True Blue
'True Blue', Madonna's third studio album, was an immediate global success, reaching number one in a (then) record-breaking 28 countries across the world, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. It became the world's top-selling album of 1986, as well the biggest selling album of the 1980s by a woman and remains one of the best-selling albums of all time with sales of more than 25 million copies worldwide. True Blue is credited as being the album which made Madonna truly into a superstar and cemented her reputation among the consummate musical figures of the 1980s.
1. Background
Madonna again collaborated with Stephen Bray who had worked on her previous album ‘Like a Virgin’, and began to work with composer Patrick Leonard for the first time. Madonna wrote or co-wrote every song on the album, although writing involvement on some songs such as ‘Papa Don't Preach’ and ‘Open Your Heart’ was limited to adding lyrics. She was also – finally – credited with co-producing every track.
The album was recorded between December 1985 and April 1986, during the first year of Madonna's marriage to American actor Sean Penn. According to Madonna, ‘True Blue’ takes its title from a favourite expression of his and his very pure vision of love. She dedicated the album to him:
"This is dedicated to my husband, the coolest guy in the universe."
The album was recorded between December 1985 and April 1986, during the first year of Madonna's marriage to American actor Sean Penn. According to Madonna, ‘True Blue’ takes its title from a favourite expression of his and his very pure vision of love. She dedicated the album to him:
"This is dedicated to my husband, the coolest guy in the universe."
2. Artwork
The album cover, shot by celebrated photographer Herb Ritts, is one of Madonna's most recognisable pictures. Jeri Heiden, who was working at Warner Bros. art department, was given the task of editing the photos. Heiden ordered about 30 to 40 test prints from Ritts' studio and made recommendations. Madonna, Heiden and Jeff Ayeroff, creative director of Warner Bros. at that time, selected the final photo.
Heiden then commissioned two different versions of the album cover. The original image was taken in black-and-white, and Heiden experimented with a variety of treatments of the photo, to go along with the album's title, and finally arrived at the blue toned, hand tinted version of the image. The LP and CD album cover is a cropped image of a longer picture including torso, more of which is seen in the cover of the cassette tape edition.
In the US and Canada, the cover did not have any logo, but in the European nations, they were sold with Madonna's name and album title on the cover. Heiden explained in an interview with Aperture magazine that they thought it would be "cool" to use a shrink wrap on the US covers, so that when one took it off, there would only be the photo of Madonna. For the European nations, Warner felt that the name was needed on the cover, as they did not want to take a chance with Madonna's popularity there.
The back sleeve and the booklet inside featured the song titles in Heiden's own handwriting. About cropping the image for the cassette and the vinyl versions, Heiden said:
"I think the image became more interesting cropped into a square—and at that time we always started with the album cover configuration. It was like she was floating—her clothing was not visible. She took on the appearance of a marble statue—Goddess like. In the vertical cropping you see her leather jacket and the wall, and it becomes more typical, editorial, earthly."
The rear of the album, as well as its inner sleeve, did not feature any further photographs being dedicated to the song titles, album credits and song lyrics. This was due to the fact that Madonna wanted to be represented by her work on True Blue, not her image.
Heiden then commissioned two different versions of the album cover. The original image was taken in black-and-white, and Heiden experimented with a variety of treatments of the photo, to go along with the album's title, and finally arrived at the blue toned, hand tinted version of the image. The LP and CD album cover is a cropped image of a longer picture including torso, more of which is seen in the cover of the cassette tape edition.
In the US and Canada, the cover did not have any logo, but in the European nations, they were sold with Madonna's name and album title on the cover. Heiden explained in an interview with Aperture magazine that they thought it would be "cool" to use a shrink wrap on the US covers, so that when one took it off, there would only be the photo of Madonna. For the European nations, Warner felt that the name was needed on the cover, as they did not want to take a chance with Madonna's popularity there.
The back sleeve and the booklet inside featured the song titles in Heiden's own handwriting. About cropping the image for the cassette and the vinyl versions, Heiden said:
"I think the image became more interesting cropped into a square—and at that time we always started with the album cover configuration. It was like she was floating—her clothing was not visible. She took on the appearance of a marble statue—Goddess like. In the vertical cropping you see her leather jacket and the wall, and it becomes more typical, editorial, earthly."
The rear of the album, as well as its inner sleeve, did not feature any further photographs being dedicated to the song titles, album credits and song lyrics. This was due to the fact that Madonna wanted to be represented by her work on True Blue, not her image.
3. Promotion
At this stage of her career, Madonna did not need to embark on specific promotional appearances to promote the new album. However, on March 6, 1986, during a rare visit to the UK, Madonna appeared at the Kensington Roof Gardens in London, for a press conference for Shanghai Surprise during which she confirmed that she was working on a new album named ‘Live to Tell’. Obviously this would be later changed to ‘True Blue’.
4. Legacy
It was with this album that Madonna sought to extend her appeal to a wider audience who had been sceptical of her as a viable long-term performer.
Stripping away her previously distinctive and colourful ‘street’ clothing and jewellery, Madonna had shrewdly recognized that such a distinctive image was in danger of become dated and restricted. With ‘True Blue’ she unveiled her new more mature, iconic image, to go with the new more mature songs. Such a sudden, stark change would henceforth become a hallmark of her future ‘reinventions’.
The songs on 'True Blue' were intended to showcase Madonna’s development both in terms of vocal performance as well as her skills as a songwriter and producer. This was demonstrated in particular by the stand-out second single from the album, ‘Papa Don't Preach’ which is sung from the perspective of a teenage girl who admits to her father that not only is she pregnant, but she plans to keep and raise the child. The song faced criticism as well as support. Critics feared it would undermine efforts to promote birth control among adolescents and that it would encourage teenage pregnancy, while Conservatives supported the song’s theme of rejecting abortion.
The global success of True Blue marked the first time Madonna entered the Guinness Book of World Records in its 1988 edition, where she was listed as the most successful singer for 1986. The album also held the record for reaching number one in most countries, topping the album charts in a total of 28 countries around the world.
True Blue was also the world's top-selling album of 1986, as well the biggest selling album of the 1980s by a woman and remains one of the best-selling albums of all time with sales of more than 25 million copies worldwide.
Stripping away her previously distinctive and colourful ‘street’ clothing and jewellery, Madonna had shrewdly recognized that such a distinctive image was in danger of become dated and restricted. With ‘True Blue’ she unveiled her new more mature, iconic image, to go with the new more mature songs. Such a sudden, stark change would henceforth become a hallmark of her future ‘reinventions’.
The songs on 'True Blue' were intended to showcase Madonna’s development both in terms of vocal performance as well as her skills as a songwriter and producer. This was demonstrated in particular by the stand-out second single from the album, ‘Papa Don't Preach’ which is sung from the perspective of a teenage girl who admits to her father that not only is she pregnant, but she plans to keep and raise the child. The song faced criticism as well as support. Critics feared it would undermine efforts to promote birth control among adolescents and that it would encourage teenage pregnancy, while Conservatives supported the song’s theme of rejecting abortion.
The global success of True Blue marked the first time Madonna entered the Guinness Book of World Records in its 1988 edition, where she was listed as the most successful singer for 1986. The album also held the record for reaching number one in most countries, topping the album charts in a total of 28 countries around the world.
True Blue was also the world's top-selling album of 1986, as well the biggest selling album of the 1980s by a woman and remains one of the best-selling albums of all time with sales of more than 25 million copies worldwide.
5. Track Listing
|
No.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. |
Title
Papa Don't Preach Open Your Heart White Heat Live to Tell Where's the Party True Blue La Isla Bonita Jimmy Jimmy Love Makes the World Go Round |
Writer(s)
Brian Elliot / Madonna Madonna/Gardner Cole/Peter Rafelson Madonna/Leonard Madonna/Leonard Madonna/Bray/Leonard Madonna/Bray Madonna/Leonard/Bruce Gaitsch Madonna/Bray Madonna/Leonard |
Producer(s)
Madonna/Stephen Bray Madonna/Patrick Leonard Madonna/Leonard Madonna/Leonard Madonna/Leonard/Bray Madonna/Bray Madonna/Leonard Madonna/Bray Madonna/Leonard |
Length
4:29 4:13 4:40 5:51 4:21 4:18 4:02 3:55 4:31 |
Five singles were released from the album in the UK and further information on these can be accessed via the SINGLES tab or from the links below:
Live to Tell
Papa Don't Preach
True Blue
Open Your Heart
La Isla Bonita
Live to Tell
Papa Don't Preach
True Blue
Open Your Heart
La Isla Bonita
6. UK Release and Chart Performance
In the UK, True Blue opened at the top of the UK Albums Chart on July 12, 1986, making it the first album by American artist to debut at number one in British chart history. It remained at the summit for six weeks and on the chart for a total of 85 weeks.
True Blue was also the best-selling album of 1986 in the UK.
True Blue was also the best-selling album of 1986 in the UK.
7. UK Collectables and Variations
While 'True Blue' the album was a huge success, for the UK collector it proved to be a disappointment in terms of collectables. Avid collectors continually checked record shops waiting in eager anticipation for the official limited edition that never came. While the US, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia and even New Zealand enjoyed a plethora of official rarities in the form of pictures discs, blue vinyl, clear vinyl and poster editions the UK record company surprisingly issued nothing!
It is therefore somewhat ironic that the rarest collectables for UK collectors are the surprisingly scarce UK pressings for the vinyl and CD formats. The UK vinyl pressing can be distinguished from the standard German pressing by the lack of the 'Gema' credit box on the record label and the absence of the German manufacturing credit on the bottom of the rear sleeve. It also comes in a stiff cardboard inner sleeve as opposed to the standard paper sleeve of the German pressings. Some of these copies also have the 'Warner' logo imprint on the rear sleeve which does not appear on the German pressings.
The standard vinyl pressing was repressed according to demand and comes with different marketing stickers, each one being issued in accordance with the singles being released. There are three in total as shown below, all of which are easily sourced. There is also no Irish pressing as 'True Blue' is the only Madonna album which appeared with its own customised silver and blue-coloured label.
The manufacturing of cassettes had also evolved by this time and there were no longer the need for multiple alternative top-ups. Instead the standard clear cassette was issued in large numbers with just the one scarcer 'black plastic' top up. However there is also a scarce white cassette which comes with an alternative abridged inlay. This is possible of Greek origin albeit with a UK catalogue number.
The CD, as already noted, comes as a very limited 'Nimbus' UK pressing and patience is required to spot this rarity among its far more numerous German cousins. The CD was also reissued in 1990 with an additional '7599' prefix to the catalogue number.
In 1987 'True Blue' was effectively reissued in order to include a 'Souvenir Poster' from the 'Who's That Girl' tour. It seemed incongruous to have such a poster issued with an older album, rather than the new album that shares its name. However 'Who's That Girl', a various artists soundtrack album, was never going to be one of Madonna's strongest, whereas 'True Blue' by now a phenomenal seller, had become the best selling album by a solo female artist. It was therefore understandable that a souvenir of Madonna's first triumphant UK appearances during her debut world tour would be issued with an album that was already being regarded as a classic.
Finally, no doubt due to the laziness of the European record companies in failing to issue any official collectables, the bootleggers moved in to fill this substantial gap in the market. They obliged with picture discs, blue vinyls, and the rarest and most striking, another 'splatter' disc.
It is therefore somewhat ironic that the rarest collectables for UK collectors are the surprisingly scarce UK pressings for the vinyl and CD formats. The UK vinyl pressing can be distinguished from the standard German pressing by the lack of the 'Gema' credit box on the record label and the absence of the German manufacturing credit on the bottom of the rear sleeve. It also comes in a stiff cardboard inner sleeve as opposed to the standard paper sleeve of the German pressings. Some of these copies also have the 'Warner' logo imprint on the rear sleeve which does not appear on the German pressings.
The standard vinyl pressing was repressed according to demand and comes with different marketing stickers, each one being issued in accordance with the singles being released. There are three in total as shown below, all of which are easily sourced. There is also no Irish pressing as 'True Blue' is the only Madonna album which appeared with its own customised silver and blue-coloured label.
The manufacturing of cassettes had also evolved by this time and there were no longer the need for multiple alternative top-ups. Instead the standard clear cassette was issued in large numbers with just the one scarcer 'black plastic' top up. However there is also a scarce white cassette which comes with an alternative abridged inlay. This is possible of Greek origin albeit with a UK catalogue number.
The CD, as already noted, comes as a very limited 'Nimbus' UK pressing and patience is required to spot this rarity among its far more numerous German cousins. The CD was also reissued in 1990 with an additional '7599' prefix to the catalogue number.
In 1987 'True Blue' was effectively reissued in order to include a 'Souvenir Poster' from the 'Who's That Girl' tour. It seemed incongruous to have such a poster issued with an older album, rather than the new album that shares its name. However 'Who's That Girl', a various artists soundtrack album, was never going to be one of Madonna's strongest, whereas 'True Blue' by now a phenomenal seller, had become the best selling album by a solo female artist. It was therefore understandable that a souvenir of Madonna's first triumphant UK appearances during her debut world tour would be issued with an album that was already being regarded as a classic.
Finally, no doubt due to the laziness of the European record companies in failing to issue any official collectables, the bootleggers moved in to fill this substantial gap in the market. They obliged with picture discs, blue vinyls, and the rarest and most striking, another 'splatter' disc.
LP - Standard German Pressing
LP - Limited UK pressing (with no 'Gema' box on label)
LP - German pressing with first marketing sticker
LP - German pressing with second marketing sticker
LP - German pressing with third marketing sticker
Cassette - Standard Release (clear cassette)
Cassette - Variations (black plastic /white plastic)
Compact Disc - Very limited initial UK 'Nimbus' pressing
Compact Disc - Standard German Pressing
LP - 1987 reissue with purple marketing sticker and 'Souvenir Poster' to promote the 'Who's That Girl' World Tour
LP - 1987 reissue with purple and white marketing stickers and 'Souvenir Poster' to promote the 'Who's That Girl' World Tour
Compact Disc - 1990 reissue with additional '7599' prefix to the catalogue number
Bootleg: Splatter Disc (with counterfeit label and housed in inferior sleeve)
Bootleg: Blue Vinyl (with counterfeit label and housed in inferior sleeve)
Bootleg: Picture Disc
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© madonna-decade 2013
© madonna-decade 2013