Today in Madonna History: November 26, 1987

November 26, 2023 By sonicboy19 in 1987, November Tags: Japan, Laserdisc Release, Live Videos, Tokyo, VHS, VHS Release, Who's That Girl World Tour 1 Comment

On November 26 1987, Who’s That Girl – Live In Japan was released on VHS and LaserDisc by Warner-Pioneer Video, exclusively for the Japanese market. Recorded in Tokyo on June 22 1987, the show initially aired as a television special in Japan in conjunction with Madonna’s sponsorship agreement with Mitsubishi. The special was the first ever television broadcast to make use of Dolby Surround Sound technology.

Elements of the Japanese release were also incorporated into the international 1988 release of the Who’s That Girl World Tour, Ciao Italia: Live From Italy, which was also released in Japan on LaserDisc in 1988 and on DVD in 2001. Meanwhile, the complete Live In Japan release has since been deleted from circulation.

Today in Madonna History: July 25, 1990

July 25, 2023 By Jay in 1990, July Tags: Blond Ambition World Tour, Japan, Laserdisc Release, Like A Virgin (Single), Live Videos, VHS Release 1 Comment

On July 25 1990, Warner-Pioneer released Madonna: Blond Ambition Japan Tour 90 on VHS and laserdisc, exclusively to the Japanese market.

The release captured one of Madonna’s performances in Yokohama, Japan in April, 1990 and had previously been broadcast live on Japanese television. Due to heavy winds, no curtains were lowered to hide set changes during this particular open-air concert.

Today in Madonna History: April 26, 1994

April 26, 2023 By Jay in 1994, April Tags: Laserdisc Release, Live Down Under, Live Videos, The Girlie Show World Tour, VHS Release 1 Comment

On April 26 1994, The Girlie Show – Live Down Under was released by Warner-Reprise Video on VHS and laserdisc.

The concert – recorded on November 19, 1993 at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Australia – was a re-edited version of the concert special that had aired live on HBO. It was directed by Mark “Aldo” Miceli, who directed the live screens on Madonna’s 1990 and 1993 tours, as well as the Blond Ambition Japan Tour 90 VHS/laserdisc release. The Girlie Show – Live Down Under was nominated for a Grammy in 1995 for Best Long Form Music Video and was also one of the first concerts to be commercially issued on DVD in 1998.

Today in Madonna History: March 8, 1988

March 8, 2023 By Jay in 1988, March Tags: CD Video, Laserdisc, Laserdisc Release, Music Videos, Papa Don't Preach, Remix Videos 1 Comment

On March 8 1988, Papa Don’t Preach was released in the CD Video format in the U.S.

The CD Video format, introduced in Japan in 1987, combined the technologies of the standard audio compact disc with LaserDisc video on a 5″ gold-coloured disc.

The Papa Don’t Preach CD Video (which was also released in Japan and in the U.K.) included the song’s 1986 music video together with the 7″ Version, 12″ Version and the U.S. b-side Pretender on the audio portion of the disc. It was Madonna’s only commercial release in the short-lived format.

Today in Madonna History: October 9, 1991

October 9, 2022 By sonicboy19 in 1991, October Tags: Film, Laserdisc Release, Like A Virgin (Single), Live Videos, Music Videos, Rental, Truth or Dare, VHS Release 1 Comment

On October 9 1991, Madonna’s Truth Or Dare documentary was released on VHS for the home video rental market across North America as well as on laserdisc in the United States.