Tag Archives: Certification

Today in Madonna History: September 8, 1986

September 8, 2015 By in 1986, September Tags: , 1 Comment

true-blue-madonna-cassette-display

On September 8 1986, Madonna’s third album, True Blue, was certified double platinum (for shipment of 2 million units) in the USA.

Here’s a snippet of Davitt Sigerson’s review of True Blue from Rolling Stone (July 17, 1986):

Madonna’s sturdy, dependable, lovable new album remains faithful to her past while shamelessly rising above it. True Blue may generate fewer sales and less attention than Like a Virgin, but it sets her up as an artist for the long run. And like every other brainy move from this best of all possible pop madonnas, it sounds as if it comes from the heart.

Today in Madonna History: August 11, 1987

August 11, 2015 By in 1987, August Tags: , , 2 Comments

madonna-true-blue-lp-august-picture-disc-side-1 madonna-true-blue-lp-august-picture-disc-side-2

On August 11 1987, Madonna’s True Blue album was certified 5x platinum (for shipment of 5 million units) in the USA.

Stephen Thomas Erlewine noted that “True Blue is the album where Madonna truly became ‘Madonna the Superstar’—the endlessly ambitious, fearlessly provocative entertainer that knew how to outrage, spark debates, get good reviews—and make good music while she’s at it.”

Today in Madonna History: July 14, 1987

July 14, 2015 By in 1987, July Tags: , 1 Comment

like-a-virgin-promo-ad

On July 14 1987, Madonna’s second studio album, Like a Virgin was certified 7x platinum (7 million units) in the USA.

According to author J. Randy Taraborrelli, “Every important artist has at least one album in his or her career whose critical and commercial success becomes the artist’s magic moment; for Madonna, Like a Virgin was just such a defining moment”.

Today in Madonna History: June 14, 1990

June 14, 2015 By in 1990, June Tags: , 1 Comment

Madonna_vogue_poster

On June 14 1990, Madonna’s Vogue was certified platinum (for shipment of one million units) in the USA.

Today in Madonna History: May 23, 1985

May 23, 2015 By in 1985, May Tags: , , , , , , 2 Comments

Madonna receives Canadian sales award Maple Leaf Gardens-Toronto-1985 (550)

On May 23 1985, Madonna accepted a Canadian Quadruple Platinum certification award for shipment of over 400,000 copies of her second album, Like A Virgin, within Canada. The award was presented by WEA Canada’s VP of sales Garry Newman to Madonna and Sire Records president Seymour Stein prior to her sold-out Toronto concert at Maple Leaf Gardens.

Like A Virgin was eventually certified (in July, 1992) with the rare Canadian Diamond certification for shipment of over one million copies in Canada. The only other Madonna album to date to receive Diamond certification in Canada is True Blue, which managed to achieve the feat within a year of its release. To date, only eighteen albums in total (by any artist or musical group) have received a Diamond certification in Canada.

Today in Madonna History: May 16, 1989

May 16, 2015 By in 1989, May Tags: , , , , 1 Comment

like a prayer single art 550

like a prayer usa promo vinyl

On May 16 1989, the Like A Prayer single was certified Platinum by the RIAA for shipment of one million units in the U.S.

Today in Madonna History: January 20, 1988

January 20, 2015 By in 1988, January Tags: , , 1 Comment

madonna_youcandance

On January 20 1988, Madonna’s You Can Dance remix album was certified platinum in the USA for sales of 1,000,000 copies.

Patrick Leonard had this to say about working on the album:

“Remixing is a form of secondary creativity. Dance music elevates the DJ and the mixer to being almost on a level with the musician. In my opinion this is false. Manipulation of pre-recorded sound sources may be creative in a secondary sense, and may be valid in its own field, but it is pseudo musicianship. That’s why we tried to have a fresh approach to the songs for You Can Dance, as if we were developing and composing them for the first time.