Today in Madonna History: October 12, 1985

October 12, 2023 By sonicboy19 in 1985, October Tags: Crazy For You, Gambler, Live Videos, Lucky Star, UK, Vision Quest 1 Comment

On October 12 1985, Madonna’s Gambler debuted at #20 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was included on the Vision Quest soundtrack (along with Crazy For You) and released by Geffen Records. Madonna’s record company, Sire Records, prevented Gambler from being released as a single in the USA.

After two weeks on the chart, Gambler peaked at #4. It also reached #3 in Italy and #10 in Australia.

With Gambler‘s success, Madonna became the first female artist to rack up 8 UK top-ten singles in one calendar year.

Gambler was Madonna’s highest charting single in the UK that was entirely self-written. In the U.S. Lucky Star earned this distinction, reaching #4 on the Hot 100.

Today in Madonna History: September 14, 2004

September 14, 2023 By sonicboy19 in 2004, September Tags: Lisbon, Live Videos, Re-Invention World Tour 1 Comment

On September 14 2004, the final show of Madonna’s Re-Invention Tour took place in Lisbon, Portugal.

The Lisbon concert was recorded and considered for release on DVD but these plans were unfortunately shelved. However, a rough cut leaked on the internet several years later. To date this remains the only complete, professionally shot recording of the tour available to fans.

Today in Madonna History: September 6, 2013

September 6, 2023 By Jay in 2013, September Tags: Album Release, DVD Release, Live Videos, MDNA World Tour 1 Comment

On September 6 2013, MDNA World Tour was released in Germany and Australia by Live Nation Entertainment and Interscope Records. The complete show was included on the live album which was issued as a digital download and as a 2-CD set in some countries, while the concert film was issued in various configurations including DVD, Blu-ray and as a 2-CD+DVD set.

Madonna served as producer for the project and spent several months editing the concert film with directors by Danny B. Tull and Stephane Sennour. The show was primarily recorded over two nights the previous November in Miami, Florida, although additional audience footage shot by Guy Oseary over the course of the tour was also interspersed throughout the film.

Today in Madonna History: August 18, 1987

August 18, 2023 By sonicboy19 in 1987, August Tags: Holiday, La Isla Bonita, Live Videos, London, Wembley Stadium, Who's That Girl (Single), Who's That Girl World Tour 1 Comment

On August 18 1987, Madonna performed the first of three sold-out Who’s That Girl Tour concerts at Wembley Stadium in London.

In total, Madonna performed for 216,000 fans during the three nights at Wembley.

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: July 18, 2004

July 18, 2023 By sonicboy19 in 2004, July Tags: Canada, Crazy For You, Live Videos, Papa Don't Preach, Re-Invention World Tour, Toronto 1 Comment

On July 18 2004, Madonna played the first of three sold-out dates at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre during her Re-Invention Tour. Playing to a combined total of over 52,000 fans, the shows were the only Canadian stop on the tour and marked her first concerts in Canada in eleven years.

At the second show Madonna proclaimed to those in attendance that they were the best audience of the tour thus far, while the final Toronto date saw Madonna in an uncharacteristically playful mood. Interrupting the show’s normally swift progression between Papa Don’t Preach and Crazy For You, she joked about the infamous 1990 threats of arrest and whipped the audience into a cheering frenzy with her self-described “unprofessional” behaviour.