by Albert Rodriguez - SGN A&E Writer

The way to a Gay man's heart is through his Madonna record collection. I've met no one in my life with complete distaste for the pop icon - if I have I've disowned them. And though she's lost some credible glitter in recent years, the Material Girl is still the greatest of all living divas.

Madge's self-titled debut celebrated its 30th anniversary this past week. Released on July 27, 1983, it's one of the most beloved albums of all-time by Gay music fans, and it's certainly one of the most important recordings of the rock era, although some would argue Like a Virgin and Ray of Light hold more artistic credibility.

While 'Holiday' was the first hit from Madonna, it was actually the third single released from the album - 'Everybody' and 'Burning Up' were put out before the record was officially in stores, though neither made a significant impact on the charts. 'Lucky Star,' which peaked at No. 5, and 'Borderline' followed, and by that time the Michigan-born singer-songwriter was on the verge of international superstardom. Of the eight tracks on the album, only 'Holiday' was included on Madge's 2012 'MDNA Tour.'

It was the second vinyl LP I purchased with my own money (the first being Fleetwood Mac's Rumours). There were many nights spent beside our family's living-room record player listening to it over and over again with headphones and a cord that stretched around a wall into my room. This was right around the time that cassette players were becoming ubiquitous, and our family owned one - but it was specifically designated to record church sermons.

To date, Madonna (the album) has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide, and it remains one of the artist's most popular recordings. No commemorative edition was released to coincide with its 30th year milestone.

 Share on Facebook

Share on MySpace!

    Share on Delicious

Share on StumbleUpon!