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Pre-Madonna

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Not to be confused withPrima donna.

Pre-Madonna
A blue-tinted collage of photos
Demo albumby
Madonna
ReleasedJune 10, 1997
Recorded1980–81
StudioThe Music Building,New York City
GenrePop
Length47:27
LabelSoultone
Producer

Pre-Madonna(titledIn the Beginningin European countries) is a collection ofdemosby American singerMadonna.It was released in 1997 byStephen Bray,who was the producer of the songs when they were recorded, and was distributed by Soultone. Madonna met up with Bray, her former boyfriend, in 1980 when she was trying to establish her music career. She had left the bandBreakfast Cluband enlisted his help to further her career. Together they started writing songs and recorded them at New York'sMusic Buildingstudio. The songs recorded at that time were released inPre-Madonna.

The album was not authorized by Madonna, however, Bray decided to releasePre-Madonnaregardless, and included original demos alongside new remixes. Included were the demo versions of "Everybody"and"Burning Up"which Madonna used for herself-titleddebut album. The album received mixed reviews, with some critics deeming the release as unnecessary, while others were delighted to hear Madonna's original recordings.

Background[edit]

In 1979,Madonnawas trying to establish her career in the music industry. She was thedrummerof a band calledBreakfast Club,which was headed by the Gilroy brothers, Dan and Ed.[1]After their lead female vocalist left, Madonna was given the role of the lead female singer. However, she wanted to be the only female voice of the band, and opposed against the introduction of another female vocalist, Angie Smith.[1]This led to a dispute between Dan and her, which resulted in Madonna leaving the band.[2]She then formed a new band called Madonna and The Sky, but that also faced a major problem within a few weeks when its principal drummer Mike Shenoy, who had a full-time job and a fiancé, decided to leave the band.[2]

Undaunted by Shenoy's departure, Madonna partnered up with her Michigan boyfriendStephen Bray.[3]Bray and Madonna had met at theUniversity of Michiganin 1976, where he was working as a waiter in a club atAnn Arbor.Bray used to take Madonna on the tours of his band; after their romance ended, they remained good friends.[1]When Madonna telephoned Bray to come and join the band, he immediately accepted and joined as the drummer replacing Shenoy. Madonna's main focus now was to become a professional singer, and she asked Bray to help her achieve that.[4]Together they started writing songs and recorded them under Gotham Records, in New York's rehearsal studio calledthe Music Building.[1]They worked on a number of songs, with production provided by Bray: "Ain't No Big Deal", "Laugh to Keep from Crying", "Crimes of Passion", "Don't You Know", and "Stay", along with some songs that Madonna had previously written and recorded, including "Everybody"and"Burning Up".[5]The latter two songs were accepted for Madonna's self-titleddebut albumin reworked versions produced byReggie Lucas.[3]

"Ain't No Big Deal" was released as the B-side to her singles "True Blue"and"Papa Don't Preach".[6]"Stay" and "Don't You Know" were combined into one song, "Stay", which was included on theLike a Virginalbum.[citation needed]

Composition[edit]

"Laugh to Keep from Crying"
"Laugh to Keep from Crying" showcases Madonna'srock musicroots and her early guitar skill.
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Three tracks were remixed for the album which Bray produced with Tony Shepperd. The first is the track "Crimes of Passion". Bray said that there was "nothing salvagable" from the original tracks of the song, so he recreated the music.[7]He compared the song to "Into the Groove",calling it a" prototype "of the song.[7]Larry FlickfromBillboarddescribed "Crimes of Passion" as "disco-spiced".[8]The other two remixed songs, "Everybody" and "Ain't No Big Deal" – both subtitled with a "97" moniker – were remixed for a more contemporary appeal.[8]The remix of "Everybody" is significantly slower than the original, which Bray said was meant to give it a more "tropical" sound.[7]

The remainder of the album was produced and recorded between 1980 and 1981.[7]According to Bray, "These tracks carve the dance sound of a generation and chronicle Madonna's first musical self-definition phase."[8]"Laugh to Keep from Crying" was the earliest track recorded on the release.[7]It is arocksong that features Madonna playing the guitar.[7]AllMusiccompared her sound on the song to that ofThe Pretenders.[9]Aside from the remixes, "Burning Up" was the latest recording on the set, which Bray compared to works ofJoan JetandNew Order.[7]

Release and reception[edit]

At the time the compilation was released, Madonna was riding a wave of publicity as a result of the filmEvitaand her pregnancy with daughter Lourdes.[10]Bray said in an interview withExtrathat Madonna would receiveroyaltiesfor the release, and added "There's nothing in these tapes that would be embarrassing, and just hoping that she would like it as much as we do."[10]In 1998, the album was reissued in Europe under the titleIn the Beginning.It features different artwork and a rearranged track list.[11]

Pre-Madonnareceived mixed reviews from critics. Mark Egan fromRocky Mountain Newswrites that "although the songs have soul in them, it's the delivery that lacks in Madonna's voice; you just feel that something is really missing."[12]Mark Zug fromChicago Tribunecommented that "the demos onPre-Madonnaare a delight to listen to. To all the Madonna fans, this is one album worth collecting and replaying. "[13]Jasmine Temple fromLe xing ton Herald-Leadercalls the album, "a gloriously voyeuristic—and unauthorized—glimpse at Madonna's past, the woman she was then. You can actually sense the development of the icon she is today from the songs."[14]Robin DeRosa fromUSA Todaywas disappointed with the release, saying that "it feels forced. This release is as unneeded as the hoopla surrounding Madonna's new born. Every artist has demo recordings in their early phases of career and they are generally not good. This one is not different."[15]After Madonna was inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Famein 2008, Tony Sclafani fromMSNBCnoted that none of Madonna's songs were in therock musicgenre, "but all use rock as a jumping off point. Audible evidence of Madonna's rock roots can be found on the collection of early demosPre-Madonna."[16]

Track listing[edit]

Pre-Madonna
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)[17]Length
1."Laugh to Keep from Crying"
  • Madonna
  • Stephen Bray
Bray3:50
2."Crimes of Passion"
  • Madonna
  • Bray
  • Bray
  • Tony Shepperd
3:43
3."Ain't No Big Deal" ('97 Edit)Bray
  • Bray
  • Shepperd
4:00
4."Everybody"('97)Madonna
  • Bray
  • Shepperd
4:50
5."Burning Up"MadonnaBray4:05
6."Ain't No Big Deal" ('81)BrayBray6:39
7."Everybody" ('81)MadonnaBray4:49
8."Stay" ('81)
  • Madonna
  • Bray
Bray4:21
9."Don't You Know"
  • Madonna
  • Bray
Bray4:31
10."Ain't No Big Deal" ('97 Extended)Bray
  • Bray
  • Shepperd
6:39
Total length:47:27
In the Beginning
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Crimes of Passion"
  • Madonna
  • Stephen Bray
  • Bray
  • Tony Shepperd
3:44
2."Everybody" ('97)Madonna
  • Bray
  • Shepperd
4:52
3."Ain't No Big Deal" ('97)Bray
  • Bray
  • Shepperd
4:02
4."Laugh to Keep from Crying"
  • Madonna
  • Bray
Bray3:51
5."Burning Up"MadonnaBray4:06
6."Ain't No Big Deal" ('81)BrayBray6:41
7."Everybody" ('81)MadonnaBray4:51
8."Stay" ('81)
  • Madonna
  • Bray
Bray4:23
9."Don't You Know"
  • Madonna
  • Bray
Bray4:31
Total length:41:01

Personnel[edit]

Credits and personnel adapted fromIn the Beginningliner notes.[17]

References[edit]

  1. ^abcdTaraborrelli 2002,p. 54
  2. ^abCross 2007,p. 20
  3. ^abTaraborrelli 2002,p. 55
  4. ^Cross 2007,p. 21
  5. ^Taraborrelli 2002,p. 57
  6. ^Rooksby 2004,p. 88
  7. ^abcdefgIn The Beginning(CD liner notes).Madonna.Gravity. 1998. 20012.{{cite AV media notes}}:CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^abcFlick, Larry (December 21, 1996)."Dance Trax: Steps In Time".Billboard.Vol. 108, no. 51.ISSN0006-2510.RetrievedJanuary 13,2011.
  9. ^"In the Beginning".AllMusic.RetrievedApril 24,2016.
  10. ^abMorrie, Paula (December 9, 1996)."Madonna on Extra: Pre-Madonna CD".Extra.Series 12. Episode 45. 3:14 minutes in.Broadcast syndication.Archivedfrom the original on November 16, 2021.
  11. ^Rooksby 2004,p. 89
  12. ^Egan, Mark (December 9, 1997)."CD studies the 'Pre-Madonna' age".Rocky Mountain News.RetrievedSeptember 14,2010.
  13. ^Zug, Mark (November 4, 1996)."Madonna demos from past surface".Chicago Tribune.RetrievedJanuary 14,2011.
  14. ^Temple, Jasmine (February 21, 1997)."'80 'Pre-Madonna' shows her promise ".Le xing ton Herald-Leader.RetrievedSeptember 14,2010.
  15. ^DeRosa, Robin (November 11, 1996)."'Ransom' grabs big part of the box office loot ".USA Today.Archived fromthe originalon June 19, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 14,2011.
  16. ^Sclafani, Tony (March 7, 2008)."Madonna: A True Blue Rock Star".MSNBC.Archived fromthe originalon March 10, 2008.RetrievedJanuary 14,2011.
  17. ^abPre-Madonna(CD, VHS).Madonna.Soultone. 1997. 83332-2.{{cite AV media notes}}:CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

Bibliography[edit]

External links[edit]

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