As the calendar turns over into March, Madonna fans are predictably going into overdrive thanks to the release of MDNA, her latest studio album, on the 26th. It's going to be her first effort not distributed by Warner Bros.; she left the label to sign an all-encompassing deal with Live Nation in 2007, and while Warner distributed her live Sticky & Sweet Tour set in 2010, Universal's Interscope Records will distribute MDNA.
Her rich back catalogue is very much in Warner Music's archives, though; 2009 saw the career-spanning compilation Celebration, but there has been no catalogue activity since then - until now. Rhino U.K. is re-releasing some of Madonna's works on CD and vinyl the same day that MDNA hits stores.
For vinyl collectors, five albums - 1983's self-titled album, 1984's Like a Virgin, 1986's True Blue, 1989's Like a Prayer and 1992's Erotica - are being released on the format. All the original artwork is replicated, including the original True Blue poster, and all the sets will be single-LP affairs save for the double-vinyl Erotica.
And then there's The Complete Studio Albums 1983-2008, which collates 11 of Madonna's Warner albums from those 25 years with the label. It's difficult to think of any of it as "complete," as there's plenty of discs that could have bore inclusion into the box (remix album You Can Dance (1987), 1990's I'm Breathless, featuring music from and inspired by the film Dick Tracy - which she co-starred in - as well as smash hit "Vogue"). The only bonus tracks present in the set are the remixes from the remastered editions of Madonna, Like a Virgin and True Blue released in 2001.
Still, if you're a U.K. Madonna fan who wants to dive headfirst after a compilation or two, this is hard to beat. Pre-order the box here and hit the jump for a full breakdown. (Kudos to Super Deluxe Edition for their reportage.)
Madonna, The Complete Studio Albums 1983-2008 (Warner Bros./Rhino (U.K.), 2012)
Disc 1: Madonna (originally released as Sire Records 23867, 1983)
- Lucky Star
- Borderline
- Burning Up
- I Know It
- Holiday
- Think of Me
- Physical Attraction
- Everybody
- Burning Up (12" Version) (12" A-side - Sire 0-29715, 1983)
- Lucky Star (New Mix) (12" promotional A-side - Sire PRO-A-2069, 1983)
Disc 2: Like a Virgin (originally released as Sire Records 25157, 1984)
- Material Girl
- Angel
- Like a Virgin
- Over and Over
- Love Don't Live Here Anymore
- Dress You Up
- Shoo-Be-Doo
- Pretender
- Stay
- Like a Virgin (Extended Dance Mix) (12" A-side - Sire 0-20239, 1984)
- Material Girl (Extended Dance Mix) (12" A-side - Sire 0-20304, 1985)
Disc 3: True Blue (originally released as Sire Records 25442, 1986)
- 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
- True Blue (The Color Mix) (12" A-side - Sire 0-20533, 1986)
- La Isla Bonita (Extended Remix) (12" A-side - Sire 0-20633, 1987)
Disc 4: Like a Prayer (originally released as Sire Records 25844, 1989)
- Like a Prayer
- Express Yourself
- Love Song
- Till Death Do Us Part
- Promise to Try
- Cherish
- Dear Jessie
- Oh Father
- Keep It Together
- Pray for Spanish Eyes
- Act of Contrition
Disc 5: Erotica (originally released as Sire Records/Maverick 45031, 1992)
- Erotica
- Fever
- Bye Bye Baby
- Deeper and Deeper
- Where Life Begins
- Bad Girl
- Waiting
- Thief of Hearts
- Words
- Rain
- Why's It So Hard
- In This Life
- Did You Do It?
- Secret Garden
Disc 6: Bedtime Stories (originally released as Maverick 45467, 1994)
- Survival
- Secret
- I'd Rather Be Your Lover
- Don't Stop
- Inside of Me
- Human Nature
- Forbidden Love
- Love Tried to Warn Me
- Sanctuary
- Bedtime Story
- Take a Bow
Disc 7: Ray of Light (originally released as Maverick/Warner Bros. Records 46847, 1998)
- Drowned World/Substitute for Love
- Swim
- Ray of Light
- Candy Perfume Girl
- Skin
- Nothing Really Matters
- Sky Fits Heaven
- Shanti/Asthangi
- Frozen
- The Power of Good-Bye
- To Have and Not to Hold
- Little Star
- Mer Girl
Disc 8: Music (originally released as Maverick/Warner Bros. Records 47598, 2000)
- Music
- Impressive Instant
- Runaway Lover
- I Deserve It
- Amazing
- Nobody's Perfect
- Don't Tell Me
- What It Feels Like for a Girl
- Paradise (Not for Me)
- Gone
Disc 9: American Life (originally released as Maverick/Warner Bros. Records 48439, 2003)
- American Life
- Hollywood
- I'm So Stupid
- Love Profusion
- Nobody Knows Me
- Nothing Fails
- Intervention
- X-Static Process
- Mother and Father
- Die Another Day
- Easy Ride
Disc 10: Confessions on a Dance Floor (originally released as Warner Bros. Records 49460, 2005)
- Hung Up
- Get Together
- Sorry
- Future Lovers
- I Love New York
- Let It Will Be
- Forbidden Love
- Jump
- How High
- Isaac
- Push
- Like It or Not
Disc 11: Hard Candy (originally released as Warner Bros. Records 511269, 2008)
- Candy Shop
- 4 Minutes (featuring Justin Timberlake and Timbaland)
- Give It 2 Me
- Heartbeat
- Miles Away
- She's Not Me
- Incredible
- Beat Goes On (featuring Kanye West)
- Dance 2Night (featuring Justin Timberlake)
- Spanish Lesson
- Devil Wouldn't Recognize You
- Voices
Randy Anthony says
They really missed an opportunity to round up all those rare, non-LP tracks. Of which, there are many. This box won't be of much use to anybody but complete neophytes, obsessed completists, and people with too much money. Of which, I am none.
Scott says
Leaving out the Breathless album makes absolutely no sense. It may have been "inspired by" the Dick Tracy movie, but I've never heard anyone argue that is was not considered a studio album.
I agree with Randy. There should have been a extra disc or two that not only rounded up the non-LP tracks and b-sides, but also the tracks that were exclusive to her various compliations. As is, this set excludes 12 of her Top 10 hits including 5 number ones:
Who's That Girl (#1), This Used To Be My Playground (#1), Justify My Love (#1), Vogue (#1), Crazy For You (#1), Causing A Commotion (#2), I'll Remember (#2), Hanky Panky (#10), Rescue Me (#9), You'll See (#6), Don't Cry For Me Argentina (#8), Die Another Day (#8)
A "Complete Sire/Warner Bros./Maverick" collection, adding Breathless as well as a few discs of all the remaining tracks, would be much more appealing. Or even better, just add them as bonus tracks to each studio album where they fit chronologically.
Andee says
I'm sure they have stuff planned for Madonna as the 30th of her debut should be next year....
Giuseppe says
I echo the sentiments of the other comments and cannot believe in a bad economy that a major record label would possibly think such an incomplete, uninspired, and blatant cash-in attempt will achieve its intent. Yet again the fans are denied the very things they crave - non-LP tracks, unreleased tracks and demos, rare single remixes currently only available on vinyl or cassette, etc. It just goes to show how very out of touch the powers-that-be truly are... very sad for all involved.