Like A Virgin [Original recording remastered]

As this is a remastered version of the original release of LAV, it does NOT include Into The Groove, which is a shame. However, most people who want it will have that on The Immaculate Collection.
With 4 huge hits (Material Girl, Like a Virgin, Dress You Up and Angel) some classic Madonna album cuts, Over and Over (later to be remixed on You Can Dance), Stay and a cover of the Rose Royce classic ‘Love Don’t Live Here Anymore’ (which was remixed and released as a single many years later to support the ‘Something to Remember’ ballads collection), and the truly beautiful (and still one of Madonna fans most loved ballads) Shoo-Bee-Doo.

The remixes are good, essentially extended versions (as the 80’s did best!)

A classic and historical album!

No one can deny how huge this album was. It made Madonna a superstar, and it sunk its anchors into both the album and single bestseller charts. The title track was of course a huge hit and represents to me a cultural phenomenon. Material Girl had an even larger impact, and many would argue the song basically defined the decade of the 80s; it certainly helped shape the decade. Dress You Up was just a fun song with a great beat; as things turned out, it was to a certain extent prophetic because Madonna basically did dress up great multitudes of young admirers copying the Madonna look. Angel was another big hit, largely because it was so easy to relate to. Anyone who has ever had a crush on someone knows exactly what Madonna is singing about here. Over and Over also charted, I believe; it lacks the substance of the other songs on the album, but both the words and the energizing music do encourage you to keep going in the face of setbacks. Love Don't Live Here Anymore is the true gem on here, though. I kept expecting it to be released as a single because I really believed it would be a huge hit. Some parts of the album are a little sugary, but this song proved that Madonna did have substance and a talented voice. She packed real emotion and power into her lyrics, and I have always found the song to be well nigh heartbreaking. As for the remaining songs, Shoo-Be-Doo and Pretender are somewhat formulaic and lack pizzazz, but Stay is a song I have always liked quite a bit. It has an emotional quality that I find compelling; I could do without the "scoop scoop" choruses, but overall I find it a song of significant merit.

Not everyone will associate this album with a personal paradigm shift of great personal importance (which is how I view it), but when you get down to brass tacks, the album has more than its fair share of great songs which remain fun and vibrant all these years later. These songs still energize and inspire me, and Love Don't Live Here Anymore still captivates me. For those who discovered Madonna in the 90s or more recently, these songs may sound simplistic or perhaps immature, but I believe that the eternal spirit, magic, and unparalleled success of Madonna can be traced back to its very source in Like A Virgin.

1. Material Girl (10/10) - Released in March 1985, Material Girl got to No.3 in the UK charts. The video to this is based around the classic Marilyn Manroe film from 1953, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. The scene of Madonna in the pink dress walking down a row of men is one of her most famous video scenes.

2. Angel (9/10) - This was the fifth single to be released from the Like A Virgin album in September 1985. It got to No.5 in the UK charts. The video to this is composed of clips from her earlier videos such as Lucky Star, Borderline, Like A Virgin and Material Girl. This has the same theme music to Like A Virgin...

3. Like A Virgin (10/10) - Released in November 1984, Like A Virgin charted at No.3 in the UK. This was the first single from the album. The video which features Madonna prancing around (aah...the days when Madonna was desperate for attention; "look at me!" crack me up everytime!) on a gondola in Venice, Italy is another one of her more famous videos. The one thing I don't understand about the video is when the video starts she's in Venice but the World Trade Center is in the background! I never knew it used to be in Venice!

4. Over & Over (10/10) - This is one of the album's best tracks. The chorus is a bit repetitive but it's fun!!! It has the same instruments used as in Angel.

5. Love Don't Live Here Anymore (10/10) - This was never released as a single but was included as a remix version on her ballad collection album from 1995, Something To Remember. They decided to make a video for it anyway. The video has just one shot of Madonna that zooms in slowly and comes right up to her face then goes back slowly - all this takes about five minutes. Shooting the video can't have taken long! This, along with Bad Girl, Rain and Take A Bow, is one of Madonna's finest ballads of her carrer to date.

6. Into The Groove (10/10) - This became Madonna's first ever UK No.1 upon its July 1985 release. It was the fourth single from the Like A Virgin album and the soundtrack to her debut film, Desperatley Seeking Susan. The film was a flop while the song was a hit. The video shows clips from the film while Madonna dances around in a club with a 'special guy'.

7. Dress You Up (10/10) - After Into The Groove, came a re-issued version of her debut hit, Holiday. It charted at No.2 in August 1985. After this was Angel which was followed by Gambler which got to No.4 in the UK in October 1985. Following this was the sixth and final single to be released from the Like A Virgin album. Dress You Up was released in December 1985 and got to No.5 in the UK. The video is just her performance from the 1984 Virgin Tour of America. The solo guitar piece towards the end is particulary enjoyable.

8. Shoo-Be-Doo (10/10) - This is the second of two ballads on the Like A Virgin album (the other being Love Don't Live Here Anymore). This is quite a long song. It takes a minute or so to get going, but once it does it's very addictive and you'll find yourself singing away to your hearts' content! The saxaphone solo at 3:11 is the best bit.

9. Pretender (9/10) - This is another fast-paced pop/dance anthem from Madonna. The lyrics are not exactly the best in the world, but the infectious beat more than makes up for that. The beat for this reminds of the starting of Lucky Star, her second single from her debut album, The First Album.

10. Stay (10/10) - I absolutely love this song! It reminds of being on hoilday in an exotic location. This would've been great as a single. There's something about this song that'll make you just want to get up and dance and sing to this classic Madonna pop-anthem!!!

This is one of my favourite Madonna albums - definitely Top 3. It's such a great album. This album proves that, 18 years on, Madonna still reigns as the supreme Queen of Pop!