The Look Of Love
Released: 12.12.87 Highest Chart Position: 9 Weeks on Chart: 7 Total Sales: 121,439
The Look Of Love' was one of two songs developed together with Patrick Leonard for her third motion picture Who's That Girl. Regarding the development of the song, Madonna was inspired by the look that actor James Stewart gave actress Grace Kelly in the 1954 film Rear Window. Madonna said: "1 can't describe it, but that is the way I want someone to look at me when he loves me. It's the most pure look of love and adoration. Like surrender. It's devastating."
'The Look of Love' was not released in the US as a single but in the UK, Sire were determined to release an obligatory Christmas offering. It would perhaps have been wiser not to. This track had a distinct air of 'scraping the bottom of the barrel'. Not surprisingly, the video consisted of yet more clips cobbled together from the motion picture with the often frenetic sequences, some of which had already been used in the 'Causing A Commotion' video, disingenuously paired with the baleful melody.
'The Look Of Love' only just made it into the UK Top Ten, stalling at No. 9. This brought to a close a record breaking run of 16 consecutive Top 5 singles by a
female artist but by making the top ten it ensured that the more important (and eventually record breaking) run of consecutive Top 10 hits continued.
It also helped to crown Madonna the UK singles chart champion for the third consecutive year which saw her pull ahead of Frankie Laine and Micheal Jackson who had achieved this distinction twice. Only Elvis now exceeded Madonna with six years in total but not even Elvis had managed three years in succession.
'The Look of Love' was not released in the US as a single but in the UK, Sire were determined to release an obligatory Christmas offering. It would perhaps have been wiser not to. This track had a distinct air of 'scraping the bottom of the barrel'. Not surprisingly, the video consisted of yet more clips cobbled together from the motion picture with the often frenetic sequences, some of which had already been used in the 'Causing A Commotion' video, disingenuously paired with the baleful melody.
'The Look Of Love' only just made it into the UK Top Ten, stalling at No. 9. This brought to a close a record breaking run of 16 consecutive Top 5 singles by a
female artist but by making the top ten it ensured that the more important (and eventually record breaking) run of consecutive Top 10 hits continued.
It also helped to crown Madonna the UK singles chart champion for the third consecutive year which saw her pull ahead of Frankie Laine and Micheal Jackson who had achieved this distinction twice. Only Elvis now exceeded Madonna with six years in total but not even Elvis had managed three years in succession.
UK Variations and Collectables
The Look of Love' was released in standard 7" and 12" supplemented with a limited edition 12" picture disc and a limited edition 12" with poster.
For the collector, the 'Look Of Love' would also mark the end of an era as it was to be the last single released with colourful plastic top-ups, appearing in silver, red and teal. Out of these, the red is by far the most scarce and was the object of another £20 bidding war on Ebay. Also worth mentioning is the Irish pressing which seems to have been pressed in smaller quantities then previous singles.
The 12" appears in three formats: the standard version as well as two limited editions, the first of which is the obligatory picture disc and the second a rarer poster edition in a stickered sleeve. The poster actually promotes the new LP (You Can Dance) released at this time, rather than the single as it comes with both the 'You Can Dance' LP catalogue number of 'UK WX 76' and the same artwork image. Initial copies of the LP also came with the same limited edition poster in a stickered sleeve.
While the 12" with poster is rarer, that fact that it appears to have been issued more as an after thought just to boost the LP means the centrepiece item will have to be the 12" picture disc.
For the collector, the 'Look Of Love' would also mark the end of an era as it was to be the last single released with colourful plastic top-ups, appearing in silver, red and teal. Out of these, the red is by far the most scarce and was the object of another £20 bidding war on Ebay. Also worth mentioning is the Irish pressing which seems to have been pressed in smaller quantities then previous singles.
The 12" appears in three formats: the standard version as well as two limited editions, the first of which is the obligatory picture disc and the second a rarer poster edition in a stickered sleeve. The poster actually promotes the new LP (You Can Dance) released at this time, rather than the single as it comes with both the 'You Can Dance' LP catalogue number of 'UK WX 76' and the same artwork image. Initial copies of the LP also came with the same limited edition poster in a stickered sleeve.
While the 12" with poster is rarer, that fact that it appears to have been issued more as an after thought just to boost the LP means the centrepiece item will have to be the 12" picture disc.
Promotional Items
As always we start with the 7" single in stickered-sleeve.
Although it is not pictured here, there is a 12" white label in existence but, as with many of the white labels on this site, has only been seen for sale once and the contributor of the others opted not to buy this particular one.
Of more interest are the rare paper-based items which once again include a counterstand for the 7" single and a display flat the 12" picture disc. These are rounded off with the usual promotional advert from Smash Hits.
The paper section once again concludes with some very rare printer proofs for both 7" and 12" singles artwork.
Finally, this section concludes with what may be the first WEA promotional video issued exclusively for an individual Madonna single. It would explain it's eye-watering winning bid of £75 when it was recently offered for sale on eBay.
ALL PROMOTIONAL ITEMS CAN BE VIEWED IN THE PROMO SECTION - FOR ITEMS RELATING TO THIS RELEASE CLICK HERE
Although it is not pictured here, there is a 12" white label in existence but, as with many of the white labels on this site, has only been seen for sale once and the contributor of the others opted not to buy this particular one.
Of more interest are the rare paper-based items which once again include a counterstand for the 7" single and a display flat the 12" picture disc. These are rounded off with the usual promotional advert from Smash Hits.
The paper section once again concludes with some very rare printer proofs for both 7" and 12" singles artwork.
Finally, this section concludes with what may be the first WEA promotional video issued exclusively for an individual Madonna single. It would explain it's eye-watering winning bid of £75 when it was recently offered for sale on eBay.
ALL PROMOTIONAL ITEMS CAN BE VIEWED IN THE PROMO SECTION - FOR ITEMS RELATING TO THIS RELEASE CLICK HERE
7" Single - Standard Release
7" Singles - Coloured plastic top-up labels: Silver / Red / Teal
7" Single - Irish pressing
12" Single - Standard Release
12" Single - Limited edition picture disc in stickered sleeve
12 Single - Limited edition with poster in stickered sleeve
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© madonna-decade 2013
© madonna-decade 2013