FEATURE:
Deeper and Deeper
IN THIS PHOTO: Madonna in 1992
The Best Lesser-Known Cuts from Each of Madonna’s Studio Albums
___________
BECAUSE it is Madonna’s birthday…
IN THIS PHOTO: Madonna in 2005
tomorrow (16th August), I am doing a few features to mark that. Some may say that it is a bit overboard to do a run of features for a single artist on their birthday. To me, Madonna is one of the most interesting artists ever! There is so much to cover and investigate when it comes to her career. Today, I want to concentrate on a song from each of Madonna’s studio albums that are not as well known - though they are definitely worth investigation. There are several songs on all of her albums that do not get played; those deeper cuts that are really solid and warrant greater exposure. I am selecting what I consider to be the best ‘deep cut’ (non-singles) from her studio albums. I am not including soundtrack albums in my feature. To mark Madonna’s upcoming sixty-third birthday, here are a collection of fascinating songs that, whilst not single-worthy, are highlights from her fourteen studio albums that people should listen to. I hope that my choices allow you to gain a greater appreciation…
IN THIS PHOTO: Madonna in a promotional image for 2019’s Madame X
OF Madonna’s amazing albums.
_______________
Madonna - Physical Attraction
Track Position on Album: 7
Album Release Date: 27th July, 1983
Labels: Sire/Warner Bros.
Producers: John ‘Jellybean’ Benitez/Mark Kamins/Reggie Lucas
Album’s US Billboard 200 Chart Position: 8
Standout Track Lyric: “Maybe we were meant to be together/Even though we never met before/We got to move before the sun is rising/And you'll be walking slowly out the door, out the door”.
Like a Virgin - Stay
Track Position on Album: 9
Album Release Date: 12th November, 1984
Buy: https://www.discogs.com/sell/list?master_id=18021&ev=mb
Labels: Sire/Warner Bros.
Producer: Nile Rogers
Album’s US Billboard 200 Chart Position: 1
Standout Track Lyric: “I know there's bound to be some hard times ahead/I'd be a fool to believe/But if you go, I'd rather think of dying instead/I'll never want you to leave”.
True Blue - White Heat
Track Position on Album: 3
Album Release Date: 30th June, 1986
Buy: https://www.discogs.com/sell/list?master_id=67836&ev=mb
Labels: Sire/Warner Bros.
Producers: Madonna/Stephen Bray/Patrick Leonard
Album’s US Billboard 200 Chart Position: 1
Standout Track Lyric: “I can't let my heart/Put on a show/'Til you surrender baby/You've got to let it go”.
Like a Prayer - Act of Contrition
Track Position on Album: 11
Album Release Date: 21st March, 1989
Buy: https://www.discogs.com/sell/list?master_id=34627&ev=mb
Labels: Sire/Warner Bros.
Producers: Madonna/Patrick Leonard/Stephen Bray/Prince
Album’s US Billboard 200 Chart Position: 1
Standout Track Lyric: “I firmly resolve with the help of Thy grace/To confess my sins, to do penance, to amend my life/And to avoid the temptations of evil/Oh my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee”.
Erotica (PA Version) - Secret Garden
Track Position on Album: 14
Album Release Date: 20th October, 1992
Buy: https://www.discogs.com/sell/list?master_id=34414&ev=mb
Labels: Maverick/Sire/Warner Bros.
Producers: Madonna/Shep Pettibone/André Betts
Album’s US Billboard 200 Chart Position: 2
Standout Track Lyric: “A petal that isn't torn/A heart that will not harden/A place that I can be born/In my secret garden/A rose without a thorn/A lover without scorn”.
Bedtime Stories - Survival
Track Position on Album: 1
Album Release Date: 25th October, 1994
Buy: https://www.discogs.com/sell/list?master_id=34099&ev=mb
Labels: Maverick/Sire/Warner Bros.
Producers: Madonna/Dallas Austin/Babyface/Dave Hall/Nellee Hooper
Album’s US Billboard 200 Chart Position: 3
Standout Track Lyric: “Here's my question (my question)/Does your criticism/Have you caught up/In what you cannot see?/Well, if you give me respect/Then you'll know what to expect, a little”.
Ray of Light - Candy Perfume Girl
Track Position on Album: 4
Album Release Date: 22nd February, 1998
Buy: https://www.discogs.com/sell/list?master_id=67803&ev=mb
Labels: Maverick/Warner Bros.
Producers: Madonna/William Orbit/Patrick Leonard/Marius de Vries
Album’s US Billboard 200 Chart Position: 2
Standout Track Lyric: “Rush me ghost you see/Every center my home/Fever steam girl/Throb the oceans”.
Music - Runaway Lover
Track Position on Album: 3
Album Release Date: 18th September, 2000
Buy: https://www.discogs.com/sell/list?master_id=34721&ev=mb
Labels: Maverick/Warner Bros.
Producers: Madonna/Mirwais Ahmadzaï/William Orbit/Guy Sigsworth/Mark ‘Spike’ Stent/Talvin Singh
Album’s US Billboard 200 Chart Position: 1
Standout Track Lyric: “You're set adrift with no direction/Just like a ship that's lost at sea/You don't care where you drop your anchor/Make sure it doesn't land on me”.
American Life - X-Static Process
Track Position on Album: 8
Album Release Date: 21st April, 2003
Buy: https://www.discogs.com/sell/list?master_id=33988&ev=mb
Labels: Maverick/Warner Bros.
Producers: Madonna/Mirwais Ahmadzaï/Mark ‘Spike’ Stent
Album’s US Billboard 200 Chart Position: 1
Standout Track Lyric: “I'm not myself when you go quiet/I'm not myself all alone at night/I'm not myself don't know who to call/I'm not myself at all”.
Confessions on a Dance Floor - Future Lovers
Track Position on Album: 4
Album Release Date: 9th November, 2005
Buy: https://www.discogs.com/sell/list?master_id=34205&ev=mb
Label: Warner Bros.
Producers: Madonna/Stuart Price/Mirwais Ahmadzaï/Bloodshy & Avant
Album’s US Billboard 200 Chart Position: 1
Standout Track Lyric: “Connect to the sky/Future lovers ride their ambitions high, would you like to try?/Let me be your guide, cut inside your pride/Future lovers hide love inside their eyes”.
Hard Candy - Heartbeat
Track Position on Album: 4
Album Release Date: 19th April, 2008
Buy: https://www.discogs.com/sell/list?master_id=18125&ev=mb
Label: Warner Bros.
Producers: Danja/The Neptunes/Timbaland/Justin Timberlake
Album’s US Billboard 200 Chart Position: 1
Standout Track Lyric: “On any given night, catch me on the floor/Working up a sweat, that's what music's for/I'd rather not explain, for me it's just usual”.
MDNA - I’m a Sinner
Track Position on Album: 9
Album Release Date: 23rd March, 2012
Buy: https://www.discogs.com/sell/list?master_id=421537&ev=mb
Label: Interscope
Producers: Madonna/Alle Benassi/Benny Benassi/The Demolition Crew/Michael Malih/Hardy ‘Indiigo’ Muanza/William Orbit/Martin Solveig
Album’s US Billboard 200 Chart Position: 1
Standout Track Lyric: “Like a moon with no light of my own/Surfs the sky for a place to call home/I woke up with my hand in the fire/Get my kicks when I'm walking the wire”.
Rebel Heart - Body Shop
Track Position on Album: 11
Album Release Date: 6th March, 2015
Buy: https://www.discogs.com/sell/list?master_id=805764&ev=mb
Label: Interscope
Producers: Madonna/Diplo/Ariel Rechtshaid/Avicii/Blood Diamonds/Billboard/Jason Evigan/Shelco Garcia & Teenwolf/Kanye West/Mike Dean/Toby Gad/AFSHeeN/Josh Cumbee/Salem Al Fakir/Symbolyc One/Magnus Lidehäll/Vincent Pontare/Astma & Rocwell/Carl Falk
Album’s US Billboard 200 Chart Position: 2
Standout Track Lyric: “Stuck to the seat, our body heat, what will you do with all of this ass?/Let's shift a gears, get outta here, we're steppin' on the gas/We gotta bounce, we're goin fast, let's let the seat go back/You take the wheel, I'll sit on top”.
Madame X (Deluxe) - Faz Gostoso
Track Position on Album: 11
Album Release Date: 14th June, 2019
Buy: https://www.discogs.com/sell/list?master_id=1563046&ev=mb
Label: Interscope
Producers: Madonna/Mirwais/Mike Dean/Diplo/Billboard/Jason Evigan/Jeff Bhasker/Pharrell Williams
Album’s US Billboard 200 Chart Position: 1
Standout Track Lyric: “But today he's saying, "no way"/Better throw that cachaça away/Boy, I think that you're losing your mind/You act like a fool, a fool all the time”.