Like A Virgin
Promotional Items
For the full narrative relating to the release of 'Like A Virgin' please refer to the entry under the ALBUMS tab
'Like A Virgin' was Madonna's breakthrough album in the UK and accordingly it spawned the first official UK promotional items.
The first item shown below is a copy of the LP with a rear promotional sticker. This is a standard sticker used by WEA for all albums sent out for promotional purposes. Due to it's generic nature and the fact that the LPs themselves are just standard LPs, it is not particularly exciting. A similar system of using promotional stickers, rather than pressing promotional discs, was also used for the 7" singles, although this time the sticker being smaller and rounder. As these LPs are not of huge interest they sell for no more than £5-£10.
Perhaps of more interest to a collector are two promotional cassettes although it was evident that WEA were not interested in incurring any expenses invovled in manufacturing specific promotional items as the cassette they distributed is a commercially available TDK! However, at least it does come with a WEA label.
The second cassette - also recorded onto a standard commercially avaialble cassette - was issued by 'The Tape Gallery' and contained the three singles that had been scheduled for release from the album. Interestingly, it would imply that 'Dress You Up' had not been shortlisted and was only lifted from the album due to the need for a Christmas single given Madonna's level of popularity that would develop throughout the year.
The final music-based item is perhaps not an official promotional item but a CD that was issued for general sale but came with a promotional leaflet, hence it's inclusion here.
Moving onto the paper-based items, there is a large cardboard display measuring approx. 24"x24" that would have been distributed to the larger record stores for wall hanging display. It is shown here along with an LP for comparison purpose. This item is rarely seen for sale perhaps not helped by it's unwieldy size.
Not surprisingly given the striking visual image of the cover art, there are also several posters which purport to be UK promotional items. Unfortunately, many such UK items were not produced with either an official logo or disclaimer which reflects the rather casual attitude towards promotion adopted by the UK arm of the record company. It also makes it difficult to distinguish between genuine promotional posters and those produced commercially. The two posters featured here were reportedly used as record shop displays and feature images from the front and inner sleeve of the album release. Both measure 24"x34".
Interestingly, at the time of writing, renowned dealer EIL also have a UK promotional poster for sale and their copy is also bereft of any official insignia. Their asking price is also a rather unrealistic £139 (albeit currently reduced from £215)!
A far more realistic asking price is sought for the German promotional postcard whcih is included here as the original release of Like A Virgin was of German manufacture. The postcard may also have been distributed for marketing purposes. Unlike most other postcards that were issued commercially, this one does have the official Sire logo.
The last UK paper-based item included here is a full page promotional advert. This advert is the first album advert and was issued widely in best selling magazines of the time such as Smash Hits so is normally easily available on Ebay.
Dispite a smattering of UK items there is no doubt that of most interest for the collector are promotional items from the US. Given that this was Madonna's breakthrough there is no shortage of such items but this webpage will only include the promotional press kits. The standard pack as issued by Sire, consists of two promotional photos, a three-page biography and a photocopy of a contemporary but very scarce cult publication 'Long Island's Nightlife' magazine, all housed in the yellow Sire folder. It is worth noting this press pack contains the most iconic promotional photo of Madonna - the album cover image. However, due to its popularity it is also one of the more widely distributed photos. When buying this press kit collectors should be sure that it also contains the less popular (and therefore rarer) image of the rear album sleeve, not to mention to photocopy of the magazine.
While the Sire press kit is rare in its complete version, there is an even rarer US promo pack which comes with a two page 'Chart Dominatrix' press release, a folded promo poster and five promotional photos, three of which (stills from the 'Like A Virgin' video) are extremely rare and appear to have been issued exclusively for this pack. It comes housed in a 'Warner' wallet which differs from all other Warner folders used for Madonna press releases. Just as an amusing aside, one of the photos - a very Miley Cyrus 'tongue out, bum out, twerking' pose - proves Madonna could twerk long before Miley was even born!
The first item shown below is a copy of the LP with a rear promotional sticker. This is a standard sticker used by WEA for all albums sent out for promotional purposes. Due to it's generic nature and the fact that the LPs themselves are just standard LPs, it is not particularly exciting. A similar system of using promotional stickers, rather than pressing promotional discs, was also used for the 7" singles, although this time the sticker being smaller and rounder. As these LPs are not of huge interest they sell for no more than £5-£10.
Perhaps of more interest to a collector are two promotional cassettes although it was evident that WEA were not interested in incurring any expenses invovled in manufacturing specific promotional items as the cassette they distributed is a commercially available TDK! However, at least it does come with a WEA label.
The second cassette - also recorded onto a standard commercially avaialble cassette - was issued by 'The Tape Gallery' and contained the three singles that had been scheduled for release from the album. Interestingly, it would imply that 'Dress You Up' had not been shortlisted and was only lifted from the album due to the need for a Christmas single given Madonna's level of popularity that would develop throughout the year.
The final music-based item is perhaps not an official promotional item but a CD that was issued for general sale but came with a promotional leaflet, hence it's inclusion here.
Moving onto the paper-based items, there is a large cardboard display measuring approx. 24"x24" that would have been distributed to the larger record stores for wall hanging display. It is shown here along with an LP for comparison purpose. This item is rarely seen for sale perhaps not helped by it's unwieldy size.
Not surprisingly given the striking visual image of the cover art, there are also several posters which purport to be UK promotional items. Unfortunately, many such UK items were not produced with either an official logo or disclaimer which reflects the rather casual attitude towards promotion adopted by the UK arm of the record company. It also makes it difficult to distinguish between genuine promotional posters and those produced commercially. The two posters featured here were reportedly used as record shop displays and feature images from the front and inner sleeve of the album release. Both measure 24"x34".
Interestingly, at the time of writing, renowned dealer EIL also have a UK promotional poster for sale and their copy is also bereft of any official insignia. Their asking price is also a rather unrealistic £139 (albeit currently reduced from £215)!
A far more realistic asking price is sought for the German promotional postcard whcih is included here as the original release of Like A Virgin was of German manufacture. The postcard may also have been distributed for marketing purposes. Unlike most other postcards that were issued commercially, this one does have the official Sire logo.
The last UK paper-based item included here is a full page promotional advert. This advert is the first album advert and was issued widely in best selling magazines of the time such as Smash Hits so is normally easily available on Ebay.
Dispite a smattering of UK items there is no doubt that of most interest for the collector are promotional items from the US. Given that this was Madonna's breakthrough there is no shortage of such items but this webpage will only include the promotional press kits. The standard pack as issued by Sire, consists of two promotional photos, a three-page biography and a photocopy of a contemporary but very scarce cult publication 'Long Island's Nightlife' magazine, all housed in the yellow Sire folder. It is worth noting this press pack contains the most iconic promotional photo of Madonna - the album cover image. However, due to its popularity it is also one of the more widely distributed photos. When buying this press kit collectors should be sure that it also contains the less popular (and therefore rarer) image of the rear album sleeve, not to mention to photocopy of the magazine.
While the Sire press kit is rare in its complete version, there is an even rarer US promo pack which comes with a two page 'Chart Dominatrix' press release, a folded promo poster and five promotional photos, three of which (stills from the 'Like A Virgin' video) are extremely rare and appear to have been issued exclusively for this pack. It comes housed in a 'Warner' wallet which differs from all other Warner folders used for Madonna press releases. Just as an amusing aside, one of the photos - a very Miley Cyrus 'tongue out, bum out, twerking' pose - proves Madonna could twerk long before Miley was even born!
LP - with promotional sticker
Cassette - promotional copy issued by WEA
Cassette - promotional copy issued by 'The Tape Gallery'
Yellow compact disc with promo leaflet
Large Display measuring 24"x24" (shown with an LP for comparison)
Promotional posters both measuring 24"x34"
Promotional Postcard - issued by 'Sire' records
Promotional Advert
US Promotional Press Pack
Additional US Promotional Press Pack
This is a webpage created purely by collectors for collectors, and is not endorsed by Boy Toy Inc., Geffen Records, Madonna, Maverick, Sire, or Warner Music Group. All logos, images and pictures on this site are the property of their respective owners.
© madonna-decade 2013
© madonna-decade 2013