Roland Barthes Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 The Making of Madonna’s First Album Cover By Carin Goldberg as told to Erica Schwiegershausen 13.3kShares Share13.3kTweet53Share4Pin It0EmailPrint The cover of Madonna.There's a new theme every day onIt's Vintage. Read more articles on today's topic: Club-Kid Style. Carin Goldberg — the art director behind Madonna’s debut album cover — spoke to the Cut about her first experience with the then-unknown pop star. It’s the first question that anybody asks me, even today: What was it like to work with Madonna? People think that maybe something dramatic or interesting or kind of wild might have happened, based on, you know, Madonna’s persona. But I would say that Madonna was probably the easiest job I ever had — the most cooperation from a recording artist I think I ever had. She was a true professional, even at that young age. It was ’83, and at that point I had my own small design firm. Warner Bros. called and asked me to do her cover as a freelance designer. When I got the call, I rolled my eyes, because it was another [musician with a] one-word name. At that time it had become cliché to have a one-word name, because of Cher, so I remember thinking, God, it’s going to be one of those. So I really went into it with very little expectation. The fact of the matter is that nobody knew who she was. As far as I was concerned, she could have been a one-trick pony and we might never have heard of her again. Because she wasn’t famous, the budget was not huge at all. I asked her to come dressed in the kind of clothes she would normally wear. I said, “You’ve got your thing, just do it.” There was nothing particularly shocking about what she was wearing at the time. I think she just had a unique style. A lot of people did — Betsey Johnson, Cyndi Lauper, Diane Keaton. There was a lot going on then that was all about women wearing all kinds of weird combinations. We were all doing that kind of eclectic look, but Madonna did it with a much more audacious, sexual edge. It wasn’t so much about trying to be a rock star — it was more just making something from something you had around. Taking some piece of fabric and wrapping it around your head, for example. Over the years her style has changed, given her independence and wealth and ability to have designers design for her, but there’s still a kind of eclecticism to some degree. My memory was that she wore some kind of cut shirt — there was definitely a lot of belly hanging out. And a balloon-y pant with the waist and legs rolled up. A lot of artists really didn’t have very much taste — they don’t always know who they are, and they need to be told — especially these days. Madonna walked in ready-made. She knew who she was. We didn’t have to worry about styling her. She came with a lot of bracelets on, and so I said, “I think we ought to focus on the bracelets, let’s really try to get that in the picture.” That was the one iconic thing about her outfit, besides the rag in her hair. I thought she needed even more, so the girlfriend of the photographer went into her jewelry box and took as many bracelets as she could find, to give it a bit more boom. We put on her music and I asked her to dance. There was not much else we needed to do, because she was a performer. It was short, it was sweet. She was prompt, she did everything we asked her to do, she said thank you. It could not have been more easy. I would not call her in any way warm and cuddly, but she was not unfriendly. She was just all business. And who knew? In my wildest dreams, could I have ever imagined? I mean, I knew she had a little talent. She got there and danced, and sang “Holiday,” I think. I liked it, we could dance to it. But who the hell could have predicted after that? It totally exploded. That album was the moment. I’m really glad we did a full-face portrait for the cover. I think it helped — even just incrementally. But it’s hard to know. I did my job, it went out there, and life went on. And I will be forever the art director who did Madonna’s first cover, which I suppose is not a bad thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tasteinmen Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 Read this earlier, iconic!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qans1990 Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 Was about to post this also!! Great article, its so interesting to read about her early years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larkspur Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 Still can't decide between this or Ray Of Light as my favorite album cover. Just amazing! Great to read this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chimera Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 Was about to post this also!! Great article, its so interesting to read about her early years Yes, always lovely to read about this, shows her caliber and how unique she was from the very beginning. Not just another singer or artist, but one of a kind indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Pud Whacker Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 the greatest album cover all time!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzy Jan Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 the greatest album cover all time!!! Even today, this is possibly my favourite cover. Really captures her beauty, style and personality. Loved reading about her and yet again - how professional she was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Pud Whacker Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 Even today, this is possibly my favourite cover. Really captures her beauty, style and personality. Loved reading about her and yet again - how professional she was. of course and look at that - every shot is a possible cover!!! fantastique!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzy Jan Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 of course and look at that - every shot is a contender!!! fantastique!!! Yes, Madonna's charisma, beauty and star quality was always there from the very beginning. Alongside her fantastic music, she always has been a powerhouse and how great is it to read accounts from people who saw her before she was mega-famous. Love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Barthes Posted April 22, 2015 Author Share Posted April 22, 2015 It took me a while to adapt to this cover since i grew up with the lesser european one (the first album), same way the burning up version on the first album will always be the original version for me. Why did they mess with our brains by changing the cover for Europe ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Pud Whacker Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 It took me a while to adapt to this cover since i grew up with the lesser european one (the first album), same way the burning up version on the first album will always be the original version for me. Why did they mess with our brains by changing the cover for Europe ? there was a reissue after the success of Like a Virgin. the original was always the Gary Heery photo shoot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nefarious Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 the greatest album cover all time!!! Yes!! It's so simple and yet so perfect. This still looks cool in 2015, it's just timeless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Pud Whacker Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 Yes!! It's so simple and yet so perfect. This still looks cool in 2015, it's just timeless of course. i still always fantasize about seeing a girl like that walking down the street. petite, bleached, sexy, full of herself - in a black t shirt and chains and bracelets!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryan Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 Pud, you have the back cover as a wall In your home, no? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Pud Whacker Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 Pud, you have the back cover as a wall In your home, no? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryan Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 Fucking fabulous Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erotica blu Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 I wanna move in. That's awesome. Of course my photo would be from the SEX-Erotica era. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erotica blu Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 I love reading about Madonna as a creative. No one thinks of a photo shoot as a creative exercise for the subject. But it really is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erotica blu Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 Yes!! It's so simple and yet so perfect. This still looks cool in 2015, it's just timelessSimplicity is the secret to timelessness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingvirtue Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 Did she have something tied in her hair for that shoot? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kurt420 Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 THAT is amazing!!! I don't think I'd ever leave the house! Lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 Sheer awesomeness!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butter9 Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 Fantastic read . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
promise to try Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 nice read!!!and wonderfull cover!her best?probably!!!!although for me,as somebody has mentioned,her first album's cover is the one from 1985.why did they change it?this is so much better!!!!and pud,I love thr picture in your wall!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerGirl Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 This is amazing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erotica blu Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 So it's a agreed! We're all moving in to Pud's house. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Pud Whacker Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 I printed and did it myself. Even has the Sire logo on it!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bluejean Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 It's a great cover, very simple. I would say the photographer did very little, it was mainly Madonna that made it grand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bluejean Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 I printed and did it myself. Even has the Sire logo on it!!! Very cool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nemo64 Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 Love this, and the article!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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