Today in Madonna History: September 8, 1983

lucky-star-1

On September 8 1983, Madonna’s Lucky Star single was released in the UK.

Although Lucky Star was issued promotionally as a double A-side with Holiday in the US in September 1983, it was not released commercially in North America until August 1984 when it was issued as the final single from Madonna’s self-titled debut album.

Lucky Star was written by Madonna and produced by Reggie Lucas, with additional remixing by Jellybean Benitez. It is the most successful of her North American singles that were entirely self-written, reaching #4 on the U.S. Hot 100 and #8 in Canada (RPM Top 100). It was also her first Top-5 single in the U.S.

In the U.K., her self-written single Gambler was a bigger hit, reaching #4 in the fall of 1985, while Lucky Star peaked at #14.

Madonna wrote the song in 1982 after landing her first recording contract with Sire Records. It was rumoured to have been written about Mark Kamins, although we’re unsure whether that has ever been confirmed by Madonna herself.

Today in Madonna History: September 7, 1983

september-7-83-1 september-7-83-2 september-7-83-3 september-7-83-4

On September 7 1983, Madonna’s Holiday was released in the USA.  The hit single eventually climbed to #16 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Holiday was Madonna’s third single after Burning Up (her second) and Everybody (her debut single).

The artwork in this post is exclusive to the Australian release of Holiday.

september-7-83-1 copy

Today in Madonna History: August 3, 1985

On August 3 1985, Madonna’s Into The Groove hit #1 in the UK and Holiday hit #2 in the UK – Madonna is the only female artist ever to occupy the top 2 positions simultaneously on the UK charts.

Today in Madonna History: July 13, 1985

live aid 2live aid 1Live Aid 3Live Aid 4Live Aid Band

On July 13 1985, Madonna performed at the Live Aid benefit concert at JFK Stadium, Philadelphia, PA.

Madonna’s set included Into The Groove, Holiday, and a brand new song that she had written with Patrick Leonard during The Virgin Tour, Love Makes The World Go Round. The latter song marked the first known songwriting collaboration in a partnership with Leonard that would prove to be long lasting and especially fruitful. The track would resurface, among other songs co-produced by the pair, on Madonna’s True Blue album a year later.

Madonna also joined the Thompson Twins on stage for a cover The Beatles’ Revolution.

Today in Madonna History: June 15, 1991

On June 15 1991, Madonna’s Holiday was re-released in the UK to promote both The Immaculate Collection and the limited edition EP, The Holiday Collection.

This was the third release for Holiday in the UK:

  • January 1984 (reached #6)
  • August 1985 (reached #2, while #1 was Madonna’s own Into The Groove)
  • June 15 1991 (reached #5)

If Madonna were to release another greatest hits album and decided to re-release a classic hit, which song would you choose? 

Today in Madonna History: June 8, 1991

holiday-collection-madonna-1 holiday-collection-madonna-3 holiday-collection-madonna-2 holiday-collection-madonna-4

On June 8 1991, Madonna’s Holiday debuted at #12 in the UK.  It was the third time that Holiday was released in the UK, this time to promote The Holiday Collection.

The first time the song was released in the UK it peaked at 6. The second time it was released it peaked at number 2, only to be kept away from number 1 by her own Into the Groove.  The 1991 released peaked at number 5 during the week of June 15.

Today in Madonna History: June 6, 1991

On June 6 1991, the live music video for Holiday taken from the film Truth Or Dare premiered on MTV.