When Madonna could have simply churned out another True Blue and cashed in on her fame, she and producer Pat Leonard chose instead to craft the most ambitious pop album of her career — one so finely tuned that even Peter Gabriel applauded its musicality. Stepping back from the dance floor and replacing bratty avarice with genuine humanity, Like A Prayer draws on Sixties soul, psychedelia, and the influence of Prince to create something far deeper and more personal than anyone expected. The prevailing mix of sex and God proved too potent for Pepsi, who famously dropped their promotional tie-in.
Lyrically, this is Madonna at her most raw and confessional — “Express Yourself” is a feminist call to arms with real substance behind it, “Till Death Do Us Part” documents a harrowing relationship with chilling honesty, and “Oh Father” is a stunning tribute to Simon and Garfunkel-esque folk. The title track remains one of pop’s most thrilling, boundary-pushing openers, all gospel choirs and burning controversy. Beneath the headlines and the burning crosses, Like A Prayer is simply the most spectacular pop album since Revolver.
This album is dedicated to my mother who taught me how to pray.”
— Madonna, 1989
Track Listing: Madonna | Like A Prayer (1989)
| # | Title | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Like A Prayer | 5:39 |
| 02 | Express Yourself | 4:37 |
| 03 | Love Song | 4:52 |
| 04 | Till Death Do Us Part | 5:16 |
| 05 | Promise To Try | 3:36 |
| 06 | Cherish | 5:03 |
| 07 | Dear Jessie | 4:20 |
| 08 | Oh Father | 4:57 |
| 09 | Keep It Together | 5:03 |
| 10 | Spanish Eyes | 5:15 |
| 11 | Act Of Contrition | 2:19 |