Erotica
Released: 17.10.92 Highest Chart Position: 3 Weeks on Chart: 9 Total Sales: 270,800
'Erotica' marked a new era for Madonna and her most ambitious and controversial relaunch.
Erotica, written and produced by Madonna, Shep Pettibone and Anthony Shimkin, was more than just a new single from a new studio album - her first since 'Like A Prayer' - but was also an event. Released simultaneously with her now notorious coffee table book 'Sex', it was all encompassed within a newly founded multi-media company, Maverick, including a record label entitled Maverick Records, on which Madonna now released her own material.
Musically, 'Erotica' is another spoken-word song focussing on erotic sex and sexual pleasure and in both its style and content is a continuation of 'Justify My Love'. The comparison also extended to another risqué video, which featured Madonna in a leather-esque costume with a golden tooth and a whip. The entire video was shot with Super 8 film in order to have grainy footage with a rough and dirty quality. There are no fewer than three versions of the video. The "standard" version, which contained no nudity, was released in the United States (and can be viewed on Madonna's official web page) while a second more explicit version of the video, which contained full-frontal nudity of Madonna and variation in the editing, was released only in Europe and Australia. Finally, an uncensored version was also made available but never aired and features full nudity, fellatio, anal sex and extreme bondage.
Not surprisingly, this was not to everyones taste! Unlike 'Justify My Love' which, while still attracting inevitable criticism, was also seen as innovative and edgy; Madonna doing what she does best in testing and pushing at boundaries, 'Erotica' provoked something of a backlash from both critics and fans. Surprisingly for such a huge 'event' song, or perhaps due to aforementioned backlash, the song failed to perform at the business end of the chart, peaking at No. 3 in both the US and UK chart. However, it did top the chart in one country - Italy - where, upon the song's release, the Vatican promptly banned Madonna from entering the state and her music was banned on its radio stations.
Erotica, written and produced by Madonna, Shep Pettibone and Anthony Shimkin, was more than just a new single from a new studio album - her first since 'Like A Prayer' - but was also an event. Released simultaneously with her now notorious coffee table book 'Sex', it was all encompassed within a newly founded multi-media company, Maverick, including a record label entitled Maverick Records, on which Madonna now released her own material.
Musically, 'Erotica' is another spoken-word song focussing on erotic sex and sexual pleasure and in both its style and content is a continuation of 'Justify My Love'. The comparison also extended to another risqué video, which featured Madonna in a leather-esque costume with a golden tooth and a whip. The entire video was shot with Super 8 film in order to have grainy footage with a rough and dirty quality. There are no fewer than three versions of the video. The "standard" version, which contained no nudity, was released in the United States (and can be viewed on Madonna's official web page) while a second more explicit version of the video, which contained full-frontal nudity of Madonna and variation in the editing, was released only in Europe and Australia. Finally, an uncensored version was also made available but never aired and features full nudity, fellatio, anal sex and extreme bondage.
Not surprisingly, this was not to everyones taste! Unlike 'Justify My Love' which, while still attracting inevitable criticism, was also seen as innovative and edgy; Madonna doing what she does best in testing and pushing at boundaries, 'Erotica' provoked something of a backlash from both critics and fans. Surprisingly for such a huge 'event' song, or perhaps due to aforementioned backlash, the song failed to perform at the business end of the chart, peaking at No. 3 in both the US and UK chart. However, it did top the chart in one country - Italy - where, upon the song's release, the Vatican promptly banned Madonna from entering the state and her music was banned on its radio stations.
UK Variations and Collectables
When it comes to 'Erotica' there is really only one story in town - the withdrawn 12" picture disc. However, there are several other variations of the standard releases for the assiduous collector to track down.
'Erotica' saw the launch of Madonna's new label 'Maverick' and as such the label designs for this release all carried the new logo. The 7" single appeared with no fewer than five different label designs which has not occurred since 'Like A Prayer' in 1989. They came in the form of a UK design, which is surprisingly scarce compared to a multitude of German labels. Interestingly there is a second German label that was issued on the standard WEA yellow paper label, albeit with a (tiny) Maverick logo. These were topped up by another French silver label and a second silver label which is very scarce.
For the first time there was no standard UK 12" as the only 12" to be released was the nominal ‘limited edition’ with a free poster in a stickered sleeve. Although the sticker proclaimed this 12" to be a 'limited edition' it was no such thing and can be picked up today for as little as a fiver. There is no standard German 12" either featured on this website as it no longer carried a UK catalogue number.
The cassette single followed what appeared to be a new policy which started with the previous release (Playground) as it also appeared with three different label designs. Again, these require patience and tenacity to track down. Fortunately, the CD single provides no such problems appearing in just the one form.
Which brings us to the infamous withdrawn picture disc, a legendary item which, like many a legend, is somewhat shrouded in mystery. The standard story is that it was withdrawn and destroyed as it depicted Madonna sucking Naomi Campbell's toe. Owing to the recent royal scandal of Sarah Ferguson, then the Duchess of York, being caught topless by paparazzi engaging in a similar act with her then-financial adviser, John Bryan (albeit that he insists that no actual toes were ever sucked!), the pressing of 50,000 copies was recalled and destroyed to avoid embarrassing the British Royal Family, and, to avoid accusations that WEA was cashing in on the scandal. There are estimated to be less than 150 copies known to be in existence.
This estimation of likely copies also ties in with a conspiracy theory that, given this is Madonna, the whole thing was a publicity stunt by the record company as there was never any intention to release the picture disc commercially. Instead, the numbers pressed match the catalogue number 138 and far from not wanting to embarrass the Royal Family, the connection with Sarah Ferguson's unfortunate liaison was deliberate.
In terms of valuation, 'Erotica' has fluctuated. At its peak it was valued at £2500+ and bids on Ebay did reach this level. However, some of the lustre has come off this item in recent years due to the appearance in 2008 of a bootleg picture disc. The bootleg makes no pretence at being an accurate copy of the original - although that didn't stop initial excitement when it first appeared resulting in the first wave of pressings to hit Ebay selling for several hundred pounds! It can be bought today for around £20. There are three important differences between the original and the bootleg (sometimes optimistically referred to as a 'reissue' - it isn't, it's a bootleg!) which are as follows: firstly, there is neither an 'orlake' or evan a catalogue number in the run-out grooves; secondly, the backing card lacks the Erotica text in the top left hand corner; and, most important of all, the rear design on the disc itself lacks the white box which contains the catalogue number. This lack of the white box is the most important omission as it is the *only* way for a potential buyer to know whether or not the item is an original as the other two differences can be faked. Con merchants can match a bootleg disc with a copy of a promo backing flat, which does include the 'Erotica' wording, while one particularly unscrupulous seller on Ebay offered a copy with a badly scratched-in 'Orlake' in the run off grooves. He was, however, careful not to specifically describe the disc as an original, while doing his best to imply that it was. He refused repeated requests to show a picture of the rear of the disc. While most watchers were not fooled, someone did bid over £400 for this particular item in August 2011! This particular seller recently (2013) acquired a copy of the genuine promo flat for the picture disc which helped to give the illusion that his bootleg discs were originals. Again he refused to show the rear of either the disc itsef or the backing card as the promo flat is one-sided). Sadly, buyers of this disc always need to beware.
For many fans and collectors, once longing to get hold of the picture disc to complete their collections but unwilling or unable to pay such an eye watering sum for an original, the good quality bootleg picture disc was sufficient for their needs. This has resulted in a drop in demand and subsequent valuation for the original. The two most recent original pictures disc that started at a low bid price sold for 'only' $1225 (02/2011) and $1025 (12/2010) respectively, an average of just £800! (www.Popsike.com). Since then, and not surprisingly, no original 'Erotica' picture discs have appeared for sale with a low starting price without a reserve. Instead, they appear at intervals with high BIN prices. A ridiculous example of this was a buyer recently asking for £4000 (it did not sell) while a more reasonable high bid of around £1,800 on an original with a reserve probably did, as the seller, having already relisted it after its first listing only reached approximately £1,350, did not relist it again despite this price still not meeting the reserve.
Regardless of the fluctuating price, the fact remains that this is an iconic, classic collectable, perhaps the most collectable item for any serious Madonna collector and has already secured its place in collecting history. The last word on the 'Erotica' picture disc will be given to a letter that appeared in 'Record Collector':
I have a particular interest in your Top 200 Rarities feature (RC382), with special reference to the entry at number 24, the Madonna Erotica 12” picture disc (right, valued at £2,500). I was working in the distribution operation for Warner Music at the time of its release and was subsequently responsible for destroying the remaining copies that didn’t leave the Alperton warehouse. My memory is that we received an initial delivery of around 2,000 copies. The process was then that a number of these would be sent off to various directors and sales and marketing staff.
The story we heard was that Rob Dickens, then Warner Music MD, took one look at the disc and said: “There’s no way we’re letting that go out”, as it looked, well, downright pornographic. The remaining copies were wrapped up in clingfilm and left on a pallet somewhere in our Bulk Store and stock-checked daily. Word started to go round that these could be very valuable but before long we were told that they had to be destroyed. I was instructed to arrange for a lorry to come in and take the pallet, accompanied by me and a security guard, to the refuse tip, where we destroyed all deleted (and other) product. Before that, I managed to (legitimately) get my hands on a copy, for which I obtained written authorisation to take home for safe keeping.
I can’t remember the exact number we destroyed, although I think the story about the actual number that were leaked out (138) deliberately coinciding with the catalogue number is a bit of a myth. As I was probably the last person to legitimately get hold of a copy, and was also at the heart of its initial distribution, there was no hint of any such “stage management” taking place.
So, one gloomy day, I headed off to a waste tip near Heathrow in a 40-foot articulated vehicle with one pallet of Madonna 12-inch singles – and ONLY that – to be destroyed. And I stood and watched as what now turns out to be over a quarter of a million quid’s worth of vinyl was crushed beyond all recognition. A few years later I was out of work and sold my copy for the then going rate of around £300. And now I see it’s worth £2,500. Damn! If only, if only…
'Erotica' saw the launch of Madonna's new label 'Maverick' and as such the label designs for this release all carried the new logo. The 7" single appeared with no fewer than five different label designs which has not occurred since 'Like A Prayer' in 1989. They came in the form of a UK design, which is surprisingly scarce compared to a multitude of German labels. Interestingly there is a second German label that was issued on the standard WEA yellow paper label, albeit with a (tiny) Maverick logo. These were topped up by another French silver label and a second silver label which is very scarce.
For the first time there was no standard UK 12" as the only 12" to be released was the nominal ‘limited edition’ with a free poster in a stickered sleeve. Although the sticker proclaimed this 12" to be a 'limited edition' it was no such thing and can be picked up today for as little as a fiver. There is no standard German 12" either featured on this website as it no longer carried a UK catalogue number.
The cassette single followed what appeared to be a new policy which started with the previous release (Playground) as it also appeared with three different label designs. Again, these require patience and tenacity to track down. Fortunately, the CD single provides no such problems appearing in just the one form.
Which brings us to the infamous withdrawn picture disc, a legendary item which, like many a legend, is somewhat shrouded in mystery. The standard story is that it was withdrawn and destroyed as it depicted Madonna sucking Naomi Campbell's toe. Owing to the recent royal scandal of Sarah Ferguson, then the Duchess of York, being caught topless by paparazzi engaging in a similar act with her then-financial adviser, John Bryan (albeit that he insists that no actual toes were ever sucked!), the pressing of 50,000 copies was recalled and destroyed to avoid embarrassing the British Royal Family, and, to avoid accusations that WEA was cashing in on the scandal. There are estimated to be less than 150 copies known to be in existence.
This estimation of likely copies also ties in with a conspiracy theory that, given this is Madonna, the whole thing was a publicity stunt by the record company as there was never any intention to release the picture disc commercially. Instead, the numbers pressed match the catalogue number 138 and far from not wanting to embarrass the Royal Family, the connection with Sarah Ferguson's unfortunate liaison was deliberate.
In terms of valuation, 'Erotica' has fluctuated. At its peak it was valued at £2500+ and bids on Ebay did reach this level. However, some of the lustre has come off this item in recent years due to the appearance in 2008 of a bootleg picture disc. The bootleg makes no pretence at being an accurate copy of the original - although that didn't stop initial excitement when it first appeared resulting in the first wave of pressings to hit Ebay selling for several hundred pounds! It can be bought today for around £20. There are three important differences between the original and the bootleg (sometimes optimistically referred to as a 'reissue' - it isn't, it's a bootleg!) which are as follows: firstly, there is neither an 'orlake' or evan a catalogue number in the run-out grooves; secondly, the backing card lacks the Erotica text in the top left hand corner; and, most important of all, the rear design on the disc itself lacks the white box which contains the catalogue number. This lack of the white box is the most important omission as it is the *only* way for a potential buyer to know whether or not the item is an original as the other two differences can be faked. Con merchants can match a bootleg disc with a copy of a promo backing flat, which does include the 'Erotica' wording, while one particularly unscrupulous seller on Ebay offered a copy with a badly scratched-in 'Orlake' in the run off grooves. He was, however, careful not to specifically describe the disc as an original, while doing his best to imply that it was. He refused repeated requests to show a picture of the rear of the disc. While most watchers were not fooled, someone did bid over £400 for this particular item in August 2011! This particular seller recently (2013) acquired a copy of the genuine promo flat for the picture disc which helped to give the illusion that his bootleg discs were originals. Again he refused to show the rear of either the disc itsef or the backing card as the promo flat is one-sided). Sadly, buyers of this disc always need to beware.
For many fans and collectors, once longing to get hold of the picture disc to complete their collections but unwilling or unable to pay such an eye watering sum for an original, the good quality bootleg picture disc was sufficient for their needs. This has resulted in a drop in demand and subsequent valuation for the original. The two most recent original pictures disc that started at a low bid price sold for 'only' $1225 (02/2011) and $1025 (12/2010) respectively, an average of just £800! (www.Popsike.com). Since then, and not surprisingly, no original 'Erotica' picture discs have appeared for sale with a low starting price without a reserve. Instead, they appear at intervals with high BIN prices. A ridiculous example of this was a buyer recently asking for £4000 (it did not sell) while a more reasonable high bid of around £1,800 on an original with a reserve probably did, as the seller, having already relisted it after its first listing only reached approximately £1,350, did not relist it again despite this price still not meeting the reserve.
Regardless of the fluctuating price, the fact remains that this is an iconic, classic collectable, perhaps the most collectable item for any serious Madonna collector and has already secured its place in collecting history. The last word on the 'Erotica' picture disc will be given to a letter that appeared in 'Record Collector':
I have a particular interest in your Top 200 Rarities feature (RC382), with special reference to the entry at number 24, the Madonna Erotica 12” picture disc (right, valued at £2,500). I was working in the distribution operation for Warner Music at the time of its release and was subsequently responsible for destroying the remaining copies that didn’t leave the Alperton warehouse. My memory is that we received an initial delivery of around 2,000 copies. The process was then that a number of these would be sent off to various directors and sales and marketing staff.
The story we heard was that Rob Dickens, then Warner Music MD, took one look at the disc and said: “There’s no way we’re letting that go out”, as it looked, well, downright pornographic. The remaining copies were wrapped up in clingfilm and left on a pallet somewhere in our Bulk Store and stock-checked daily. Word started to go round that these could be very valuable but before long we were told that they had to be destroyed. I was instructed to arrange for a lorry to come in and take the pallet, accompanied by me and a security guard, to the refuse tip, where we destroyed all deleted (and other) product. Before that, I managed to (legitimately) get my hands on a copy, for which I obtained written authorisation to take home for safe keeping.
I can’t remember the exact number we destroyed, although I think the story about the actual number that were leaked out (138) deliberately coinciding with the catalogue number is a bit of a myth. As I was probably the last person to legitimately get hold of a copy, and was also at the heart of its initial distribution, there was no hint of any such “stage management” taking place.
So, one gloomy day, I headed off to a waste tip near Heathrow in a 40-foot articulated vehicle with one pallet of Madonna 12-inch singles – and ONLY that – to be destroyed. And I stood and watched as what now turns out to be over a quarter of a million quid’s worth of vinyl was crushed beyond all recognition. A few years later I was out of work and sold my copy for the then going rate of around £300. And now I see it’s worth £2,500. Damn! If only, if only…
Promotional Items
Compared to the withdrawn picture disc all other items somewhat pale in comparison. However, there are some rare promotional items. Not that the 7" single in stickered sleeve is one of them.
There are, however, two different 12" white labels. The first has a SAM label (SAM 1103) containing album and instrumental versions which is quite easy to find, and the second, with a plain white label, containing 'William Orbit' remixes which isn't. These William Orbit remixes are not available on any of the standard commercial releases which has given added to the rarity of this particular white label. In addition there are also two in-store promo CDs and a 'sampler' cassette which also features 'Bad Girl'. It is not clear whether this cassette was intended to promote the single or the album, or both!
ALL PROMOTIONAL ITEMS CAN BE VIEWED IN THE PROMO SECTION - FOR ITEMS RELATING TO THIS RELEASE CLICK HERE
There are, however, two different 12" white labels. The first has a SAM label (SAM 1103) containing album and instrumental versions which is quite easy to find, and the second, with a plain white label, containing 'William Orbit' remixes which isn't. These William Orbit remixes are not available on any of the standard commercial releases which has given added to the rarity of this particular white label. In addition there are also two in-store promo CDs and a 'sampler' cassette which also features 'Bad Girl'. It is not clear whether this cassette was intended to promote the single or the album, or both!
ALL PROMOTIONAL ITEMS CAN BE VIEWED IN THE PROMO SECTION - FOR ITEMS RELATING TO THIS RELEASE CLICK HERE
7" Single - Standard Release
7" Single - German pressing for UK release
7" Single - German mispressing on yellow label with two 'A-Side' labels
7" Single - French silver label pressing for UK release
7" Single - Alternative French silver label pressing for UK release
12" Single - Standard Release (stickered sleeve with poster - not a limited edition!)
Cassette Single: Three Versions
CD Single (sealed)
OFFICIAL 12" - with white barcode on rear and 'Orlake' credit in grooves
BOOTLEG 12" - shown for comparison (warning!) reasons
See also 'Causing a Bootleg Commotion' page under the MISC tab for further details
See also:
'Other Promo Videos' in the VIDEOS' tab for an in-store promotional video for 'Version 1' of 'Erotica'
'Sex - The Making Of' promotional video for the full version of 'Erotica'
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© madonna-decade 2013
© madonna-decade 2013