BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1987
“La Isla Bonita” (English: The Beautiful Island) is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna. It was released as the fifth and final single from her third studio album, True Blue, on February 25, 1987, by Sire Records. The instrumental version of the song was first offered to Michael Jackson before Madonna both accepted it and wrote the lyrics and melody. “La Isla Bonita” is noted for being the first Madonna song to have a Latino influence in it, with arrangements of Cuban drums and Spanish guitar, maracas, harmonicas and a mix of synthesized and real drumming. The lyrics of the song tell about a beautiful island and was a tribute to the beauty of the Latin people according to Madonna.
Following its release, “La Isla Bonita” received positive appreciation from critics. It also achieved worldwide popularity, topping the record charts in countries such as Austria, Canada, France, Germany and Switzerland. It became Madonna’s fourth number-one single in the United Kingdom, giving her the record for most number-one singles among female artists. In the United States, it reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
SIDE A:
La Isla Bonita 3:59
SIDE B:
La Isla Bonita (Instrumental Remix Edit) 4:24
Remix – Chris Lord-Alge
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | La Isla Bonita | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #4 |
| 1987 | La Isla Bonita | U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary Tracks | #1 |
| 1987 | La Isla Bonita | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | #10 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Sire – 7-28425
Format: Vinyl, 7″, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Latin, Synth-pop
CREDITS:
Photography By – Herb Ritts
Producer – Madonna, Patrick Leonard
Written-By – Bruce Gaitsch, Madonna, Patrick Leonard
NOTES:
From the Madonna album “TRUE BLUE”
Find the 7″ On DISCOGS
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube: Tung-Sol 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner
SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: 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)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
Thanks for the alternative edits you now and then post on your blog. Very much appreciated!
First of all, a really big THANK YOU for sharing these treasures and hard to find gems. I was just amazed searching and d/l-ing them.
Thanks a lot, really.
Sincerelly,
Volt
THANK YOU! I have this single. I remember when it came out. I got all the stuff I could get, a blanket, and ran off to the shopping mall to spread the blanket on the floor in front of the music store to sell my stuff. A 7” single was 7,25 Dutch guilders. As soon as I had the amount I gathered my stuff, ran inside the store, bought it and went home. I was in awe of the cover: so fitting to the song yet totally different than the video. I remember I missed that during the 90’s: they… Read more »
Thanks for posting! It’s great to hear these unavailable-on-cd versions. I’d love to hear the remix edits of True Blue, Open Your Heart etc., if you have them.
Yes please! Thank you!
Awesome edit from an awesome album! Thank you xxx
So fitting for yesterday’s celebration and forever a personal Madonna favorite of mine. 🙂
Cool. Well that’s the version i’ve always had so i never knew different. What is this version you posted and Edit for the USA? Album version?
The remix edit was only issued in Europe on 7″ only. It did however appear on a US 7″ promo backed with the album version.
http://www.discogs.com/Madonna-La-Isla-Bonita/release/2084314
It was a mega radio hit back then, when Madonna still was a babe! While it’s Latin flavoured, to me it always sounded very melancholic and after all this years, I always feel a certain amount of nostalgie hearing it (for the 80s, of course, aren’t we all visitors here because of that?), and no, I wasn’t a especially Madonna follower. But its’ a shame that the 7″ version fades out, why didn’t they make a proper ending? And so many 80s 7″ of big hits are like that, always gives me the feeling that something is missing 🙁 I… Read more »
Thank you Davos for your opinion. There is also a 7″ remix edit that I plan to post at a later date 🙂
Out of interest what’s the 7″ remix edit? Is that the UK 7a?
Yes it appeard on the UK 7″ it’s an edit of the extended version 🙂
Guess the one you posted is this.. http://www.discogs.com/Madonna-La-Isla-Bonita/release/423624
correct my copy has the album version on the a side 🙂
Thank you, Paul! I didn’t realize the b-side featured an exclusive edit, so this is brilliant to have in such a great rip.
The b-side is not an exclusive edit, it is a fade of the full-length instrumental remix.
Ally The fade out is exclusive to 7″ only and it is an official version.
Paul, yes, I was just clarifying that this is a fade and not what most people call an edit, although it is titled that way. Thanks again.
Beautiful song and one of my favourite Madonna singles.
Thanks for posting this, Paul 🙂
You’re welcome Junior 🙂
Awesome. First post i’ve been crazy about for some time being from the UK our music tastes are bound to differ somewhat. I’ve over the moon for this rip and would welcome any more Madonna. The number one artist in the world for a discography that needs to brought into the digital age!
You’re welcome Neil. I try to post a broad spectrum of titles that way everyone can enjoy their favorite genre 🙂
Paul, I just adore vintage Madonna and your rips are oh so welcome. Someday, I do hope that she will release box sets containing all of her singles, sort of like Duran Duran did and Depeche Mode did as well. And they should have you on board for quality check! I’m sincerely serious about this Paul! You’re fantastic in every way! I hate to admit it, but I still haven’t bought her latest album, “Rebel Heart.” I just don’t know, I’m not feeling current Madonna. Although, I do love her “Ghost Town” single – and maybe it’s because there’s a… Read more »
Jeff I bought her new album just to see what all the hype was about. I prefer 80’s Madonna as well. Thr new album in my opinion seems to be kind of a re-hash of the “sex Book” and “Erotica” era still a decent offering.
Thanks Paul for your opinion and, I just may check out the album. I will always love Madonna and I have heard that lots of critics are saying it’s her best release since “Ray Of Light” which I adored, mainly because of William Orbit’s production. Wow, this is such a refreshing place to be. I love your commenters too, because of their fantastic insights and information and their lavish praise of you Paul.
Jeff
Thanks. FYI, the B-side is called an “edit,” but it is just a fade of the Instrumental Remix found on the maxi-single.