Madonna - True Blue

Today (June 30th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of True Blue, the third studio album from Madonna. This multi-Platinum seller from 1986 went to number 1 all over the world: Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK. Here in the US, it spent an amazing eighty-two weeks on the Billboard Album chart.

Vision Quest (soundtrack) (30th anniversary)

Today (February 12th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of the soundtrack from Vision Quest, a coming-of-age film from 1985 starring Matthew Modine, Linda Fiorentino and Daphne Zuniga. The album hit the shelves three days prior and featured an all-star roster. The album spent a total of twenty-three weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 11.

For more on this album, click here.

Madonna - Like a Virgin

On November 12th of 1984, Madonna followed up her debut release with the chart-crunching Like a Virgin. This album went to number 22 in Denmark, number 6 in Norway, number 5 in France, number 3 in Austria, Canada, Sweden and Switzerland, number 2 in Australia and Japan, and number 1 in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain and the UK. Here in the US, it spent an amazing one-hundred and eight weeks on the Billboard Album chart, topping out at number 1. Today, we’ll give it a listen in honor of its thirtieth anniversary.

Madonna - Madonna

Today (July 27th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the self-titled debut album from Madonna. In the early 80’s, the Detroit-born singer-dancer was living in New York City with her boyfriend Steve Bray (of the Breakfast Club) and working on demos. She convinced a local DJ to play one of her songs and that started her on the road to her record deal and a notable career.

The multi-Platinum selling Madonna, co-produced by her then boyfriend John “Jellybean” Benitez, charted at number 28 in Germany, number 20 in Japan, number 16 in Canada, number 15 in Austria, number 10 in Australia, number 8 in France and on the US Billboard Hot 200, number 7 in the Netherlands, number 6 in New Zealand and the UK and number 2 in Sweden.

Happy Birthday, Madonna

Happy fifty-fourth birthday today (August 16th) to American singer, songwriter, and actress Madonna Louise Ciccone.

The Michigan born woman's road to becoming one the world's top-selling female recording artists of all time (with over 300 million records sold) began with her move to New York City in 1977 to become a modern dance professional. She also began performing with the group Breakfast Club, which led to her getting her own recording contract. The rest has been musical history.

A Very Special Christmas

Merry Christmas to all of you, my blog readers. Today (December 25th) also happens to be the fifty-seventh birthday of Annie Lennox of the Eurythmics.

In 1987, the first of what has turned into a sporadic series of A Very Special Christmas albums was released. The series, created by music producer Jimmy Iovine, takes popular music artists of the time and has them sing holiday favorites. The album sales go to benefit the Special Olympics charity. Each cover has been designed by artist Keith Haring.

Vision Quest (soundtrack)

Welcome to another edition of Soundtrack Sunday.

In 1985, a coming-of-age film that starred Matthew Modine, Linda Fiorentino and Daphne Zuniga hit theatres. Vision Quest told the story of a high school wrestler who falls for an older woman that is renting a room at his father's house. Madonna also makes an appearance in the film as a club singer. The film was moderately successful in theatres in the US, grossing $13 million.

The soundtrack album for Vision Quest was released three days prior to the film's opening. It boasted an interesting mix of performers.

Madonna - Like a Prayer

In 1989, Madonna released her fourth studio album Like a Prayer. As co-writer on all of the tracks, it had a much more intimate look into her personal world. The songs drew from her upbringing as well as events that were going on in her off-stage life. The result was an album that was both a critical and commercial success.

Rolling Stone magazine ranked it at number 237 on its list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All-Time, the highest ranking of the four albums by her that made the list. Time magazine included Like a Prayer in its All-TIME 100 Albums list. Q magazine ranked it number 14 on its list of the 40 Best Albums of the '80s.

Who's That Girl (soundtrack)

Welcome to another edition of Soundtrack Sunday.

In the summer of 1987, Warner Brothers studio released a romantic comedy starring Madonna and Griffin Dunne. She played street-smart Nikki Finn who went to jail for a murder she didn’t commit. She meets a lawyer named Louden Trott (played by Dunne), and convinces him to help her clear her name. Sound like a must-see story? Neither the critics or the ticket buying public thought so. The film tanked.