Like a Virgin

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For other uses, see Like a Virgin (disambiguation).
Like a Virgin
Like a Virgin cover
Studio album by Madonna
Released November 12, 1984
August, 1985 (Europe)
May 21, 2001 (Remastered)
Recorded 1984, Power Station Studios, Manhattan, New York [1]
Genre Pop, Dance
Length 43:10
Label Sire, Warner Bros.
Producer Nile Rodgers, Madonna, Stephen Bray
Professional reviews
Madonna chronology
Madonna
(1983)		 Like a Virgin
(1984)		 True Blue
(1986)
Singles from Like a Virgin
  1. "Like a Virgin"
    Released: November 1984
  2. "Material Girl"
    Released: January 1985
    March 1985 (U.K.)
  3. "Angel"
    Released: April 1985
    September 1985 (U.K.)
  4. "Dress You Up"
    Released: July 1985
    December 1985 (U.K.)
  5. "Into the Groove"
    Released: August 1985 (not released in the U.S.)
  6. "Love Don't Live Here Anymore"
    Released: November 1985 (Japan only)

Like a Virgin is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Madonna, released on November 12, 1984 by Sire Records. The album was re-released in 1985 for the European market with the bonus track "Into the Groove." In 2001 Warner Bros. released a remastered version with two bonus remix tracks (this version did not include "Into the Groove"). It sold 11 million copies when it was released and has sold an estimated 22 million copies worldwide.[1][2]

Contents

[edit] Album history

Nile Rodgers was chosen by Madonna as the producer of the album, mostly because of his work with David Bowie on his album Let's Dance. Like a Virgin built on the sound and image that Madonna had created in her debut album, which was very much disco and pop-oriented. Madonna dedicated the album to "all the virgins of the world."

The album's title track was her first number one hit song. Madonna debuted the song at the first annual MTV Video Music Awards. In this performance, Madonna rolled on the floor in a white wedding dress, exposing her panties and garter belt, all the while wearing a belt that read "Boy Toy." The album's second single, "Material Girl," earned Madonna the nickname of "material girl" from the media. Originally, "Into the Groove" was not included on the album. The song was an early recording slated to appear on her debut album, but was dropped at the last minute. It later resurfaced in Madonna's 1985 film, Desperately Seeking Susan and became a worldwide hit. Subsequently, Warner Bros. Records included it on Virgin's European track listing.

The album was a huge success on the charts, but the critics were not really convinced of Madonna's skills and described her as an "unimportant annoying one-hit-wonder" with a voice similar to "Minnie Mouse on helium." The award shows largely snubbed Like a Virgin; although she did receive a few nominations at the 1985 MTV Video Music Awards, she lost each of them.

The sleeve image was by Steven Meisel who would become a regular collaborator. In 1992 he shot all the photographs for the infamous book SEX.

She later performed "Material Girl," "Angel," "Like a Virgin," "Over and Over," and "Dress You Up" on her 1985 Virgin Tour.

This song has been parodied by "Weird" Al Yankovic in the song Like a Surgeon.

[edit] Track listing

# Title Composers Production credits Time
1. "Material Girl" Peter Brown, Robert Rans Nile Rodgers 4:00
2. "Angel" Madonna, Stephen Bray Nile Rodgers 3:56
3. "Like a Virgin" Tom Kelly, Billy Steinberg Nile Rodgers 3:38
4. "Over and Over" Madonna, Stephen Bray Nile Rodgers 4:14
5. "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" Miles Gregory Nile Rodgers 4:50
6. "Into the Groove" (from the motion picture Desperately Seeking Susan) 1 Madonna, Stephen Bray Madonna and Stephen Bray 4:43
7. "Dress You Up" Andrea LaRusso, Peggy Stanziale Nile Rodgers 4:01
8. "Shoo-Bee-Doo" Madonna Nile Rodgers 5:16
9. "Pretender" Madonna, Stephen Bray Nile Rodgers 4:30
10. "Stay" Madonna, Stephen Bray Nile Rodgers 4:07
2001 Remastered version bonus tracks
11. "Like a Virgin" (Extended Dance Remix) Tom Kelly, Billy Steinberg Nile Rodgers
Remixed by John "Jellybean" Benitez		 6:08
12. "Material Girl" (Extended Dance Remix) Peter Brown, Robert Rans Nile Rodgers
Remixed by John "Jellybean" Benitez		 6:07

1 Bonus track available on the 1985 re-issue, not available on the U.S. version, not included on the 2001 Remastered version.

[edit] Certifications, peaks & sales

Country Peak position Certification (if any) Sales/shipments
Australia 2 7x Platinum[3] 490,000+
Canada Diamond[4] 1,000,000+
Finland Gold[5] 35,000+
France 2 2x Platinum[6] 600,000+
Germany 1 3x Gold[7] 750,000+
Switzerland 3 2x Platinum[8] 100,000+
United Kingdom 1 3x Platinum[9] 900,000+
United States 1 Diamond[10] 10,000,000+

[edit] Album credits

[edit] Personnel


[edit] Production

  • Producers: Madonna, Stephen Bray, Nile Rodgers
  • Engineer: Jason Corsaro
  • Production manager: Budd Tunick
  • Audio Mastering: Bob Ludwig
  • Drum programming: Jimmy Bralower

[edit] Design

  • Art Direction: Jeri McManus, Jeffrey Kent Ayer
  • Photography: Steven Meisel
  • Stylist: Maripol
  • Design: Jeffrey Kent Ayer, Jeri McManus

[edit] References

  1. ^ Madonna charts and sale figures
  2. ^ Amazon.co.uk: Madonna Discography
  3. ^ ARIA
  4. ^ CRIA
  5. ^ IFPI Finland
  6. ^ Disque En France
  7. ^ IFPI Germany
  8. ^ IFPI Switzerland
  9. ^ BPI
  10. ^ Billboard – Ask Billboard
Preceded by
Purple Rain by Prince and The Revolution		 Billboard 200 number-one album
February 9 - March 1, 1985		 Succeeded by
Make It Big by Wham!
v • d • e
Madonna
Studio albums
Madonna (1983) · Like a Virgin (1984) · True Blue (1986) · Like a Prayer (1989) · Erotica (1992) · Bedtime Stories (1994) Ray of Light (1998) · Music (2000) · American Life (2003) · Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005) · Hard Candy (2008)
Compilations
You Can Dance (1987) · The Immaculate Collection (1990) · Something to Remember (1995) · GHV2 (2001) · Remixed & Revisited (2003)
Other Compilations
Remixed Prayers (1989) · The Royal Box (1991) · The Holiday Collection (1991) · The Rain Tapes (1992) · CD Single Collection (1996) · GHV2 Remixed (2001) · Confessions Remixed (2006)
Soundtracks
Vision Quest (1985) · Who's That Girl (1987) · I'm Breathless - Music from and Inspired by the film Dick Tracy (1990) · With Honors (1994) · Evita (1996) Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) · The Next Best Thing (2000) · Die Another Day (2002)
Live Music Videos & Albums
Music Video Compilations
Music Video Singles
"Papa Don't Preach" (1986) · "Justify My Love" (1990) · "Ray of Light" (1998) · "Music" (2000) · "What It Feels Like for a Girl" (2001)
Concert Tours
Promotional Tours
Related topics