Today in Madonna History: January 21, 1984

 

On January 21 1984, Madonna earned her very first Canadian chart entry as Holiday entered RPM’s Canadian Top 50 Singles chart at #48.

Madonna would go on to collect a total of 25 #1 singles to date in Canada  – the most for any solo artist in Canadian chart history. She has also racked up a staggering 68 Top 40 singles in Canada – 51 of which ascended into the Top 10.

 

Today in Madonna History: January 14, 1984

toruletheworld550 2

On January 14 1984, Madonna made her North American network television debut, performing Holiday on ABC-TV’s American Bandstand – hosted by Dick Clark.

Dick Clark asked Madonna, “What do you hope will happen, not only in 1984 but for the rest of your professional life? What are your dreams? What’s left?”

Madonna answered simply, “To rule the world.”

Today in Madonna History: January 13, 2010

On January 13 2010, a press release by powerHouse books announced the book Madonna: Sticky & Sweet, featuring photography by Guy Oseary:

Madonna’s legendary Sticky & Sweet Tour, the most successful tour by a solo artist in history, has been chronicled by her longtime manager Guy Oseary and the resulting book, Madonna: Sticky & Sweet is being published by powerHouse Books (February 2010). The glossy retrospective includes 500 extraordinary photographs taken on and off stage during the course of the 58 show tour which circled the globe in 2008 and was seen by over 2 1/2 million fans. Oseary’s discerning eye along with his unprecedented access to Madonna before, during and after each show gives the viewer a unique insight into the journey of a lifetime. The Sticky & Sweet photo book feature the four segments of the concert experience including the opening “Pimp” section, and Old School salute to early NYC dance roots, onto Romani music influences and escalating in a rave finale. Oseary previously released the critically acclaimed Madonna: Confessions photo book, also published by powerHouse Books which covered her previous tour. Guy Oseary is the CEO of Maverick and Madonna’s manager. He has worked closely with Madonna for almost two decades, and was the only individual permitted to take photographs both on and backstage on the landmark Sticky & Sweet Tour. Oseary’s first book, Madonna: Confessions, was published by powerHouse in 2008.

Today in Madonna History: December 27, 2003

On December 27 2003, Nothing Fails peaked at #1 on Billboard’s Hot Singles Sales chart.

Unfortunately this chart position owed more to the disappearing physical singles market in the U.S. at the time than it did to the song’s overall popularity. Despite the remixes being relatively well-received (the maxi-single included club mixes of Nobody Knows Me), with no accompanying music video and a complete lack of radio support Nothing Fails failed to crack the Hot 100 singles chart. This marked the first time in Billboard’s history that a single topped the Singles Sales chart in the U.S. without making an appearance on the Hot 100.

In more reassuring chart news, Billboard announced in the same issue that Madonna was being crowned Top Dance Singles Sales Artist for 2003. Madonna had previously achieved this honour in 1985 and 1987, and held the runner-up position in 2000 and 2001.

Today in Madonna History: December 22, 2009

On December 22 2009, Madonna’s hits collection Celebration was released on vinyl in the U.S. by Warner Bros. Records following a one-week delay from its original street date.

The deluxe vinyl package featured four 120g black vinyl discs pressed at Record Industry (Netherlands) in a 2-pocket Stoughton gatefold jacket with expanded pockets (2 discs in each pocket) and included all of the 36 songs originally available on the 2-CD edition of the album. A vinyl edition for the European market also appeared in record shops on January 8th, 2010.

Although Warner made no indication of either pressing being a limited edition release, the sets disappeared from store shelves once their initial shipments had sold and were promptly deleted from circulation by Warner on both continents without explanation. Sealed copies of the sets now command more than $400 USD in the collectors market.

Today in Madonna History: December 14, 1985

dress you up - uk

On December 14 1985, Dress You Up peaked at #5 on the UK singles chart.

It was Madonna’s eighth UK Top-5 hit of 1985:

  1. Like A Virgin  #3
  2. Material Girl  #3
  3. Crazy For You  #2
  4. Into The Groove  #1
  5. Holiday (re-release)  #2
  6. Angel  #5
  7. Gambler  #4
  8. Dress You Up  #5

Today in Madonna History: December 13, 1990

On December 13 1990, Madonna’s Blond Ambition World Tour Live was released exclusively on LaserDisc by the trek’s sponsor, Pioneer.

Recorded at the final show in Nice, France, the concert had originally aired as a live HBO special in the U.S.

The LaserDisc release would go on to win a Grammy award (Madonna’s first) for Best Music Video, Long Form in 1991.