix – this time by the Producer she had a falling out with – Reggie Lucas of MFSB and Mtume fame. Punctured by flicking Chic-type guitar licks, Synth jabs and smooth backing vocals, it may be extended, but "Lucky Star" feels more interesting that the shorter LP cut.

 

What was so exciting back in the day is beginning to sound like it's had its day to me, but fans will love "Madonna" and need it like a crucifix earring. To them, their lady of dance can do no wrong...and after 300 million album sales...even I can forgive Shanghai Surprise...