You Can Dance
Promotional Items
For the full narrative relating to 'You Can Dance' please refer to the entry under the ALBUMS tab
The UK was now finally consistent in producing promotional items for Madonna's new album releases and this particular release throws up a major collecting mystery because in addition to the now standard LP with with rear rectangular sticker of far more interest to the collect was a supposed promotional picture disc. However, just as with the 'Material Girl' 7" with mini poster, this is the other item that has doubt about it's authenticity.
This is often billed as a German item not only due to the 'Pro' catalogue number which was not used for promotional items for the UK but also because it featured the same edited versions available on the official German promo LP. However, the often-overlooked credits at the bottom of the disc state: 'Made In UK' and this is shown in the gallery below. Mystery still surrounds this item. It could well be the first example of a Madonna bootleg picture disc, but, to confuse matters further there is also a bootleg that appeared at a later date when each of Madonna's studio albums were given the bootleg picture disc treatment. The later bootleg is contains the same tracks from the LP - not the edited versions - and also has the same rare image of the LP release. It is, however, of noticeably poorer quality, the colours being over saturated - as one collector pointed out making Madonna look like she had been hitting the fake tan! So the question remains whether or not this original is official. It is undoubtedly rare and of superior quality to the later bootleg and fetches high prices on the occasions it is offered for sale. If not official, it may well have originated from an official pressing plant albeit not as an official release.
While the (original) picture disc is undoubtedly the most desirable item of the 'You Can Dance' collectables, there are also several additional UK promotional items. Shown below is a large banner, a mini 7"x5" double sided standee and a large 60"x40" poster, all of which are surprisingly scarce. These are all shown with an LP for comparison purposes although the banner itself was originally displayed with a number of empty LP sleeves as part of a set display.
Distinguishing the promotional items issued at this time can be a challenge: - the 'Who's That Girl' press pack used an earlier image from 'True Blue', while the 'True Blue' album was duly reissued to promote 'Who's That Girl', while the latest album 'You Can Dance' used an image from the 'Who's That Girl' tour. Which just goes to show how fluid the marketing of Madonna was at this time!
To add further to the fluidity, not to mention confusion, there was also a cross-over with two very similar promotional posters with slightly different credits. The UK version, which has a '1987 Sire Records Company' credit in the bottom left hand corner, and the UK catalogue number in the bottom right hand corner, was used to promote the LP as part of a limited edition poster release (with round sticker) and also appeared as a limited poster edition for the 12" of 'The Look of Love'. However, a USA version with a '1987 Sire Records Company. Made in U.S.A. For promotional use only. Not for sale.' credit, but also with the same UK catalogue number in the right hand corner also appeared with an alternative limited edition poster edition (with a square sticker). As at least some of these LP were Irish pressings it would appear that a batch of US promo posters were shipped (to Ireland?) for this purpose, although the square sticker also contained the UK catalogue number. See the ALBUMS tab for more details. However, for ease of reference both of these promotional poster variations are shown below.
As usual there is also a US press pack, which is perhaps one of the more easily sourced of the press packs. It consists of a promotional photo - from the 'Who's That Girl' tour - and a three-page biography. See also the reissue of 'True Blue' in 1987 which also uses the same image but with a 'Sire' logo in the bottom right hand corner.
In 1988 sales of 'You Can Dance' was certified platinum by the R.I.A.A., signifying sales in excess of one million units. This was commemorated in January of that year with a press release and a specially reprinted promotional photo from the 'Who's That Girl' World Tour in 1987. Due to the limited nature of the press release, this photo is much scarer than the photo that accompanies the main press pack.
This is often billed as a German item not only due to the 'Pro' catalogue number which was not used for promotional items for the UK but also because it featured the same edited versions available on the official German promo LP. However, the often-overlooked credits at the bottom of the disc state: 'Made In UK' and this is shown in the gallery below. Mystery still surrounds this item. It could well be the first example of a Madonna bootleg picture disc, but, to confuse matters further there is also a bootleg that appeared at a later date when each of Madonna's studio albums were given the bootleg picture disc treatment. The later bootleg is contains the same tracks from the LP - not the edited versions - and also has the same rare image of the LP release. It is, however, of noticeably poorer quality, the colours being over saturated - as one collector pointed out making Madonna look like she had been hitting the fake tan! So the question remains whether or not this original is official. It is undoubtedly rare and of superior quality to the later bootleg and fetches high prices on the occasions it is offered for sale. If not official, it may well have originated from an official pressing plant albeit not as an official release.
While the (original) picture disc is undoubtedly the most desirable item of the 'You Can Dance' collectables, there are also several additional UK promotional items. Shown below is a large banner, a mini 7"x5" double sided standee and a large 60"x40" poster, all of which are surprisingly scarce. These are all shown with an LP for comparison purposes although the banner itself was originally displayed with a number of empty LP sleeves as part of a set display.
Distinguishing the promotional items issued at this time can be a challenge: - the 'Who's That Girl' press pack used an earlier image from 'True Blue', while the 'True Blue' album was duly reissued to promote 'Who's That Girl', while the latest album 'You Can Dance' used an image from the 'Who's That Girl' tour. Which just goes to show how fluid the marketing of Madonna was at this time!
To add further to the fluidity, not to mention confusion, there was also a cross-over with two very similar promotional posters with slightly different credits. The UK version, which has a '1987 Sire Records Company' credit in the bottom left hand corner, and the UK catalogue number in the bottom right hand corner, was used to promote the LP as part of a limited edition poster release (with round sticker) and also appeared as a limited poster edition for the 12" of 'The Look of Love'. However, a USA version with a '1987 Sire Records Company. Made in U.S.A. For promotional use only. Not for sale.' credit, but also with the same UK catalogue number in the right hand corner also appeared with an alternative limited edition poster edition (with a square sticker). As at least some of these LP were Irish pressings it would appear that a batch of US promo posters were shipped (to Ireland?) for this purpose, although the square sticker also contained the UK catalogue number. See the ALBUMS tab for more details. However, for ease of reference both of these promotional poster variations are shown below.
As usual there is also a US press pack, which is perhaps one of the more easily sourced of the press packs. It consists of a promotional photo - from the 'Who's That Girl' tour - and a three-page biography. See also the reissue of 'True Blue' in 1987 which also uses the same image but with a 'Sire' logo in the bottom right hand corner.
In 1988 sales of 'You Can Dance' was certified platinum by the R.I.A.A., signifying sales in excess of one million units. This was commemorated in January of that year with a press release and a specially reprinted promotional photo from the 'Who's That Girl' World Tour in 1987. Due to the limited nature of the press release, this photo is much scarer than the photo that accompanies the main press pack.
LP - In promotional stickered sleeve
LP - Promotional Picture Disc (Made in U.K.?)
Banner display
Mini Counter Display
Large 60"x40" Promotional Poster
Promotional Poster - Version 1: UK
Promotional Poster - Version 2: 'Made in USA' but with UK catalogue number
Promotional Advert: Two Versions
US Promotional Press Pack
US 1988 Press Release
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© madonna-decade 2013
© madonna-decade 2013
