Perfect timing. Madonna has just entered the picture in my reading of Seymour Stein's memoir 'Siren Song: My Life in Music', and today is a landmark birthday for the biggest catch the legendary label head ever nabbed for Sire Records. Stein signed Madonna from a hospital bed while awaiting open-heart surgery. While laid out, he listened to a demo of "Everybody" on his Sony Walkman. Madonna, being somewhat forward, came to his bedside with her producer/boyfriend Mark Kamins. After a rather ballsy conversation where Madonna wanted money right there and then, all parties agreed on an advance of $15,000 per single for three singles, with an option for an album. There was also a publishing deal where she would get a $2,500 advance for every song she wrote. Mo Ostin, head of the parent company at Warner, refused to give Stein the $15,000, and he had to get the money through a backdoor channel. Yep, you're reading that right.
Madonna has gone on to sell more than 300 million records worldwide for Warner and today is recognized as the best-selling female recording artist of all time.
The 12" of "Borderline" will always be my favorite from those early years, but this is the first song I ever heard by her. A pleasant memory from my days bring glued to MTV day and night. Happy 60th, Madonna! Yep, you're reading that right too.
Burning Up (12")
5 comments:
Blogging synchronicity today Brian
Borderline is indeed a wonderful tune.
The person next to me has correctly identified the singer
.........but did not correctly identify the blogger who posted it....
Not what you usually get here, George, but I liked those early singles and the first album. As a young teen, my friends and I also liked watching her come out of a cake at the first MTV Video Music Awards show. Unforgettable.
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