Madonna

Every once in a while a popstar is born and the rest as they say is history, well thats how it was before Pete Waterman and Simon Cowell came along, they dont make em like they used too!!!! Madonna is the very first album released by an artist who was to become the mother nature of everything celebrity, from magazine covers to newspapers, duvet covers to billboards Madonna inc would become an all powerful media galvonising machine that would let nothing stand in its way, an icon who would stand tall in a league that also included legends such as Elvis, The Beatles and the Stones, Madonna had arrived. However the first offering from this legendary figure would surely have seen many of todays artists to the bottom of the bargain basement but this is Madonna, not Lilly Allen, Britney Spears or indeed Kylie Minogue, Madonna a media man eating machine!!! She was clever, Madonna took disco and made it cool again, whilst Britain swamped itself in new romantisism, punk and electronica Madonna took an underground scene by storm with her happy disco chic that encouraged people to "Dance, Sing, Get Up And Do Your Thang..", light relief from a decade that started of basking in depression. Early eighties America was rife with underground dance scenes something the UK later caught on with during the acid house craze, in 1982 Madonna jumped the wagon and navigated her way around New Yorks dance clubs stopping off at hip jaunts such as Danceteria and the Breakfast club, ensuring her first single releases made healthy top 5 entries on the coverted Dance Play chart, it was official, the girl was cool!! The first single off the album Everybody is simple, eclectic, joyous and downright funky. Produced by Uber cool DJ at the time, Mark Kamins, Madonna rode bareback through a torent of twisting dance synths, it just sounded so cool, its strength was merely in its simplicity!!! To cool though, Madonnas face never made the single cover, best the clubbers thought she was a black artist, white girls didnt produce funky dance that was left to the likes of Grace Jones!! With the success of this track the people of America however became curious, Who was this new Darling of the Disco's???? Hence the second single release Burning Up and its accompanying video, it to charted in the Dance Play top 3 and at last America knew who she was. Styled by french designer Maripol, Madonna immediately forged an identity to partner her music way before, Houston, Jackson or even cyndi lauper, belly buttons, crucifixes, bangles and bleached hair would become her trade mark not to mention that mole! The joyous Holiday became the albums signature tune and her first proper commercially succesful single, odd then that a video never accompanied the song, from here Madonna would go on to become the female everybody wanted to be, even today artists such as Kylie Minogue pilfer the albums look and uber cool street sound, for this disc is one born out of credibility, cool, originality and down right determination when artists were defined by themselves. Lucky Star followed as did Borderline and the rest as they say is history. Madonna the album has gone on to become one of the artists biggest selling to date, 19 million in sales since its release in 1983, more important however is that this is the perfect snapshot of an artist who even at the start of her career inspired and defined a generation and many to come. A bubble gum pop album so perfect in every sense of the word and a firm favorite among many of her fans even celebrities such as the Pet Shop boys cite this as the defining dance album of the 80's, you cant say fairer than that, simple effective and fun.

Now, alot of people think this is Madonna at the beginning, but she did do some earlier stuff round about 1977 or 79. This included such as 'Give It To Me.' That was at it's best, plain rubbish and absolutely vile but this was excellent. It had alot of success on both the UK and US charts, the UK where it debuted at #6 (Just missed the top 5!) and the US where it shot into the billboard 100 at #8. Despite a little dissapointing chart positions, because all of her other albums seem to go a lot higher into the charts (but this was her debut), on the US charts it spanned an amazing 168 weeks on the chart! This is her most amount of weeks spent on the US charts with her albums, plus compilations. (The Immaculate collection spent 141 weeks, which was the next highest).

Despite lower chart positions, don't think this is duller than her later efforts, because dear me, it's not. It's much better than the last two albums she released which were 'American Life' and 'Remixed And Revisited', which was the rock-remixed EP. These were good, but not as good as other albums like this one - Madonna has changed so much! And in nearly 22 years time (God!) she still remains a genius!

Being the Madonna fan that I am, I had to have all of her main 9 albums, I had 8 before christmas, which was all except from this one. I had most of her remix albums, compilations, plus 12" / Maxi singles too. But I new sooner or later if I didn't get it I never would, because it may well be deleted soon, you never know! So I got it on christmas. These following songs are the tracks. (Re-mastered version): 1. Lucky Star 2. Borderline 3. Burning Up 4. I Know It Inever expected this type of thing from Madonna's early days!) 5. Holiday 6. Think Of Me 7. Physical Attraction (My personal fave!) 8. Everybody (Bonus Tracks): 9. Burning Up (12" Version) 10. Lucky Star ('New' Mix) (Excellent re-make of the song!)

Great album.

First off i must make the point that im no Madonna 'completist'. I must admit however that i am a sucker for a cool album cover, & this vintage '83' delight caught my attention & prompted me to check out the tunes, (songs i remember from my early teens)...

Now, these tracks are sooo different to the mainstream pop radio friendly songs youve been used to hearing from Madonna over the last,.. well..., nearly 20 years folks!! Blimey, 20yrs! These dont try to be anything more than disco funk dancefloor burners, with some pop thrown in for good measure..not as much though as in LAVirgin & Mgirl. Theres none of the Vogue (house music goes overground), & none of the revelations of inner enlightenment of late, & thats what makes this a perfect piece of landmark dance /pop. Its so totally infectious, & although you can tell its not from 'now' - it still sounds totally fresh & infact.. edgy.. YES EDGY! Put this down to the John 'Jellybean' Benitez' production- synthisizers, electric piano, drum machine programming etc.

Its sexually charged with lots of youthfull cheeky attitude. Maybe some of you remember TOTP back then, Madonna in flat black pixie boots, black skirt over leggings, black cropped top, loads an loads of black rubber bangles, & last but not least the silvery 'disco' wig! Strutting around like a half street urchin, half wanna be sex kitten with only one thing on her mind.... FUN.

I dont own any other M albums & if you had told me a couple of years ago id be here 'bigging it up' id have ignored you. Its a brilliant piece of pop culture - trashy but charming in a good way, before it took itself too seriously. Tracks like Lucky Star, Burning Up , Everybody & Holiday are all 5 star efforts- fuzzed out funk basslines & shimmering synth effects, they could sit next to some of your Earth Wind & Fire and Chic cds in terms of funkability & dancability. Everybody & B Up (remix) are the most edgy tunes- got max turntable exposure in clubs, with the class lyrics ,.. "let the music take controll.. find the groove & let yourself go.. music makes the world go round.. it can turn your troubles upside down.." as deep as it needs to go! Think of Me, Borderline & Physical Attraction are the more poppy ones. BL was the huge hit, but i think pales in comparison to the stunningly phat funky arrangement on PA., "..physical attraction.. its a chemical reaction.." self explanatory really.

All in all the weakest tracks for me are BLine & I know It, but they still dont disturb the flow of the album requiring 'skip' on the remote.
So, guaranteed to put anyone with an ounce of groove in their blood in a happy hyped up mood. Definately a pre requisite for a wickid night out on the tiles... cleaning the house.. having a shower.. doing the dishes.... etc etc. Its high energy (mostly), sexually charged & made for dancing & having a good time! Oh, & the extra remixes are both a worthwhile addition, BUp in particular is better than the original, & the overall album production is great. I was gonna give this 5 stars... its sooo close, but i guess in light of 'Borderline' & 'I Know'...... nahhhhhh........ why not, its just class & puts a spring in my step & a smile on my face..........GO ON WITH THE 5 STARS.
After this - get yourself a copy of The Very Best of Chic, Grace Jones (pull up to the bumpa), MJacksons Off The Wall (yes- really- he too was once knocking out dfloor winners).. throw in some Donna Summer (Hot Stuff/ I Feel Love), etc etc & have yourself a good old knees up!!