New Items Recap: September 2015

Here’s a recap of the items I added to my Madonna collection this month. 

Celebration / German CD Single (5439 19869-5) / Slim Jewel Case
Human Nature / USA Promo 12” Vinyl (PRO-A-7758) / Generic Sleeve
I’m Breathless / Japanese CD (WPCP-3460) / Jewel Case
Justify My Love / USA Promo CD (PRO-CD-4613) / Stickered Jewel Case
You Must Love Me / Japanese CD Maxi (WPCR-841) / Jewel Case
Celebration / German CD Maxi (9362 49723-0) / Slim Jewel Case
Don’t Tell Me / USA Advance Promo 12” Vinyl (PRO-A-100514-A) / Generic Sleeve
Who’s That Girl / UK 12” Vinyl (W8341T) / Picture Sleeve
The Look Of Love / German 7” Vinyl (928 115-7) / Picture Sleeve
4 Minutes / UK CD Single (W803CD1) / Slim Jewel Case
Erotica / UK CD Maxi (W0138CD) / Slim Jewel Case
Justify My Love / UK 12” Vinyl (W9000T) / Picture Sleeve
Music / German 12” Vinyl (9362 44923-0) / Picture Sleeve
Music / German 12” Vinyl (9362 44924-0) / Picture Sleeve
Like A Prayer / Japanese LP (21P1-2650) / Picture Sleeve
Hollywood / UK 12” Vinyl (W614T) / Picture Sleeve
Nothing Really Matters / UK Promo 12” Vinyl (SAM00061) / Generic Sleeve
Rebel Heart Tour / USA Tour Book
The Video Collection 93:99 / German DVD (7599 38506-2) / Plastic Case
Confessions On A Dance Floor / Brazilian CD (936249460-2) / Jewel Case
Human Nature / USA CD Maxi – Re-Issue (9 41880-2) / Snap Case

Record Runner, NY

When I was in New York last week I made sure to stop by Record Runner again, which is a little record shop in Greenwich Village. I first visited the store on my first trip to New York a few years ago. They stock many different artists but Madonna seems to be one of their priorities and top-sellers. I found a few items including both German “Music” 12″ singles, the UK “Justify My Love” 12″, “The Look Of Love” German 7″, a couple of CD singles and the Japanese Like A Prayer LP! If you’re ever in New York, you should definitely stop by and take a look. In addition to music items they also have t-shirts, magazines and other little collectables. Their prices are not exactly cheap but sometimes it’s easier to buy Madonna items (especially imports) at these kinds of stores and paying a little more than having them shipped from overseas and paying a lot for shipping, so you’re basically paying the same amount in the end. I visited another record store down the street called Bleecker Records but they didn’t really have much Madonna except for a few of her CD albums. If anyone knows of any other good record stores in New York that carry a lot of Madonna please let me know and I’ll check them out next time!

Rebel Heart Tour: First Thoughts (Brooklyn, September 19, 2015)

Well, I’m back from my brief New York trip where I caught my first Rebel Heart show in Brooklyn! I wanted to offer up some quick thoughts on my first impressions of the show. The first thing I have to say is that it’s a very good show. Madonna looked like she was having a blast the entire time. I’ve NEVER been to a Madonna show where she talked to the audience so much throughout! I’m used to her coming on, doing her show, maybe doing one (usually politically-charged speech), and then leaving without doing an encore. In and out, quick as lightning, right? Well, not this time. Madonna took breaks to chat all throughout the 2-hour concert. While this is great for fans, it does affect the pacing of the show. This show didn’t feel as streamlined as her previous tours. It definitely has some flaws that could have been thought-out and perfected a bit more. Some fans have been complaining that she doesn’t dance as much this time around. While true, what we get in return makes up for it. Madonna is at her most personable ever. She’s not a cold, calculated dancing robot…she’s human.

Rebel Heart Tour Set List

I am so happy that Madonna included many classic hits on this tour. Specifically, I’m ecstatic about “Deeper And Deeper”, “True Blue” and “Who’s That Girl”, which were all way overdue to be performed again. I am also loving that “Deeper” sounds pretty true to the album version. Good call on that one! I wasn’t so crazy about her including “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore”, but I’m warming up to the idea, especially since it’s mashed up with “HeartBreakCity”. “Material Girl” is also another welcome song. I wasn’t sure about her doing “Like A Virgin” again but it looks like a fun performance as well so I think I’ll really like it! I love that she thought to include “Burning Up” again but I wish it were re-worked a bit more instead of her just playing the guitar and singing it. A choreographed number would have been cool!

As for the Rebel Heart tracks, it’s simply shocking that she left “Ghosttown” off. She seemed to really like the song and so did everyone else! What the hell happened? She needs to get rid of the “Messiah” interlude and work “Ghosttown” in somehow. I also wish that “Living For Love” was the album version instead of the remix. I think the only other Rebel Heart song that I’m missing is “Wash All Over Me” but I can deal without it.

I do not understand this woman’s fascination with “Candy Shop”. It’s like she’s just trying to annoy her fans with that one. I don’t mind her inclusion of “La Vie En Rose” and I’ve always liked the song, but Madonna has SO many love songs of her own that I wish she would have considered instead. How about “Take A Bow”? Maybe even “Cherish”? Anyway, for the most part I have to say that overall this is my favorite set list since the Re-Invention Tour. I’m really looking forward to my first show on Saturday. I’m almost sure that when I see the actual show, all my small complaints with go away (except for the the “Ghosttown” omission!).

Ranking The Album Tracks Part 8: Ray Of Light (1998)

After giving birth to her daughter Lourdes and having a personal awakening of sorts, Madonna released her first studio album in nearly 4 years with 1998’s Ray Of Light. It marked yet another dramatic shift for her both musically and artistically. The visuals presented her as serene and ethereal; the music incorporated elements of electronica merged with more enlightened and self-aware lyrics. Upon its release, Ray Of Light was both a critical and fan success while over the years it has become one of Madonna’s most classic and important albums of all time. As with Like A Prayer, Erotica and Bedtime Stories, I don’t think there is a single bad track on this album. In fact, I think every song on this album is fantastic. I remember playing this album at least once a day for the first entire year of its release. I was obsessed with it! It was definitely a special and magical era for Madonna and her fans. Here’s my rundown of Ray Of Light: