Like a Virgin is the second studio album by
American singer-songwriter
Madonna, released on
November 12,
1984 by
Sire Records. The album was re-released in 1985 world wide (not in North America) with the bonus track "
Into the Groove". In 2001,
Warner Bros. released a remastered version with two bonus remix tracks (this version did not include "Into the Groove"). The
RIAA certified it
Diamond on May 21, 1998, recognizing ten million shipments in the United States. Worldwide, the album has sold over 21 million copies.
Album history
Nile Rodgers was chosen by Madonna as the producer of the album, mostly because of his work with
David Bowie on his album
Let's Dance.
Like a Virgin built on the sound and image that Madonna had created in her debut album, which was very much disco and pop-oriented. Madonna dedicated the album to "all the virgins of the world."
The album's title track was her first number one hit song. Madonna debuted the song at the first annual
MTV Video Music Awards. In this performance, Madonna rolled on the floor in a white wedding dress, exposing her panties and garter belt, all the while wearing a belt that read "Boy Toy". The album's second single, "
Material Girl", earned Madonna the nickname of "material girl" from the media. The song "
Into the Groove" was included in the 1985 film
Desperately Seeking Susan and due to its success - it hit #1 in various countries, becoming her first number one in the
UK - was included in the re-release of the album.
The album was a huge success on the charts, but the critics were not really convinced of Madonna's skills and described her as an "unimportant annoying one-hit-wonder" with a voice similar to "
Minnie Mouse on helium." The
Grammy Award show largely snubbed
Like a Virgin; although she did receive a few nominations at the 1985 MTV Video Music Awards, she lost each of them.
The sleeve image was by
Steven Meisel who would become a regular collaborator. In 1992 he shot all the photographs for the infamous book
Sex.
She later performed "
Material Girl", "
Angel", "Like a Virgin", "
Over and Over", "
Into the Groove" and "
Dress You Up" on her 1985
Virgin Tour.
The version of "Stay" that appears on the album borrows its lyrics from two early Madonna demo tracks titled "Stay" and "Don't You Know". An early version of "Stay" appeared on the demo cassette that landed Madonna her record deal with Sire/Warner in 1982.
The title song was parodied by
"Weird Al" Yankovic in the song "
Like a Surgeon" and was also covered by former
Dead Boys frontman
Stiv Bators with his later band,
Lords Of The New Church.
Album charting and sales
Like a Virgin has been certified Diamond for selling more than 10 million copies in the U.S. alone, and has sold over 21 million copies worldwide.
The album entered the
Billboard 200 at #3 in December 1984 and stayed within the top ten before hitting #1 in February 1985, where it stayed for 3 weeks.
Track listing
1985 Re-issue bonus track2001 Remastered version bonus tracksAdditional notes- "Into the Groove" is only available on the 1985 re-issue. It is not available on the U.S. version and is not included on the 2001 Remastered version. It became track number 6 on the 1985 version with all remaining tracks following suit.
Certifications, peaks and sales
Album credits
Personnel
Production
- Producers: Madonna, Stephen Bray, Nile Rodgers
- Production manager: Budd Tunick
- Drum programming: Jimmy Bralower
Design
- Art Direction: Jeri McManus, Jeffrey Kent Ayer
- Photography: Steven Meisel
- Design: Jeffrey Kent Ayer, Jeri McManus
See also
