Madonna is the debut album by American singer-songwriter Madonna, released on July 27, 1983 by Sire Records. The album was re-released in 1985 for the European market and re-packaged as Madonna – The First Album. In 2001, Warner Bros. released a remastered version with two bonus remix tracks. The RIAA certified it Gold on May 31, 1984 and 5× Platinum on 3 October 2000, recognizing five million shipments throughout the United States. Worldwide, the album has sold 8 million copies.

Album history

After Madonna achieved success on the dance charts with two singles, "Everybody", and "Burning Up", Sire Records hired Madonna to record this full-length album. Though Madonna told New York DJ Mark Kamins she would let him produce the entire album if he got her a record deal (which he did), when it was time to record the full length album, she decided to go with the more experienced producer Reggie Lucas. Kamins was credited with producing one song, "Everybody". Madonna and Lucas disagreed about how the final product ought to sound. She called John "Jellybean" Benitez for help achieving the sound she wanted.

Madonna had promoted the album throughout 1983-1984 by performing a series of "track dates", one-off gigs. These shows were done at New York City and London clubs like Danceteria and Camden Palace and on American and British television programs like American Bandstand and Top of the Pops. The album's singles were later performed on The Virgin Tour in 1985.

Madonna had intended to include "Ain't No Big Deal" on the album, however, Stephen Bray, a collaborator on the song, had sold the song rights to another label. She substituted "Holiday", written by Curtis Hudson and Lisa Stevens. "Holiday" had originally been offered to, but turned down by, singer and original Supremes member, Mary Wilson. After being mistaken as a black singer by nightclub and radio audiences due to her image not being on her first singles, her face was front and center of the third release, "Holiday"; the critics later compared her voice to "Minnie Mouse on helium".

The artwork that was featured on the original release of the album started the public fascination with Madonna. On the cover she has short-cropped, platinum hair, and stretches a dog chain roughly around her throat. Madonna's navel is prominent on the inner sleeve of the album.

The album was originally slated to be titled Lucky Star, after the track of the same name. The original artwork created for the album was scrapped and a new, darker direction was taken. The original album title was kept on early pressings of the LP in South Africa and Zimbabwe and contained a 3:41 version of "Burning Up". Only the record label referred to the title as "Lucky Star", the sleeves being the universally released black and white 'chains' picture (although also sporting a printed 'flash' in the top right hand corner, advising that it contained the hit "Holiday" - this is unique to this pressing). Also note that the album credits (as usually listed on the inner sleeves) are printed on the reverse of these sleeves, as the discs were presented within a plain inner sleeve.

The European pressing of the LP contained a different mix of "Burning Up", but the CD pressing had the same version as the American pressing.

Track listing

2001 remastered version bonus tracks

Additional notes

• "Burning Up": the original album version does not contain the electric guitar sound, originally with electronic synthesizer laser sound. Originally available on the first LP and cassette pressings. Later replaced with the rock guitar shorter version. This version is similar in sound to the bonus 12" Version track.

• "Everybody": the longer version of 6:02 is only available on the 2001 remastered version. Original album version is 4:57 minutes in duration.

• "Lucky Star", "Burning Up" and "Physical Attraction": Remixed by John "Jellybean" Benitez.

Album credits

Personnel

• Madonna - vocals, background vocals, cowbell

• Tina B. - background vocals

• Christine Faith - background vocals

• Dean Gant - synthesizer, piano, electric piano

• Gwen Guthrie - background vocals

• Curtis Hudson - guitar

• Raymond Hudson - bass

• Anthony Jackson - electric bass

• Bashiri Johnson - percussion

• Reggie Lucas - guitar

• Bob Malach - tenor saxophone

• Paul Pesco - guitar

• Ira Siegel - guitar

• Ed Walsh - synthesizer

• Brenda White - background vocals

• Norma Jean Wright - background vocals

• Fred Zarr - synthesizer, piano, drums, electric piano, Moog synthesizer, Fender Rhodes, Moog bass

Production

• Produced by Reggie Lucas for Kalisa, Inc.

• Engineered by Jim Dougherty

• Mastered by at Sterling Sound; New York, NY

• Recorded at Sigma Sound Studios NYC.

"Holiday":

• Produced by John "Jellybean" Benitez for Jellybean Productions Inc.

• Arranged by Curtis Hudson, co-arranged by Fred Zarr

• Recording Engineer: Michael Hutchinson

• Mixing Engineer: Jay Mark

"Everybody":

• Produced by Mark Kamins

• Engineered by Butch Jones

"Lucky Star", "Burning Up" and "Physical Attraction":

• Remixed by John "Jellybean" Benitez

• Remix Engineer: Jay Mark

"Lucky Star" ("New" Mix)

• Produced by Reggie Lucas for Kalisa, Inc. and John "Jellybean" Benitez for Jellybean Productions Inc.

• Mixed by John "Jellybean" Benitez

• Mixing Engineer: Michael Hutchinson

Design

• Art direction: Carin Goldberg

• Photography: Gary Heery

• Photography: George Holy (Madonna - The First Album)

• Make-Up : Audrey Adam

Certifications, peaks and sales

The album performed respectfully well on the charts. Entering the Billboard 200 at number 123 the week of November 5, 1983, the album had a slow and steady climb before reaching the top 20 in July 1984 and subsequently peaked at number 8 in October following the huge success of the singles "Holiday" and "Borderline". The album peaked in the top 20 almost everywhere else.