Category: Madonna

April 23, 2019

Madonna – Like A Virgin (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1984

Originally posted October 27, 2011

“Like a Virgin” is a song recorded by American singer Madonna for her second studio album Like a Virgin (1984). It was released on October 31, 1984, by Sire Records as the album’s lead single. The song was written by Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg, and produced by Nile Rodgers; Steinberg said that the song was inspired by his personal experiences of romance. “Like a Virgin” was chosen for Madonna by Michael Ostin of Warner Bros. Records after listening to a demo sung by Kelly. Rodgers initially felt that the song did not have a sufficient hook, but subsequently changed his opinion after the song was stuck in his head.

Musically, “Like a Virgin” is a dance-oriented song, composed of two hooks. Madonna’s voice is heard in a high register while a continuous arrangement of synths is heard along with the bassline. The lyrics of the song are ambiguous and consist of hidden innuendo, interpreted in different ways. “Like a Virgin” received positive reviews from music critics, who frequently called it as one of the defining songs for Madonna. It became her first number-one single on the record charts in Australia, Canada, Japan, and the United States, while reaching the top ten elsewhere.

The song’s music video portrayed Madonna sailing down the canals of Venice in a gondola, as well as roaming around a palace wearing a white wedding dress. With the video, scholars noted Madonna’s portrayal of a sexually independent woman, the similarity of a man wearing lion’s mask to that of Saint Mark, and the link between the eroticism in the video and the vitality of Venice. Madonna has performed the song in seven of her concert tours. Most of the time, her performances of “Like a Virgin” were associated with strong reaction and uproar from the media.

“Like a Virgin” has been covered by a number of artists and has appeared in or been referenced in feature films such as Reservoir Dogs, Moulin Rouge! and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason. Family groups sought to ban it as they believed the song promoted sex without marriage. On the other hand, Madonna’s public persona of an indomitable, sexually unashamed, supremely confident woman was widely accepted by the younger generation who emulated her style and fashion. Scholars have credited “Like a Virgin” as the song which cemented her position as a pop culture icon.

SIDE A:
Like A Virgin (Extended Dance Remix) 6:07
Engineer [Additional] – Melanie West
Remix – John “Jellybean” Benitez
Engineer [Remix] – Michael Hutchinson
Written-By – Billy Steinberg/Tom Kelly*

SIDE B:
Stay 4:04
Written-By – Madonna, Steve Bray*

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1985	Like A Virgin	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#1
1985	Like A Virgin	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#1
1985	Like A Virgin	U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles	#9

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Sire ‎– 0-20239, Sire ‎– 9 20239-0 A
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: US
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Photography By – Larry Williams (9)
Producer – Nile Rodgers

NOTES:
Original version of “Like A Virgin” and “Stay” from the Sire album “Like A Virgin”

Made in U.S.A.

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Isolation: Auralex Acoustics ISO-Tone Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Schiit Mani
Soundcard: ESI Juli@ XTe Audio Interface
Monitiring: Novation Audiohub 2×4 Audio Interface
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2, ocenaudio
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

January 23, 2019

Madonna – Vogue (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1990

“Vogue” is a song by American singer Madonna from her second soundtrack album I’m Breathless (1990). It was released as the first single from the album on March 27, 1990, by Sire Records. Madonna was inspired by vogue dancers and choreographers Jose Gutierez Xtravaganza and Luis Xtravaganza from the Harlem “House Ball” community, the origin of the dance form, and they introduced “Vogueing” to her at the Sound Factory club in New York City. “Vogue” is an upbeat house song which set trends in dance music in the 1990s. However, it also has strong influences of 1970s disco within its composition. “Vogue” also contains a spoken section, in which the singer name-checks various golden-era Hollywood celebrities. Lyrically, the song is about enjoying oneself on the dance floor no matter who one is, and it contains a theme of escapism.

Critically, “Vogue” has been met with appreciation ever since its release; reviewers have praised its anthemic nature and listed it as one of the singer’s career highlights. Commercially, the song remains one of Madonna’s biggest international hits, topping the charts in over 30 countries, including Australia, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It became the world’s best-selling single of 1990, selling over six million copies.

The music video for “Vogue”, directed by David Fincher, was shot in black-and-white and takes stylistic inspiration from the 1920s and 1930s. Madonna and her dancers can be seen voguing to different choreographed moves. The video has been ranked as one of the greatest of all time in different critic lists and polls and won three awards at the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards out of a total of nine nominations.

Madonna has performed the song on six of her tours, at the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards, and at her performance during the halftime show of Super Bowl XLVI. The song has also been featured on the soundtrack of The Devil Wears Prada, as well as in “The Power of Madonna” episode of the Fox show Glee. Writers and critics have noted the video and the song’s influence in bringing an underground subculture into mainstream popular culture through the postmodern nature of her power and influence, as well as the way in which it followed a new trend in which dance music enjoyed widespread popularity.

SIDE A:
Vogue (12″ Version) 8:21

SIDE B:
Vogue (Bette Davis Dub) 7:24
Vogue (Strike-A-Pose Dub) 7:34

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1990	Vogue	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#1
1990	Vogue	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#1
1990	Vogue	U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs	#16
1990	Vogue	U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary	#23

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Sire ‎– 0-21513, Sire ‎– 9 21513-0
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: US
Released: 05 Apr 1990
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: House

CREDITS:
Design – Jeri Heiden
Edited By – Tony Shimkin
Engineer [Assistant] – Curt Frasca
Engineer [Mix] – Goh Hotoda
Mixed By – Shep Pettibone
Photography By – Alberto Tolot
Producer, Written-By – Madonna, Shep Pettibone
Programmed By – Alan Friedman

NOTES:
Original versions available on the Sire/Warner Bros. album I’M BREATHLESS.

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Isolation: Auralex Acoustics ISO-Tone Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Schiit Mani
Soundcard: Novation Audiohub 2×4 Audio Interface
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

Username: btg
Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.

December 7, 2018

Madonna – Live To Tell (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986

“Live to Tell” is the lead single from American singer Madonna’s third studio album True Blue (1986). Originally composed by Patrick Leonard for the score of the film Fire with Fire, the instrumental was shown to Madonna, who decided to use it for then-husband Sean Penn’s film At Close Range. Madonna wrote all the lyrics, co-composed the melodies, and co-produced it with Leonard. The song was released as the lead single from True Blue on March 26, 1986 by Sire Records.

A pop ballad, the song includes instrumentation from guitars, keyboards, drums and a synthesizer, and its lyrics deal with deceit, mistrust and childhood scars. It is also about being strong, which Madonna recalled in an interview that she thought about her relationship with her parents, while writing the lyrics. The music video, directed by James Foley, shows Madonna’s first image makeover, featuring her with a cleaner look, shoulder-length wavy golden blond hair, conservative wardrobe and subtle make-up. This toned down blond appearance was inspired by Marilyn Monroe, a performer Madonna had previously been influenced by.

“Live to Tell” was generally well received by music critics, who frequently referred to it as the best ballad of her career. It was also a commercial success, becoming Madonna’s third number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 and her first number-one on the Adult Contemporary chart.

“Live to Tell” was released in the United States in March 1986. It debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 49, reaching the top position eight weeks later, where it remained for one week. It became Madonna’s third number-one single in the US, and her second number-one that is featured in a film after “Crazy for You”. The song was a crossover success, topping the Adult Contemporary chart for three weeks, and peaking at number three on the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart. In Canada the song debuted at number 79 of the RPM singles chart in April 1986, and reached the top of the chart for two weeks in May 1986, staying on the chart for a total of 23 weeks, It was ranked at the second position of the 1986 RPM Singles year-end chart.

In the United Kingdom, “Live to Tell” was released on April 21, 1986. The next week, the song debuted at number ten on the UK Singles Chart, peaked at number two, and stayed 13 weeks on the chart. It was held from the top spot by Falco’s “Rock Me Amadeus”. “Live to Tell” was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in May 1986, for shipment of 250,000 copies of the single across the United Kingdom. According to the Official Charts Company, the song has sold 280,000 copies in the UK.

Across Europe, “Live to Tell” topped the Eurochart Hot 100 for two weeks, and the singles chart in Italy,[35] as well as peaking inside the top ten in Belgium, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, and Switzerland.[36][37][38][39] It was also certified silver by the Syndicat National de l’Édition Phonographique (SNEP) for shipment of 250,000 copies in France.

SIDE A:
Live To Tell (LP Version) 5:50

SIDE B:
Live To Tell (Edit) 4:37
Live To Tell (Instrumental) 5:49

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1986	Live To Tell	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#1
1986	Live To Tell	U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks	#1
1986	Live To Tell	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play/Maxi-Singles Sales	#3

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Sire ‎– 0-20461, Sire ‎– 9 20461-0 A
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, SRC pressing
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Downtempo, Synth-pop, Ballad

CREDITS:
Design – Jeri McManus
Engineer, Mixed By – Michael Verdick
Photography By – Herb Ritts
Producer, Written-By – Madonna, Pat Leonard*

NOTES:
From the forthcoming Madonna album on Sire Records and from the Orion Motion Picture “At Close Range”

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Isolation: Auralex Acoustics ISO-Tone Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube: Mullard 12AX7 Preamp Vacuum Tube Pins
Soundcard: Novation Audiohub 2×4 Audio Interface
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

Username: btg
Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.

November 2, 2018

Madonna – True Blue (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986

“True Blue” is a song by American singer Madonna. It is the title track from her third studio album True Blue (1986) and was released as the album’s third single on September 17, 1986, by Sire Records. Written and produced by Madonna and Steve Bray, the song deals with Madonna’s feelings for her then-husband Sean Penn. A dance-pop song, it features instrumentation from a rhythm guitar, a synthesizer, keyboards, and drums. The main chorus is backed by an alternate one, incorporating a chord progression generally found in doo-wop music.

Received by the critics as a light-hearted and cute retro song, “True Blue” topped the charts in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Canada and became another consecutive top-ten song in the United States for Madonna, by reaching number three on the Billboard Hot 100. The original music video portrayed her again with a new look, leaner and sporting platinum blond bushy hair. An alternate video was made through the “Make My Video” contest on MTV. The final selected videos had a similar theme of a 1950s-inspired setting and the storyline following the lyrics of the song. “True Blue” has been performed on the Who’s That Girl World Tour (1987) and the Rebel Heart Tour (2015–2016).

SIDE A:
True Blue (The Color Mix) 6:37
True Blue (Instrumental) 6:52

SIDE B:
Ain’t No Big Deal 4:14
Producer – Reggie Lucas

True Blue (Remix/Edit) 4:28

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1986/87	True Blue	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#3
1986/87	True Blue	U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary	#5
1986/87	True Blue	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play	#6

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Sire ‎– 0-20533, Sire ‎– 9 20533-0 A
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Design – Jeri McManus
Edited By – Latin Rascals* (tracks: A1, A2, B2)
Engineer [Remix] – Steve Peck (tracks: A1, A2, B2)
Photography By – Herb Ritts
Producer – – Madonna (tracks: A1, A2, B2), Stephen Bray (tracks: A1, A2, B2)
Producer [Additional] – Shep Pettibone (tracks: A1, A2, B2)
Remix – Shep Pettibone (tracks: A1, A2, B2)
Written-By – Madonna (tracks: A1, A2, B2), Stephen Bray

NOTES:
B1 from “Revenge of the killer B’s, Vol. 2” on Warner Bros. Records. Produced for Kalisa Inc.

“True Blue”
WB Music Corp./Bleu Disque Music Co., Inc./Webo Girl Publishing, Inc./Black Lion Music, Inc. ASCAP
All rights on behalf of Bleu Disque and Webo Girl admin. by WB Music Corp.
℗ 1986 Sire Records Company

“Ain’t No Big Deal”
July Fourth Music/Semi Automatic Music Inc. ASCAP
℗ 1984 Sire Records Company

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Isolation: Auralex Acoustics ISO-Tone Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube: Mullard 12AX7 Preamp Vacuum Tube Pins
Soundcard: Novation Audiohub 2×4 Audio Interface
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

Username: btg
Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.