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BEFORE:
Madonna Ciccone was a NY club sensation. Moving to NYC from Bay City MI with less than $50 to her name, Madonna slowly made her way up. Before the release of this album, she had already scored one huge dance single with Everybody, and was climbing the dance chart with Burning Up at the time of release.

AFTER:
While not an overnight success (when the album peaked, it had been out 15 months), Madonna's debut proved to be "the little album that could". Lambasted by critics at first, and at first resisted by a disco-backlashed radio environment. Madonna quietly crept into the nations conscience in 1984. Borderline, Holiday and Lucky Star have all become radio standards.

Madonna's debut is one of the greatest dance records ever. Released not too long after Flashdance began to make dance music accepted again, every single track off this album was played in clubs around the world in 83/84. There is no "substance" song on this that Madonna has added as she got older and wiser, but in the terms of this album, it was amazing. Like A Virgin was the blockbuster, but "Madonna" was a stronger album in my book, and it also lasted on the Billboard album chart for FOUR YEARS.

Every song is a classic on this. Still one of her best.


Vintage Madonna - brilliantly enhanced   July 13, 2001
 5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Probably the easiest way for me to review this album would be to start with a comment on the actual songs, followed by a comment on the new "Digitally Remastered" package itself.

Madonna's first album, simply titled "Madonna" in the USA, Canada and South Africa (and "The First Album" in Europe, the UK and Australia), is a mix of electro-synth-funk-pop, reminiscent of the early 80's. Much of the material, in fact all of it, is dance oriented and smacks of earthy gusto - heavy electric guitars, melodic synth and casual, everyday pop. The album opens with "Lucky Star", an upbeat, exhilarating tune that catapulted Madonna into the upper realms of the record charts. This is followed by "Borderline" - a far more mellow piece of material yet, nevertheless, highly charged. Other hits worth mentioning on this album are "Burning Up" (a funky, playful dance tune with some serious guitars), "Holiday" (a buoyant pop track which, to this day, has been one of Madonna's steadfast signatures) and "Physical Attraction" (probably my favourite piece - heavily synthetic and onomatopoeic, with image-filled lyrics like "...it's just making me want you more and more..."). The album closes with Madonna's very first single release, "Everybody", a playful banter of the early 80's New Wave Invasion - fresh, catchy ("Everybody, come on, dance and sing") and irresistibly jiggy.

The remodelled version of this 1983 album can simply be described as "flawless". "Digitally Remastered" it is, and in more ways than one. The entire package has been enhanced, including the lyrics booklet and back cover. All three pictures in the CD booklet have been polished, and the back cover of the CD is delightful - I personally have never seen this picture of Madonna before. Serious fans will love it! The British and European fans will be delighted, as even the album cover will be new to them. The South Africans, however, may be a little disappointed at the loss of the beautiful "chain nipping" picture in the new enhanced CD booklet.

One finds it hard to believe the clarity of each song on this refreshing, digitally enhanced CD. At times, some tunes sound even more dance oriented than before - as their beats are far more distinctive and positively deafening. "Physical Attraction" and "Lucky Star" are examples. The drums are pulsating, and the synthesisers are lucid and precise. The inclusion of two bonus tracks will please many fans. "Lucky Star" (New Mix) is not characteristically different to the album version - it is merely an extended version. "Burning Up" (12" Version), however, is a surprising delight! The song sounds far more polished and funky, and doesn't appear to "drag on" like most 12" versions. The beat is improved, and the drums resonate in a "get up and dance" manner.

Surprising to me was the fact that the 12" extended version of "Everybody" was included on the new "Digitally Remastered" CD, yet was not inscribed as such. The original "Madonna" album, in actual fact, hosted the edited version. A fan of remixes, I would personally have loved to see more bonus tracks on this CD. Perhaps a 12" version of Borderline or 2001 remixes of Holiday, Lucky Star and Physical Attraction. For now, though, we won't be greedy. This digitally remastered CD is sufficiently satisfying as is. A delight for the real fan, and a surprise for the musically uninformed.


Madonna:- Madonna   September 4, 2005
 5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Madonna's debut album released in 1983, produced by Reggie Lucas, features some stunning songs. It brought together some of her dance/club hits ("Everybody", "Physical Attraction", "Burning Up"), but also features the smash hit singles "Holiday", "Borderline" and "Lucky Star". The first smash out of the gate was "Everybody". It hit the Billboard's Disco Chart back in early 1982, before this album's release, and peaked at #3. The double-sided 12" "Burning Up/Physical Attraction" followed this release, and peaked at #3 also. After Madonna had bagged up 2 Top 3 hits on the Disco Chart, Madonna stormed into the Billboard Hot 100 to release "Holiday", which charted at #16, giving Madonna her first Top 40 hit. "Borderline" (#10) and "Lucky Star" (#4) followed. This album peaked at #8 on The Billboard Top 200, and spent a whopping 168 weeks on the chart. Madonna wrote 5 of the 8 tracks on this album, which has sold 5 million in the US since its release, 10 million worldwide.

1. "Lucky Star" (10/10)
2. "Borderline" (10/10)
3. "Burning Up" (10/10)
4. "I Know It" (9/10)
5. "Holiday" (10/10)
6. "Think Of Me" (10/10)
7. "Physical Attraction" (10/10)
8. "Everybody" (10/10)
9. "Burning Up" [12" Version] (10/10)
10. "Lucky Star" ['New' Mix] (10/10)

Overall, this album is really one to own if you are a Madonna fan. No Madonna fan should be without her fantastic debut! "Lucky Star" and "Borderline" are really excellent tracks. They are brilliant singles and 2 of Madonna's best! "Burning Up" and "I Know It" aren't my favourite songs from the album, but they are still solid listens. "Holiday" is definately a Madonna classic, and one of the best songs on this album. "Think Of Me" is yet another excellent song, whereas "Physical Attraction" and "Everybody" are more brilliant listens. Every Madonna fan should hear these songs!! The 2 bonus remixes that appear on this album are also great, especially the remix of "Lucky Star". I completely recommend this album to die-hard Madonna fans!

My top three "Madonna" pics:-
3) Lucky Star
2) Holiday
1) Physical Attraction


The Album That Created A "Lucky Star"   July 16, 2003
 4 out of 4 found this review helpful

This was Madonna's debut and although her sophomore album "Like A Virgin" was the one that made her a household name, this album was still very successful and gave her a nice share of hits. Yeah, the songs scream early 80's, but the album is a fun dance LP and a Madonna essential.

1. Lucky Star: 5/5 One of my Madonna faves. This version is much better than the version on "The Immaculate Collection." You need to hear the full song to appreciate it. It hit #4 on the pop charts.

2. Borderline: 5/5 This song has taken years to grow on me, but now I love it. A Madonna classic. This hit #10 on the pop charts.

3. Burning Up: 5/5 A dance hit for Madonna. Although it's a great track, it's one of M's most underrated singles.

4. I Know It: 5/5 The intro sounds like the theme from some bad 80's action flick, but it's a cool song with an edgy chorus.

5. Holiday: 3/5 This is definitely a Madonna classic, but I've never cared for it. It's very recognizable but the other songs on here are better. A top 20 pop hit.

6. Think of Me: 4/5 A good dance track...nothing outstanding.

7. Physical Attraction: 4/5 Ditto to #6.

8. Everybody: 4/5 Madonna's first single was a hit in the dance clubs. It has a fun chorus and is pretty darn catchy.

On the remastered version, there are also two bonus mixes of "Lucky Star" and "Burning Up." A highly recommended album. All big Madonna fans should get this whether you have the "Immaculate Collection" or not. The remastered, extended versions are better. :)


Awesome for Madonna fans and 80s fans   November 15, 2003
 4 out of 4 found this review helpful

I am a new Madonna fan and I decided to start collecting her albums from the beginning, with this album. I am also quite a big fan of 80s music, so this was a great treat for me. There isn't a song I don't like on the album.

"Lucky Star"
This is a really good song to dance to. It kind of reminds me of a fusion of 80s pop and something from the Far East. I love Madonna's vocals, and I could dance to this song for hours. 8/10

"Borderline"
This is my favorite song on this album. I love the beat, the lyrics are the most meaningful out of these songs, about a girl in a crappy relationship she can't let go of. I can relate to the lyrics, so this is a great song for me. 9/10

"Burnin' Up"
This song oozes rock. It isn't really my favorite song on the CD, but I still really like listening to it. Madonna shows that she can sing low and high in this. Sounds great on the chorus. 6/10

"I Know It"
This is easily one of Madonna's most underrated songs. It is in a different sort of style than the other songs on this album. This is probably one of my favorites. It reminds me of a song from the 60s. 7/10

"Holiday"
This is one of the songs that has followed Madonna throughout her entire career. Awesome beat and kind of an ethnic sound. Gotta love those carefree lyrics! This song gets stuck in my head all the time, it's so catchy. 9/10

"Think of Me"
I love the attitude in this song! Just the way the song sounds is really cool. It's kind of like elevator music -- 80s remix! Good song to dance to. 7/10

"Physical Attraction"
The slowest song on the album, this one shows Madonna's personality and charisma. I love it, but you can't really dance to it like with all the others. 6/10

"Everybody"
This is one of the greatest dance songs of all time. This is the song that got me hooked on Madonna for good. 10/10

The last two songs are different versions of "Burnin' Up" and "Lucky Star". Overall, I reccomend this album to anybody who likes this style of me. If you're new to Madonna, start with this album!