Madonna has never exactly been a critical darling, and Like A Virgin often catches the most flack from the opinionated masses. Through its two biggest singles her second album introduced both the idea of Madonna as "Boy Toy" and originating her virgin/[...] image. However, discounting this effort as a simple paean to eighties culture or debating whether or not the popular music Reagan's first term in office was truly better than disco ignores Madonna's first fully realized piece of pop masterpiece, one of only two discs that were released free of the immense baggage that her image and reputation would soon provide.

Both "Material Girl" and "Like A Virgin" were written for Madonna by outside songwriters, a practice she would forever escape starting with her next full-length effort. Take these hits for what they are - a move just as calculated as Madonna's wardrobe. In fact, a team that was also writing for Cyndi Lauper, who was Madonna's prime competition at the time, penned one of the two.

It was "Like A Virgin" that launched Madonna into the stratosphere after she performed it as a slutty wedding-day centerpiece on the MTV Music Video Awards, wisely escaping before the cake was cut only to wind up writhing around on the stage in a wedding dress and famous "boy toy" belt. However, the massive single that it often obscures is the much-less squeaky "Dress You Up," whose delivery defuses accusations that Madonna wasn't much of a singer. Here she is desperate, insisting that she will dress you in her love at the top of her lungs. You are inclined to believe her.

Also, feel free to ignore the weird dancehall bounce and edgy synthesizers of "Material Girl," which don't have much of an effect on the rest of the proceedings. That massive hit all but erased the memory of the Madonna penned single "Angel," which neatly takes all of the musical themes of her first album and moves them inexorably forward towards pop perfection with the help of Nile Rodgers hip production. Despite the overpowering array of synthesizers brought to bare on this disc, there's something very real here: chirping guitars and the subtle under-harmony to Madonna's wisely under-delivered chorus are both details that make this a classic.

Like A Virgin also offers the first two ballads of Madonna's career; the later-remixed turn on "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" (a cover, which is rare for Mad), but also "Shoo Bee-Doo" -- the classy b-side to "Dress You Up." On this solo Madonna writing-credit we almost manage to lose the synthesizers entirely, and along the way pick up live piano and drums as well as the classic callback backing vocals that would go on to be a Madonna trademark on "Express Yourself" and "Vogue."

There are only three other songs on this short effort. "Over and Over" features frantic tic-tok percussion and is a perfect embodiment of pop, more-so than either of this album's infamous singles. "Pretender" is dramatically overwrought, but watching Madonna get worked into frenzy has never been boring. And album closer "Stay" sounds genuine and bounces throughout, an easy bridge from underdeveloped fare to the more adult hits from the more acclaimed True Blue.

Is there anything so horrible about this disc? If you still resent Madonna's international superstardom, then maybe yes. However, when it comes to popular music from the eighties this is one of the absolute zeniths, and it also bears the mark of an important step in Madonna's unstoppable journey towards becoming the most famous woman on the planet. And, to top it all off, it's her best and most under-appreciated disc up through the masterpiece Like A Prayer.

Really, when was the last time you listened to it?

Madonna was among the most successful pop singers of the eighties and nineties. Listening to this album, it's easy to see why, Four enormous international hits - Like a virgin, Angel, Material girl and Dress you up - plus an outstanding cover of Love don't live here anymore and some other great songs that would surely have been hits had they been released as singles - most notably Over and over, a catchy number to make you get up and dance to.

There were those who thought that Madonna was all about image, but this album made me realise that she had the talent as well. I am therefore not surprised that she has continued to make great music that sells in huge quantities.

My Like a virgin CD includes another major international hit, Into the groove, which has been omitted from this re-mastered version. A couple of re-mixes of other songs have been included instead. Even without Into the groove (which can be found elsewhere), this remains one of Madonna's strongest albums - and that is saying something, given the consistently high quality of all her albums.

As other reviewers before me have very perceptively noted, this IS without doubt one of the best albums of the 1980s. It did shoot Madonna to fame and she deserved every bit of her success! Listening to the first four songs "Material Girl," Angel," "Like a Virgin," and "Over and Over," I felt young, excited, optimistic and happy as I did all twenty years ago when I first heard these wonderfully infectious songs! (It encourages you to reminisce about the good old days, too--as well as the materialism of the '80s! GRIN) Following them is the torchy pop ballad "Love Don't Live Here Anymore," which Madonna performs very well. "Dress You Up" is yet another tune that immediately became a global hit for "The Material Girl." "Shoo-Bee-Doo" is a slower ballad that goes well after the faster paced "Dress You Up." This album also includes very, very good songs like the slower "Pretender" and the song "Stay." The listener then gets the added plusses of extended dance mixes of "Like a Virgin" and "Material Girl."

The sound quality is excellent throughout the entire remastered CD! The liner notes include the lyrics to all the songs and there are a few great shots of Madonna taken at that time, too. A real plus for Madonna fans!

Not only is this one of her greatest albums, this CD would also be an excellent introduction to the newcomer who wants to see what Madonna could produce at such an early point in her career. I strongly recommend this remastered CD as a great addition for Madonna fans who only have the original CD or the vinyl album. Only regret: "Into The Groove" isn't here! Hey! To improve this incredible CD even further, can we use this as a springboard to remaster it yet again as something even more awesome (although there's not too much room to go higher)? Only time will tell.....GRIN

This was the album that turned Madonna into a star. The first album was good, but this is a definite improvement.

1. Material Girl- One of her signature songs. Also one of her catchiest, even if it's quintissential 80's A

2. Angel- A nice song. Kinda dumb, but great music and singing. B+

3. Like A Virgin- THE signature song. It is always really fun to listen to, and has the point that even Britney's first didn't. A

4. Over And Over- My favorite song on the album. Definitely made for the clubs, and one you can't help but dance to. A+

5. Love Don't Live Her Anymore- Not a song many Madonna fans will like, but I love it. Her vocals are the best on this song, and a very soulful take. A-

6. Dress You Up- A little too dumb, but other than that, it is flawless. B

7. Shoo-Be-Do- Perhaps the worst song, even though it's still very nice, and easy to relax to. B-

8. Pretender- It's a very good song, but extremely forgettable. My least favorite song. C

9. Stay- A great way to end the album. The chorus will be in your mind long after the song has stopped playing. A-

This is THE Madonna album to have. If you don't know which album to get first, get this one.

Back in 1984, Madonna gave an unforgettable performance of "Like a Virgin" at the MTV Video Music Awards. Dressed in a wedding gown and prancing around the stage, it was a delightful preview of her second record, produced by Nile Rogers. "Like a Virgin" is an impressive step forward from her debut album and shows a more confident, self-assured Madonna. The bouncy "Material Girl" would be one of her signature hits, even though Madonna herself is quietly distancing herself from that song. Too bad, because it's a great tune. Like that song, the rest of the album is full of hook-infested pop tunes such as the energetic "Dress You Up," "Over and Over," and "Angel," which is a favorite of mine. Her cover of "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" also holds up well, as does the disc's fine closer, "Stay." "Like a Virgin" sold substantially more than its predecessor, and deservedly so. It's one of my favorite Madonna albums and smartly dodges the sophomore slump.