Some albums are absolute juggernauts and I doubt even their creators knew it.
When sexpot Madonna burst on the scene in the early Eighties with her first two albums "Madonna" (September 1983) and "Like A Virgin" (November 1984), the hits were calculatedly aimed at the feet and her reviewer detractors could therefore scream about her girly voice, the obvious sexual ploys to garnish controversy and the general lack of what you might call substance in her songs.
All of that changed with June 1986's "True Blue" - a giant album for her that produced a record-breaking 5 No. 1 singles (in varying markets) and Box Office sales for a female artist that were unprecedented. She lowered her vocal range for several tracks, took on subjects that were racy in a socially aware way and most of all – through good songwriter collaborations with the like of Patrick Leonard and Bruce Gaitsch and Brian Elliot – she became admired and adored in the same way Prince and others were.
Madonna's "True Blue" hit the top spot in something like 40 countries around the world - a feat that few if any had ever achieved. And when you listen back to this little Remastered raver in 2023 - you can so hear why it caught the zeitgeist of a decade that was kind of in love with itself. And the album was dedicated to 'the coolest guy in the Universe' - her then husband - actor Sean Penn.
Let's get to Papa who mustn't preach and needs to reorder diapers...
UK released 22 May 2001 - "True Blue" by MADONNA on Warner Brothers 9362-47902-2 (Barcode 093624790228) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue in their 'Warner Remasters' Series. It has Two Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows (52:34 minutes):
1. Papa Don't Preach [Side 1]
2. Open Your Heart
3. White Heat
4. Live To Tell
5. Where's The Party
6. True Blue
7. La Isla Bonita
8. Jimmy Jimmy
9. Love Makes The World Go Round
Tracks 1 to 9 are her third studio album "True Blue" - released late June 1986 in the USA on Sire 9 25442-1 (LP) -4 (MC) -2 (CD) and July 1986 in the UK on Sire WX54 (925 445-1) LP. Produced by MADONNA, PATRICK LEONARD and STEPHEN BRAY - it peaked at No. 1 in both countries. Guest Musicians and Collaborators include Pat Leonard, Bruce Gaitsch, Brian Elliot, John Putnam, David Williams, Dan Huff, Fred Zarr, Richard Marx, Siedah Garrett and more.
BONUS TRACKS:
10. True Blue (The Color Mix) - Shep Pettibone Remix
11. La Isla Bonita (Extended Remix) - Chris Lord-Alge Remix
The 'Digitally Remastered' logo along the inlay spine distinguishes these 'Warner Remasters' CD reissues - the ten-leaf foldout inlay faithful to the front cover artwork and lyric inner bag of the original release. As is the same with these Remasters - you don't get any extra liner notes - period photos - memorabilia - fan stuff - just the basics with a note that GREGG GELLAR oversaw the Series and TED JENSEN did the Remaster from original tapes. And man can you hear it - everything is super clear - even the Cagney Film Clip dialogue that starts "White Heat". But it's the synths and that huge Bass that thumps. I must admit that at times the vocals seem to disappear into the background a tad too much as your ears are assaulted with pings and pongs and pumping Disco rhythms - but that opening to "Live To Tell" is now gorgeous.
