Madonna, True BLue
MadonnaTRUE BLUE.
True Blue condensed Madonna's mid-1980s pop sound into nine tracks produced with Patrick Leonard and Stephen Bray, with nearly every song built for a distinct visual and radio identity.
Album artwork shown for commentary and historical reference. Image source: Cover Art Archive / MusicBrainz.
SEVEN THINGS
WORTH KNOWING.
Recording stories, personnel, physical details and numbers worth keeping with the record.
True Blue was released on June 30, 1986 in several major markets and contains nine tracks.
The album was Madonna's third studio album and was dedicated to her then-husband Sean Penn.
Madonna shares production credit across the record with Patrick Leonard and Stephen Bray.
"Papa Don't Preach" was produced by Madonna and Stephen Bray, while "Open Your Heart" was produced by Madonna and Patrick Leonard.
The nine-song sequence also includes "Live to Tell," "True Blue" and "La Isla Bonita."
Patrick Leonard and Stephen Bray both contributed extensive keyboard and programming work in addition to production.
Herb Ritts photographed the close-up cover portrait that became one of Madonna's defining 1980s images.
WHY THIS
ALBUM MATTERS.
True Blue is an unusually efficient pop album, using only nine songs to move through dance-pop, ballads, Latin-influenced production and cinematic drama.
THE
NUMBERS.
TRACKS
The original album contains nine songs.
PRODUCERS
Madonna, Leonard and Bray share the production credits.
RELEASE
True Blue arrived in June 1986.
THE
PHYSICAL OBJECT.
The cover removes almost everything except Madonna's profile, blue-toned color treatment and the sculptural shape of the portrait, making the package instantly recognizable without a busy concept.
RESEARCH SOURCES
Facts are checked against official artist archives, release databases, recording credits and established archival sources before publication.
KEEP
DIGGING.
More recording stories, strange credits, cover art, chart numbers and details hiding inside the records.