BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1990
Celebrating 30 years of “Justify My Love”
“Justify My Love” is a song by American singer Madonna from her first greatest hits compilation album The Immaculate Collection (1990). It was released on November 6, 1990, by Sire Records as the lead single from The Immaculate Collection. The song was written by Lenny Kravitz and Ingrid Chavez, with additional lyrics by Madonna. Chavez was not credited on the song, which led to a lawsuit against Kravitz. Chavez settled out-of-court, the terms of which included a songwriting credit. Madonna’s vocals are primarily spoken and whispered, but almost never sung, a style that she later employed on her following studio album Erotica (1992).
Musically, “Justify My Love” is a trip-hop song, with mid-tempo settings and instrumentation. The lyrics of the song are primarily about sex and romance. “Justify My Love” received mixed reviews from older critics, but was critically appreciated by many contemporary critics, noting it as one of Madonna’s best songs to date. The song became Madonna’s ninth number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number two in the United Kingdom, while reaching the Top 10 in several countries including Australia, Canada, Finland, New Zealand, Italy, and Switzerland.
The accompanying music video portrayed Madonna as a woman walking in a hotel hallway, looking distressed and tired from work, until being seduced into having sex with a mysterious man and woman. It caused controversy worldwide, due to its explicit sexual images, and was subsequently banned from MTV and other TV networks. The video, which contained imagery of sadomasochism, voyeurism, and bisexuality, made its US television debut December 3, 1990, on ABC during its late-night news program Nightline. The song was part of the setlist of three of her concert tours, the most recent being The MDNA Tour in 2012. In 2003, Q Magazine ranked “Justify My Love” at number 842 in their list of the “1001 Best Songs Ever”.
SIDE A:
Justify My Love (William Orbit Remix) 7:15
Remix, Producer [Additional Production] – William Orbit
SIDE B:
Justify My Love 4:58
Mixed By – Goh Hotoda, Shep Pettibone
Express Yourself (Shep’s ‘Spressin’ Himself Re-Remix) 4:02
Mixed By – Goh Hotoda
Producer [Additional Production], Mixed By – Shep Pettibone
Producer, Written-By – Madonna, Stephen Bray
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Justify My Love | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #1 |
| 1990 | Justify My Love | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | #1 |
| 1990 | Justify My Love | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | #1 |
| 1990 | Justify My Love | U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles | #42 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Sire – W9000T, Sire – W 9000 (T), Warner Bros. Records – 7599 21825-0
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 26 Nov 1990
Genre: Electronic
Style: House, Trip Hop
CREDITS:
Design – Jeri Heiden
Lacquer Cut By – Miles*
Lyrics By [Additional] – Madonna (tracks: A, B1)
Photography By – Patrick Demarchelier
Producer [Associate] – André Betts*
Producer, Written-By – Lenny Kravitz (tracks: A, B1)
NOTES:
Made in UK.
Original version available on the album “Immaculate Collection”
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
DAC/Phono Pre-amp: Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
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/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
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)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
Username: btg
Password: burningtheground
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i have this on both 12 inch and CD featuring a Q-Sound mix. I assume it meant quadraphonic surround sound. It also had the full 9 minute mix of Express. Funny as it sounds it’s my introduction to Hip Hop. I also dug the 8 bar drum loop forming the basis of that and the Beast mix. I liked that too as it had all those eastern percussion sounds. But I thought it was strange, even by Madonna, to recite Revelation in a remix that was really a self cover version or dub. It must have been talored to suit… Read more »
I’m getting a virus detected too and is preventing me from downloading. Just as a thought since you have the original files Paul, is it possible to repackage this and upload it again? Rar’ing these up will take a few seconds and the upload a minute if that. I feel a “repackage” that can be done in less than 5 minutes might save you endless “I have a virus” comments for days and weeks on end.
Hi, Shan I just repackaged the 16 bit flac version and overwrote the existing file. Please clear your cache and try downloading again. Please let me know what happens. Thanks
Wow, let it never be said that Paul doesn’t offer a speedy service! Thanks for getting back to me Paul and thank you for repackaging the 16 bit FLAC download so quickly. I can confirm that the download no longer gets flagged by Windows Defender, so yay! I’m running Windows 10 (64 bit) with Windows Defender and I just could not get the 1st version. There must have been something that triggered Defender even if it was a false flag. This repackage however is fine and there are no issues with it. It downloaded and once complete, didn’t trigger Defender.… Read more »
Thank you, that is great news 🙂
Thank you Paul! This is such an amazing single. Loves these remixes, even the ones on the standard maxi were stellar too! But William Orbit did such a fantastic job remixing this one. Reminds me a lot of many of his mixes from the early 90’s, including his work on Seal’s Killer, which is just AMAZING!
Ingrid Chavez recently gave an interview about her time with Prince, in that she describes the events and circumstances surrounding how her song ended up on a Madonna album. It’s worth a search on YouTube as it sort of reveals what in MY view are disappointing actions by those involved aside from Ingrid herself. I’m trying to put it as lightly and as PC as possible so as not to offend!
The same for me Paul. Virus detection. Doesn’t let me download it…
Thanks for this, DJPaul!
amazing! Thank you!
30 years…how is that possible? I still think of this as one of her “newer” songs! Ha ha ha…
Love this track Paul, fantastic James Brown style drums and those gorgeous synth strings, great vocals from Madonna on those mesmerising lyrics.
I also loved the Wayne’s World Madonna Fantasy on Saturday Night Live with Justify My Love.
A virus has been detected ?!
I have scanned the files several times with ESET NOD32 and NO virus has been detected.
It is Microsoft Defender, which gives the alert, by the way.
I get the same virus alert on the 16 bit FLAC version as Dejan does.
Scanned with Kaspersky : No Virus detected. Btw: Thx Paul for the upload.
I have no reason to make up stories. I can’t download because it cannot be downloaded because of a virus being found. I just write what I have experienced.
Windows Defender finds a virus. And that is something I do not want to deal with. If it is possible to be a threat of some kind. Maybe the archive is a bit faulty and it reacts on that. Just stating what I get when I try to download this. Never ever happened before. This is the first time ever. Cheers.
I have Windows Defender also and it has not given me any alerts I also scanned it a couple more times with ESET NOD32 AnitiVirus and it found nothing. Not sure what is going on.
I am totally baffled over the reaction from Windows Defender. I dunno,it maybe doesn’t like the mix 😉
This is trippin’ me out Paul. Going through old video tapes, I found my VHS single of this song, and here you go, posting the song. Very, very cool. Although not my favorite Madonna record, it still has its moments, especially since William Orbit did the remix. Like Fred, Mr. Orbit is one of my favorite remixers. He did some legendary stuff of which I try to collect if I can find it. Love the remix he did for Kraftwerk’s “Radioactivity” plus the work he did for his bands Torch Song and Bass-o-matic. You really bring on the memories Paul!!!… Read more »
This was the only remix of the song I liked. I hated the “Beast Within Mix” and the “Hip Hop Mix” which were included on the US 12″ which I also have.
Hi Paul. I was about to write could you possibly post that US 12″? I can’t remember all the versions now over the time that has elapsed. Importantly though, the US copy has the longer ‘Express yourself’ 1990. I’m in the middle of a Madonna complete A-Z songs list including durations using Discogs and Wiki including all mixes prioritising the UK but including overseas where important mixes can be found including promo stuff. I say in the middle, after about 35 hours i’m only up to ‘Justify my love’… and that’s only singles. Haven’t even started on albums. Wish me… Read more »
Thanks, Paul! I have the cd single and if I am correct, this 12″ is one of a few places the Express Yourself (Shep’s ‘Spressin’ Himself Re-Remix) appears as an edit clocking at 4:02. My mix on the cd is 9:33. Yet the mix names are identical (it really should say “edit”).
William Orbit can do no wrong in my book! 🙂 So many talented remixes he has created for a very long time. I think my favorite remix by him was Seal’s Crazy.
Have a fantastic weekend!
Yes, I noticed that, too. On Discogs this version is called Shep’s ‘Spressin’ Himself Re-Mix and clocks at 4:02. Nice edit, BTW.
Hey Fred, the Express Yourself 4:02 version can be found on the Immaculate Collection album. It is not an edit of the 9:33 remix, although both versions share the same name.
You beat me, uitton…I was just going to say it is on the Immaculate Collection.
But the LP is in “Q Sound” isn’t it?
yes! my copy of this has a pop in it, so thank you thank you thank you for this one, Paul.
You’re welcome 🙂
gracias salud amigo
De Nada 🙂