Like A Virgin/Private Dancer
This weekend, On The Turntable will feature two of the biggest Female Pop Music Icons of the 80’s! Both of these lps launched these artists into Super Star Status – Madonna with “Like A Virgin” and Tina Turner with “Private Dancer.”
Like A Virgin
This is Madonna’s second studio lp, released this very month, 35 years ago. Five singles were released from the album, including Madonna’s first US number-one “Like a Virgin” and her first UK number-one “Into the Groove”. The album was produced by Nile Rogers of Chic, after Madonna was denied her request to produce the lp herself. Rogers also invited his Chic bandmate Bernard Edwards into the studio for the recording.
This album exploded. It sold two million copies during the Christmas holidays … kids were lining up to buy this lp no differently than their parents did for Beatles records. The album has gone on to sell 21 million copies.
Consequence of Sound, an online music magazine, ranked the album at number two on “The 10 Greatest Sophomore Albums of All Time.” This is the lp that crowned Madonna as The Queen of Pop.
Notable Tracks – ‘Like A Virgin” “Angel” “Material Girl” “Dress You Up” “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore”
Private Dancer
I was living in Tupelo, Mississippi managing WELO/WTUP when Private Dancer was released in 1984. Prior to this release, my only exposure to Tina Turner was her live performance of “Proud Mary” on ABC’s “Midnight Special” – the late night rock music variety show that aired on Friday nights. It is the fifth solo studio album by Tina Turner. It was released by Capitol Records in May 1984, and was her first album released through the label. Tina struggled with a solo career after divorcing Ike. Private Dancer was a departure from our R&B/Southern Soul sound and it worked. This LP made Tina one of the biggest crossover artists of her time.
The album was critically praised and has sold over 20 million copies world wide. Besteveralbums.com considers Private Dancer to be the 38th best LP of 1984. The album was promoted throughout 1985 in a 177-date worldwide tour entitled the Private Dancer Tour. I was fortunate see this tour at Humphrey Coliseum at Mississippi State University in Starville, MS.