Like a Prayer (album)
Madonna's introspective fourth album, blending pop, rock, and dance.
Like a Prayer is the fourth studio album by American singer and songwriter Madonna, released on March 20, 1989, by Sire Records. The album saw Madonna continue working with producers Patrick Leonard and Stephen Bray, with whom she had collaborated on her previous album True Blue (1986) and the soundtrack for the 1987 film Who's That Girl. Prince also collaborated on the record, co-writing and co-producing one track. Madonna's most introspective release at the time, Like a Prayer is a pop record with elements of rock and dance-pop, dealing with personal themes including her Catholic upbringing, her troubled marriage to actor Sean Penn, the death of her mother, and her relationship with her father.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- Madonna
- Released
- March 20, 1989
- Recorded
- September 1988 – January 1989
- Studio
- Johnny Yuma Recording, Burbank
- Saturn Sound, Sherman Oaks
- Ocean Way, Hollywood
- Paisley Park, Chanhassen
- Genre
- Pop
- Length
- 51:16
- Label
- Sire; Warner Bros.
- Producer
- Madonna
- Patrick Leonard
- Stephen Bray
- Prince
Facts from the source article.
Background
The album's background was shaped by a quiet 1988 for Madonna, following the lack of critical and commercial success of her film Who's That Girl and unfavorable reviews for her Broadway production Speed-the-Plow. Her marriage to Sean Penn ended, and she turned 30, the same age at which her mother had died, causing emotional turmoil. Madonna realized she had to move away from teen appeal and commercial gloss to reach more mature audiences, wanting a sound that was instinctive rather than calculating. She sifted through her personal journals and diaries, considering matters including her relationship with Penn, her family, the loss of her mother, and her belief in God.
Development of the album involved Madonna working with Leonard and Bray, who brought contrasting styles: Bray's approach was more kinetic and dance-pop oriented, while Leonard focused on melodies. Leonard convinced Madonna to create songs that were intensely emotional experiences. The title track 'Like a Prayer' was the first song Madonna and Leonard worked on, with lyrics written in about three hours. In two weeks they created several tracks including 'Promise to Try', 'Till Death Do Us Part', and 'Cherish'. Sessions with Prince at Paisley Park were messy due to differing personalities, and the only completed collaboration was 'Love Song', worked on long-distance via tapes.
Track listing
Like a Prayer track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Like a Prayer | 5:41 | |
| 2 | Express Yourself | Madonna, Stephen Bray | 4:39 |
| 3 | Love Song (with Prince) | Madonna, Prince | 4:52 |
| 4 | Till Death Do Us Part | 5:16 | |
| 5 | Promise to Try | 4:21 | |
| 6 | Cherish | 5:03 | |
| 7 | Dear Jessie | 4:20 | |
| 8 | Oh Father | 4:57 | |
| 9 | Keep It Together | Madonna, Bray | 5:03 |
| 10 | Spanish Eyes | 5:15 | |
| 11 | Act of Contrition | 2:19 | |
| Total length | 51:16 | ||
Like a Prayer track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Like a Prayer (12" Dance Mix; remixed by Shep Pettibone) | 7:52 |
| 2 | Express Yourself (Non-stop Express Remix; remixed by Pettibone) | 8:00 |
| 3 | Love Song | 4:42 |
| 4 | Till Death Do Us Part | 5:18 |
| 5 | Cherish (Extended version) | 6:16 |
| 6 | Dear Jessie | 4:21 |
| 7 | Oh Father (Single version) | 4:27 |
| 8 | Keep It Together (12" Remix; remixed by Pettibone) | 7:48 |
| 9 | Spanish Eyes | 5:17 |
| 10 | Supernatural | 5:12 |
| Total length | 59:23 | |
Track listing from the source article.
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