Vogue
Released: 07.04.90 Highest Chart Position: 1 Weeks on Chart: 14 Total Sales: 505,000
'Vogue' was written and produced by Madonna and Shep Pettibone. Given the phenomenal success of the single it is astonishing to know that the track was originally intended as a lowly B-side!
After the disappointing chart placing of 'Oh Father' in the US - stalling at No. 20 - it was decided that 'Keep It Together', the final single to be released from 'Like A Prayer' in the US, needed an additional boost. That boost would be in the form of an exclusive new dance track i.e. 'Vogue'. However, after presenting the song to Warner Bros. executives, all parties involved decided that the song was too good to be on a B-side and it should be released as a single in its own right. Good decision!
At that time Madonna was engaged in a new project, the 'Dick Tracy' movie and soundtrack, but had still found time for clubbing. "Vogueing" was the latest dance craze on the underground gay scene, in which dancers used a series of complex hand gestures, body poses and movements to imitate their favourite Hollywood stars and cover models from Vogue magazine. Vogue dancers and choreographers Jose and Luis Xtravaganza from the Harlem "House Ball" community, the origin of the dance Vogue, duly introduced Madonna to "Vogueing" at the New York City club "Sound Factory".
The music video for 'Vogue', directed by David Fincher, showed Madonna paying homage to numerous golden era Hollywood actresses. Shot in black-and-white, the video takes stylistic inspiration from the 1920s and 30s. In it, Madonna and her dancers can be seen voguing different choreographed scenes. Critics noted the way in which Madonna used her postmodern influence to expose an underground subcultural movement to the masses. The video has been ranked as one of the greatest of all time in various critic lists and polls.
Vogue is undoubtedly one of the musical highlights of Madonna's career. It went on to become the world's best-selling single of 1990, selling over six million copies. Not bad for a B-side track!
After the disappointing chart placing of 'Oh Father' in the US - stalling at No. 20 - it was decided that 'Keep It Together', the final single to be released from 'Like A Prayer' in the US, needed an additional boost. That boost would be in the form of an exclusive new dance track i.e. 'Vogue'. However, after presenting the song to Warner Bros. executives, all parties involved decided that the song was too good to be on a B-side and it should be released as a single in its own right. Good decision!
At that time Madonna was engaged in a new project, the 'Dick Tracy' movie and soundtrack, but had still found time for clubbing. "Vogueing" was the latest dance craze on the underground gay scene, in which dancers used a series of complex hand gestures, body poses and movements to imitate their favourite Hollywood stars and cover models from Vogue magazine. Vogue dancers and choreographers Jose and Luis Xtravaganza from the Harlem "House Ball" community, the origin of the dance Vogue, duly introduced Madonna to "Vogueing" at the New York City club "Sound Factory".
The music video for 'Vogue', directed by David Fincher, showed Madonna paying homage to numerous golden era Hollywood actresses. Shot in black-and-white, the video takes stylistic inspiration from the 1920s and 30s. In it, Madonna and her dancers can be seen voguing different choreographed scenes. Critics noted the way in which Madonna used her postmodern influence to expose an underground subcultural movement to the masses. The video has been ranked as one of the greatest of all time in various critic lists and polls.
Vogue is undoubtedly one of the musical highlights of Madonna's career. It went on to become the world's best-selling single of 1990, selling over six million copies. Not bad for a B-side track!
UK Variations and Collectables
'Vogue' was available as standard 7", 12", cassette single and CD single. It was supplemented by four limited editions namely a 7" picture disc, a 12" picture disc, a 12" limited edition with poster, and another 12" limited edition with an 'x-rated' poster.
For collectors, 'Vogue' would mark a high point with a maelstrom of formats and limited editions. Sadly there was a specific reason for this; with the new formats of cassette singles and CD singles now established alongside the traditional 7" and 12" vinyl, as well as any number of novelty limited editions, there was growing concern in the music industry that the spiralling number of formats was distorting chart placings. It was argued, with some justification, that a well established artist with a loyal fan base could benefit from multiple simultaneous purchases. Record companies knew this and had become adept at issuing any number of 'limited editions' to boost chart positions, particular in the all important second week when a single was likely to peak. Accordingly, a new rule was established in 1990 whereby sales for chart purposed would be limited to five formats. Those five formats would be the standard issues of 7" vinyl, 12" vinyl, cassette single, CD single and a so-called 'limited edition'. Inevitably this fifth format would not be particularly limited and so this marked the end of the great 80s tradition of the limited edition.
'Vogue' was the last Madonna single to be released before the new rule came into effect and Sire made the most of it. Accordingly, it was released with no fewer than four official limited edition formats, which is more than any other Madonna single.
The 7" vinyl single appeared with four different label variations: two UK labels, a German label, and a French silver label. There is also a mis-pressing with a missing A-side label and the first of the aforementioned limited editions in the form of a circular picture disc.
The 12" appeared with both UK and German pressings, and the three additional limited edition formats i.e. two poster editions and a picture disc. Interestingly, each of the three UK 12" come with a slightly different label design - see photos below. Of the limited editions, the most limited is the second poster issue with a deliberately garish red 'warning' sticker containing a supposedly X-rated poster. It was nothing of the sort, being just a still from the video, and certainly not when compared with what was to come a short while later!
In addition to the vinyl variations, collectors now also needed to keep an eye on cassette variations - 'Vogue' has no fewer than three. Initially issued on black plastic with a 'WEA' logo, it was also made available with a 'Sire' and 'WB' logo. This was then topped up with a very scarce white plastic cassette, again containing the 'Sire' and 'WB' logos.
A CD single was also issued and is widely available although a contributor recently pointed out that a variation is available - listed below with a white background - which may be more limited than the standard issue.
In selecting a centrepiece item, the rarest collectable is probably the 12" with the X-rated poster although many collectors still preferred picture discs to posters. However this poster is perhaps more interesting than the usual bland offering as the image is the first in which the Madonna 'raspberries' were officially visible. In 1991, when her video for 'Justify My Love' was banned by MTV, Madonna had pointed out during an interview with ABC's Nightline, that in her “Vogue” music video, she had worn a see-through lace top that had exposed her breasts, but that had been passed by the channel.
For collectors, 'Vogue' would mark a high point with a maelstrom of formats and limited editions. Sadly there was a specific reason for this; with the new formats of cassette singles and CD singles now established alongside the traditional 7" and 12" vinyl, as well as any number of novelty limited editions, there was growing concern in the music industry that the spiralling number of formats was distorting chart placings. It was argued, with some justification, that a well established artist with a loyal fan base could benefit from multiple simultaneous purchases. Record companies knew this and had become adept at issuing any number of 'limited editions' to boost chart positions, particular in the all important second week when a single was likely to peak. Accordingly, a new rule was established in 1990 whereby sales for chart purposed would be limited to five formats. Those five formats would be the standard issues of 7" vinyl, 12" vinyl, cassette single, CD single and a so-called 'limited edition'. Inevitably this fifth format would not be particularly limited and so this marked the end of the great 80s tradition of the limited edition.
'Vogue' was the last Madonna single to be released before the new rule came into effect and Sire made the most of it. Accordingly, it was released with no fewer than four official limited edition formats, which is more than any other Madonna single.
The 7" vinyl single appeared with four different label variations: two UK labels, a German label, and a French silver label. There is also a mis-pressing with a missing A-side label and the first of the aforementioned limited editions in the form of a circular picture disc.
The 12" appeared with both UK and German pressings, and the three additional limited edition formats i.e. two poster editions and a picture disc. Interestingly, each of the three UK 12" come with a slightly different label design - see photos below. Of the limited editions, the most limited is the second poster issue with a deliberately garish red 'warning' sticker containing a supposedly X-rated poster. It was nothing of the sort, being just a still from the video, and certainly not when compared with what was to come a short while later!
In addition to the vinyl variations, collectors now also needed to keep an eye on cassette variations - 'Vogue' has no fewer than three. Initially issued on black plastic with a 'WEA' logo, it was also made available with a 'Sire' and 'WB' logo. This was then topped up with a very scarce white plastic cassette, again containing the 'Sire' and 'WB' logos.
A CD single was also issued and is widely available although a contributor recently pointed out that a variation is available - listed below with a white background - which may be more limited than the standard issue.
In selecting a centrepiece item, the rarest collectable is probably the 12" with the X-rated poster although many collectors still preferred picture discs to posters. However this poster is perhaps more interesting than the usual bland offering as the image is the first in which the Madonna 'raspberries' were officially visible. In 1991, when her video for 'Justify My Love' was banned by MTV, Madonna had pointed out during an interview with ABC's Nightline, that in her “Vogue” music video, she had worn a see-through lace top that had exposed her breasts, but that had been passed by the channel.
Promotional Items
'Vogue' provides the collector with a good selection of promotional items to collect. In addition to the usual items issued to promote the single there are also items which contain the single as part of a promotional push for 'Immaculate Collection', the greatest hits package that appeared later in the year. They are all included here for ease of reference.
Those items specifically connected with the single include the usual 7" with rear promo sticker and also a more collectable 7" white label. In addition, there is also a 12" white label with a SAM 659 catalogue number. This is probably the most common of all the official white labels. Harder to find is a much rarer white vinyl test pressing for the 12" picture disc.
There is also an in-store compilation cassette in the new design which is used for all subsequent promotional cassettes until their demise in 1991 in favour of the CD format.
'Vogue' is included on several compilation items all of which come in unique custom sleeves which makes for a more attractive item from a collecting viewpoint. The first is a very hard to find 1990 CD (SAM 939) issued towards the end of the year and cleverly titled 'No More Silent Nights'. It also contains an image of 'Immaculate Collection', among other albums covers, on its cover.
This was accompanied by an compilation video with the equally witty title of 'Twelve Plays for Christmas'.
As a testament to 'Vogue's staying power, it was still being included in a further compilation CD (SAM 916) issued a year later in autumn 1991 with another pun-heavy seasonal title: 'Ten Titles To Fall For'.
Paper based promotional items include the counterstand for the 7" single. It is worth noting that from hereon the counterstands are produced in greater numbers than previously and this is reflected in the valuations. After a hiatus on display flats, there are no fewer than three for 'Vogue', namely a 12" display for the new single, a 7" display flat for the 7" picture disc, and a 12" display flat for the 12" picture disc.
There is also an unusual tactic - a promotional poster to promote a poster i.e. the so-called 'X rated' poster that was issued as part of a limited edition 12".
The paper based items are once again rounded off with the adverts that appeared in the musical press - two versions are available.
Finally, with the video being one of Madonna's most iconic, it is not surprising that it features heavily on promotional compilations. See the VIDEOS tab for the four promotional videos from this period that include 'Vogue':
1. 'Vogue' - WEA in-store promotional video
2. 'Vogue' - WEA in-store promotional video (also includes 'Jane Child')
3. 'Twelve Plays For Christmas' - 1990 compilation promotional video
4. 'Ten Titles To Fall For' - 1991 compilation promotional video (also includes 'Like A Prayer', and 'Justify My Love')
ALL PROMOTIONAL ITEMS CAN BE VIEWED IN THE PROMO SECTION - FOR ITEMS RELATING TO THIS RELEASE CLICK HERE
Those items specifically connected with the single include the usual 7" with rear promo sticker and also a more collectable 7" white label. In addition, there is also a 12" white label with a SAM 659 catalogue number. This is probably the most common of all the official white labels. Harder to find is a much rarer white vinyl test pressing for the 12" picture disc.
There is also an in-store compilation cassette in the new design which is used for all subsequent promotional cassettes until their demise in 1991 in favour of the CD format.
'Vogue' is included on several compilation items all of which come in unique custom sleeves which makes for a more attractive item from a collecting viewpoint. The first is a very hard to find 1990 CD (SAM 939) issued towards the end of the year and cleverly titled 'No More Silent Nights'. It also contains an image of 'Immaculate Collection', among other albums covers, on its cover.
This was accompanied by an compilation video with the equally witty title of 'Twelve Plays for Christmas'.
As a testament to 'Vogue's staying power, it was still being included in a further compilation CD (SAM 916) issued a year later in autumn 1991 with another pun-heavy seasonal title: 'Ten Titles To Fall For'.
Paper based promotional items include the counterstand for the 7" single. It is worth noting that from hereon the counterstands are produced in greater numbers than previously and this is reflected in the valuations. After a hiatus on display flats, there are no fewer than three for 'Vogue', namely a 12" display for the new single, a 7" display flat for the 7" picture disc, and a 12" display flat for the 12" picture disc.
There is also an unusual tactic - a promotional poster to promote a poster i.e. the so-called 'X rated' poster that was issued as part of a limited edition 12".
The paper based items are once again rounded off with the adverts that appeared in the musical press - two versions are available.
Finally, with the video being one of Madonna's most iconic, it is not surprising that it features heavily on promotional compilations. See the VIDEOS tab for the four promotional videos from this period that include 'Vogue':
1. 'Vogue' - WEA in-store promotional video
2. 'Vogue' - WEA in-store promotional video (also includes 'Jane Child')
3. 'Twelve Plays For Christmas' - 1990 compilation promotional video
4. 'Ten Titles To Fall For' - 1991 compilation promotional video (also includes 'Like A Prayer', and 'Justify My Love')
ALL PROMOTIONAL ITEMS CAN BE VIEWED IN THE PROMO SECTION - FOR ITEMS RELATING TO THIS RELEASE CLICK HERE
7" Single - Standard Release
7" Single - Alternate label design with barcode
7" Single - German pressing for UK release
7" Single - French pressing with UK catalogue number
7" Single - Mispressing with missing 'Side A' label
7" Picture Disc - in barcode stickered sleeve
12" Single - Standard Release
12" Single - Limited edition with 'Face of the 80's' poster in stickered sleeve with alternate barcoded label
12" Single - Limited edition with 'X-Rated' poster in stickered sleeve and alternate catalogue on label
12" Single - German pressing with UK catalogue number
12" Picture Disc - in barcode stickered sleeve
12" Picture Disc - White vinyl test pressing
Cassette Single: Three Versions
CD Singles - two versions
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© madonna-decade 2013
© madonna-decade 2013