MADONNA

released July 1983; re-released 1985 as The First Album outside of North America

MADONNA/THE FIRST ALBUM

I don’t think they’re all there. Here are the versions I know of (excluding demos):

LUCKY STAR

  • Album Version (5:37)
    • available on Madonna & The First Album CD, vinyl, cassette, digital; “Borderline” 7″ promo single (Mexico only); digital; 1983-1989 promo CD; 1989-1990 promo CD; “Holiday” CD single (Europe & Japan only); CD Single Collection CD box set
  • 7″ version (3:53)
    • available on “Lucky Star” 7″ single, digital single; It’s That Girl promo VHS, cassette; She’s Breathless promo VHS; The Immaculate Collection laserdisc, VHS; Gold Disc 944 promo CD
      • an edit of the album version
  • 7″ version – Brazil (4:31)
    • available on “Lucky Star” 7″ single (Brazil only)
      • a longer edit of the album version
  • New Mix a.k.a. US Remix (7:15)
    • available on “Lucky Star”  12″ single, CD single, digital single; “Borderline” 12″ single (some countries); Madonna 2001 remastered edition CD, digital; The Immaculate Collection digital
  • Video Version (5:04)
    • available on Madonna VHS, laserdisc; The Immaculate Collection DVD
      • an edit of the New Mix
  • Gold Disc 131 edit (3:54)
    • available on Gold Disc 131 promo CD
      • a different edit of the album version
        • Around 0:16, the synth bass is different and the “stabby” synth note is there (unlike the 7″ version)
  • The Immaculate Collection remix a.k.a. Q-Sound Mix (3:38)
    • available on The Immaculate Collection vinyl, CD, cassette, MiniDisc; Snatch: Original Film Soundtrack CD, cassette
  • TV track a.k.a. instrumental (5:40)
    • available on Misc. Instrumentals & T.V. Mixes reference CD
  • Celebration version (3:39)
    • available on Celebration CD, vinyl, digital
      • a re-edit of The Immaculate Collection mix, probably not in Q-Sound though
        • no keyboard chords before beginning of first verse (unlike all other versions)
  • Celebration video version (3:56)
    • available on Celebration DVD; official Madonna YouTube channel
      • a different edit of the album version
        • Around 0:16, the synth bass is different and the “stabby” synth note is there (unlike the 7″ version)
        • synth chords come in around 0:21 instead of 0:15 (unlike 7″ version and Gold Disc 131 edit)
  • Dolby Atmos mix (7:16)
    • available on The Immaculate Collection (Dolby Atmos Edition) digital (Apple Music only)
      • Dolby Atmos mix of the New Mix
  • BORDERLINE
  • Album Version (5:21)
    • available on Madonna & The First Album vinyl, cassette, CD, digital; 1983-1989 promo CD; 1989-1990 promo CD; The Immaculate Collection digital;”Borderline” digital single
  • 7″ Version a.k.a. Edit (4:02)
    • available on “Borderline” 7″ single; It’s That Girl promo VHS; The Immaculate Collection VHS, laserdisc, DVD; CD Single Collection CD box set; Celebration DVD; official Madonna YouTube channel
      • edit of New Mix, but without cowbell, echo effects on vocals and super wet reverb effects on snare drums
  • 7″ version – Brazil (4:01)
    • available on “Borderline” 7″ single (Brazil only)
      • edit of the album version
  • New Mix a.k.a. US Remix (6:56)
    • available on “Borderline” 12″ single, CD single, digital single
  • Dub mix (5:45)
    • available on “Borderline” 12″ single, CD single, digital single
  • It’s That Girl version (4:02)
    • available on It’s That Girl promo cassette
      • edit of New Mix
        • super wet reverb snare drum can be heard at 0:21
        • sloppy edit point at 1:52 where the keyboard chords are cut off abruptly
        • “Borderline, borderline, borderline” vocal echo at 2:56 & 3:12
  • The Immaculate Collection remix a.k.a. Q-sound mix (4:00)
    • available on The Immaculate Collection vinyl, cassette, CD, MiniDisc
  • Celebration version a.k.a. 7″ Remix (4:00)
    • available on Celebration (Deluxe Edition) vinyl, CD, digital; “Borderline” digital single
      • very similar to The Immaculate Collection remix
        • cymbal roll during first drum fill (like TIC remix)
        • has cowbell (like TIC remix)
        • super wet reverb snare drum can be heard at 0:30 (unlike TIC remix)
        • “mind, mind, mind” vocal echo at 1:25, 1:42, 3:02 & 3:18 (unlike TIC remix)
        • doesn’t have “borderline, borderline, borderline” vocal echo effects (unlike It’s That Girl version)
  • Dolby Atmos mix (5:18)
    • available on The Immaculate Collection (Dolby Atmos Edition) digital (Apple Music only)
      • Dolby Atmos mix of the album version

LUCKY STAR

Album Version (5:37)

available on Madonna & The First Album CD, vinyl, cassette, digital; “Borderline”  7″ promo single (Mexico only); digital; 1983-1989 promo CD; 1989-1990 promo CD; “Holiday” CD single (Europe & Japan only); CD Single Collection CD box set

Reggie Lucas mix (?:??)

unreleased

The album liners notes of Madonna say that “Lucky Star”, “Burning Up” and “Physical Attraction” were remixed by John “Jellybean” Benitez, so presumably there’s a version of this song out there somewhere that wasn’t remixed by him. The multitracks for “Lucky Star” that leaked on the internet may bare some clues. They lack the undistorted guitar parts we hear beginning at 0:08 into the song, and don’t begin with the famous “shimmering” synth part that so recognizably begins the song.

7″ version (3:53)

available on “Lucky Star” 7″ single, digital single; It’s That Girl promo VHS; She’s Breathless promo VHS; The Immaculate Collection laserdisc, VHS

An edit of the album version, with over 90 seconds trimmed to save time. It was also used in the original video.

7″ version – Brazil (4:31)

available on “Lucky Star” 7″ single (Brazil only)

?????

New Mix a.k.a. US Remix (7:15)

available on “Lucky Star”  12″ single, CD single, digital single; “Borderline” 12″ single (some countries); Madonna 2001 remastered edition CD, digital; The Immaculate Collection digital

Remixed by John “Jellybean” Benitez. It’s a longer version of the album version, but with those signature Jellybean touches like additional reverb, and extreme echo effects on some snare drums and vocals. Think “you’ve got to stay by my side tonight…tonight…tonight” and “what you do to me baby…baby…baby”. etc. A classic 80’s-style extended version that does diverge too much from the album version.

Video Version (5:04)

available on Madonna VHS, laserdisc; The Immaculate Collection DVD

The 1985 Madonna home video and the DVD pressings of The Immaculate Collection home video strangely feature an alternative music video. It’s about a minute longer and it edited differently, but most importantly, the soundtrack is actually an edited-down version of the New Mix. You can tell because it includes those mega-echo effects on snares and vocals here and there. It’s not a bad version. Pretty listenable.

Gold Disc 131 edit (3:54)

available on Gold Disc 131 promo CD

This is very similar to, but not the same as, the 7″ version. ___________ Celebration DVD?

Gold Disc 944 edit (3:55)

available on Gold Disc 944 promo CD

Another edit that is very similar to, but not the same as, the 7″ version, and also not the same as the version on Gold Disc 131. _________ Celebration DVD?

The Immaculate Collection remix a.k.a. Q-Sounds Mix (3:38)

available on The Immaculate Collection vinyl, CD, cassette, MiniDisc; Snatch: Original Film Soundtrack CD, cassette

Remixed by Shep Pettibone and Goh Hotoda. The structure of the mix is the same as the 7″ version, but with further remixing, and mixing in Q-sound. Notably, the snare drum is a lot drier and the synths are a little more “crunchy”. The speed is also increase 1-2% to save space on the album, resulting in a shorter run time than the 7″ version. This version was NOT included on digital releases of The Immaculate Collection for some reason. 

TV track a.k.a. instrumental (5:40)

available on Misc. Instrumentals & T.V. Mixes reference CD

A full blow instrumental of the album version, with some backing vocals here and there. It was on what appears to be an internal reference CD for Warner Bros. records. Presumably these instrumental version, also called TV tracks, were used on TV, in movies, in commercials, etc. They are not released to the public, but sometimes leak. 

Celebration version (3:39)

available on Celebration CD, vinyl, digital

The whole Celebration album was a mess of unnecessarily unique edits and errors. This seems to be a re-edit of the Q-sound mix. It’s unclear if it’s actually in Q-sound though. You can spot it around 0:18 where there are no piano/synth chords being played, like in the Q-sound mix. But Madonna’s vocals do begin at 0:24, just like the Q-sound mix. 

Celebration video version (3:56)

available on Celebration DVD

On the Celebration DVD, the visuals for the “Lucky Star” video are the same as the original, but the soundtrack has been changed. It’s very similar to the 7″ version, Gold Disc 131 edit and Gold Disc 944 edit, but not exactly the same. You can spot it because it has the “stabby”, as I like to call it” synth hit at 0:15, and strangely the last few piano/synth chords – which are not present otherwise – quickly play before Madonna’s vocals begin. 

Dolby Atmos mix (7:16)

available on The Immaculate Collection (Dolby Atmos Edition) digital (Apple Music only)

This is a Dolby Atmos mix of the New Mix.

Sigma Sounds 2/24/83 demo (5:50)

unreleased

A reel-to-reel of early mixes of songs from the Madonna album leaked and sold years ago, and since has been transferred to CD and sold by bootleggers for years. The mix here is similar to what’s in the multitracks that leaked, so there’s a chance this is the same mix, and is also the original Reggie Lucas mix. Given this leaked before the multitracks, it’s more likely to be genuine.

Sigma Sounds 3/24/83 Configuration Mix (5:59)

unreleased

An early configuration of the Madonna album on cassette, dated March 24, 1983, was leaked and sold a few years ago. It includes alternate/rejected mixes of songs, and includes “Ain’t No Big Deal” instead of “Holiday”. This version of “Lucky Star” is longer than the album version and includes a completely additional synth part during the chorus. Since it wasn’t officially released, there’s always a question of whether it’s genuine or not. 

BORDERLINE

Album Version (5:21)

available on Madonna & The First Album vinyl, cassette, CD, digital; 1983-1989 promo CD; 1989-1990 promo CD; The Immaculate Collection digital;“Borderline” digital single

7″ Version a.k.a. Edit (4:02)

available on “Borderline” 7″ single; It’s That Girl promo VHS; The Immaculate Collection VHS, laserdisc, DVD; CD Single Collection CD box set; Celebration DVD

Remixed by John “Jellybean” Benitez. The name suggests it’s a simple edit of the album version, but it most definitely is not. It has a lot of elements of other mixes by Jellybean, but with one key difference: no cowbell. That’s right, the real, true and actual 7″ version of “Borderline” did not include cowbell. What’s labeled as the 7″ version on digital platforms is NOT the original 7″ version (see below). This version has only ever been released on CD as part of the Japan-only CD Singles Collection box set. It’s also the version used in the music video, but the sound quality in the video isn’t really great, as it has quite a lot of white noise during the intro. 

7″ version – Brazil (4:01)

available on “Borderline” 7″ single (Brazil only)

The 7″ version they got in Brazil is actually an edit of the album version. It’s got the same structure of the other 7″ version (editing out the “look what your love has done to me…” parts, amongst others), but based on the Reggie Lucas mix, which appears on the Madonna album. 

New Mix a.k.a. US Remix (6:56)

available on “Borderline” 12″ single, CD single, digital single

Remixed by John “Jellybean” Benitez. A classic extended remix that really breathed new life into the song. A glockenspiel is added to the intro, the drum machine is replaced by what sounds like a live drummer, additional production and effects are added.

Dub mix (5:45)

available on “Borderline” 12″ single, CD single, digital single

Remixed by  John “Jellybean” Benitez. A great variation on his New Mix. Dub mixes from the 1980’s are usually mostly-instrumental, with some vocals here and there. A must-have for any Madonna fan. 

It’s That Girl version (4:02)

available on It’s That Girl promo cassette

It’s That Girl was a promotion cassette from 1987 that included the single versions of almost all Madonna’s singles from “Holiday” to “Who’s That Girl”. The mix of “Borderline” is unique to this release. It’s an edited-down version of the New Mix. Below you’ll see there are other edits of the New Mix, but they’re not exactly the same as this. 

The Immaculate Collection remix a.k.a. Q-sound mix (4:00)

available on The Immaculate Collection vinyl, cassette, CD, MiniDisc

Remixed by Shep Pettibone and Goh Hotoda. The structure of the song is the same as the 7″ version, but with additional remixing, and mixing in Q-sound. Notably, the snare drum is drier, the vocals have more reverb, and the cowbell from the New Mix is included. Unlike the New Mix, it doesn’t have the cheesy mega-echo effects on vocals and snares, which makes it much more listenable. This version was NOT included on digital releases of The Immaculate Collection for some reason. 

Celebration version a.k.a. 7″ Remix (4:00)

available on Celebration (Deluxe Edition) vinyl, CD, digital; “Borderline” digital single

The whole Celebration album was a mess of unnecessarily unique edits and errors. This is a new edit of the New Mix, but it’s not exactly the same edit as the one on It’s That Girl. It was also included on the digital version of the “Borderline” single, where it was erroneously labeled the 7″ Remix. As discussed above, the real 7″ remix does not include cowbell or echo effects on vocals or snares. Ew.

Dolby Atmos mix (5:18)

available on The Immaculate Collection (Dolby Atmos Edition) digital (Apple Music only)

This is a Dolby Atmos mix of the album version.

Sigma Sounds 2/18/83 demo (4:42)

unreleased

A reel-to-reel of early mixes of songs from the Madonna album leaked and sold years ago, and since has been transferred to CD and sold by bootleggers for years. The mix here is similar to what’s in the multitracks that leaked, but shorter and with no electric piano intro. Given this leaked before the multitracks, it’s more likely to be genuine.

Sigma Sounds 3/24/83 Configuration Mix (5:22)

unreleased

An early configuration of the Madonna album on cassette, dated March 24, 1983, was leaked and sold a few years ago. It includes alternate/rejected mixes of songs, and includes “Ain’t No Big Deal” instead of “Holiday”. This version of “Borderline” sounds remarkably like the album version, and may in fact be the same mix. Since it wasn’t officially released, there’s always a question of whether it’s genuine or not. 

BURNING UP

Album Version a.k.a. Single Version

Alternate Album Version

12″ Version

Remix Edit a.k.a. 7″ Version

7″ Version – Mexico

7″ Version – Philippines

7″ Version – Brazil

TV Track a.k.a. Instrumental

Sigma Sounds 11/17/82 demo

Sigma Sounds 11/18/82 demo

Sigma Sounds 3/24/83 Configuration Mix

Demo 1981

I KNOW IT

Album Version

HOLIDAY

Album Vesion

7″ Version

7″ Version – Mexico

7″ Version – Spain

7″ Instrumental

You Can Dance Remix

You Can Dance Remix – standalone a.k.a. Extended Remix

You Can Dance Dub a.k.a. Dub

You Can Dance Single Edit

The Immaculate Collection Remix a.k.a. Q-Sound Mix a.k.a. Special Edit

TV Track a.k.a. Instrumental

The Immaculate Collection Remix Edit

Finally Enough Love edit

Dolby Atmos Mix

THINK OF ME

Album Version

PHYSICAL ATTRACTION

Album Version

7″ Version a.k.a. Single Edit

7″ Version – Germrany

7″ Version – Philippines

7″ Version – UK (silver label)

7″ Version – UK (yellow label)

You Can Dance Version

You Can Dance Version – standalone

Sigma Sounds 11/18/82 demo

Sigma Sounds 11/19/82 demo

Sigma Sounds 11/23/82 demo

Sigma Sounds 3/24/83 Configuration Mix

EVERYBODY

Album Version

7″ Version

7″ Version – UK

7″ Version – France

7″ Version – Italy

12″ Version

  • Celebration (deluxe digital edition)

12″ Version – UK

12″ Version without intro – UK

12″ Version – Italy

Dub

Dub – UK

Dub – Italy

Dub Edit – UK

Dub Edit – Brazil

7″ Instrumental

You Can Dance Remix

You Can Dance Remix – standalone

You Can Dance Single Edit

TV Instrumental

Demo ’81

Remix ’97

Celebration edit