If you're an antiquated sort like Wet Thud, and still spend a lot of time looking about in physical record shops (or even browsing online), chances are you've flipped through Madonna's section of titles at some point, and if your local record peddler happens to be well stocked, you've realized just how many albums the Queen of Pop has delivered over the years. Large discographies can prove intimidating for some, and so, as part of Wet Thud's week-long celebration of Madonna's 60th birthday, we offer our list of all her full-length albums, ranked in terms of essentiality. Dig in...
Score Card
1 - For completists only.
2 - Not to everyone's tastes.
3 - Not bad, but probably not winning many new fans either.
4 - Worth owning.
5 - Essential. You should have this.
027. Sticky & Sweet Tour (2010)
A single-disc live set containing highlights from the setlist of the 2008 leg of her Sticky & Sweet jaunt. The track selection for the CD suffers from the inclusion of too many songs from the Hard Candy album that don't differ significantly from their studio versions. Score: 1/5
026. MDNA World Tour (2013)
Ever since her Re-Invention Tour, Madonna has treated fans to official releases of each of her road outings. The MDNA World Tour set was released as a 2CD set featuring audio of the full setlist from her 2012 tour. Score: 1/5
025. Rebel Heart Tour (2017)
Another release that simply does what it says on the tin, Rebel Heart Tour is a tour document released in both an edited single-disc format, and a double-disc containing the full show. Score: 1/5
024. 'Who’s That Girl' OST (1987)
Not actually a full album, but rather the soundtrack from M's 1987 movie, which did include four previously unreleased Madonna songs, as well as tracks from Club Nouveau, Scritti Politti, and more. Singles: "Who's That Girl", "Causing A Commotion", "The Look Of Love" Score: 1/5
023. I’m Going To Tell You A Secret (2006)
Madonna's very first live album was this abridged version of the set from 2004's Re-Invention Tour, released in conjunction with director Jonas Akerlund's tour documentary. I'm Going To Tell You A Secret contains enjoyably re-worked versions of classics like "Vogue", "Music", and "Holiday", but also her iffy cover of John Lennon's "Imagine." Score: 1/5
022. Remixed & Revisited (2003)
Technically an EP, Remixed & Revisited is an odds 'n' ends compilation including remixes of four tracks off the previous year's American Life album, the "Like A Virgin/Hollywood" medley M memorably performed with Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Missy Elliott at the 2003 VMA's, and also "Into The Hollywood Groove," the questionable result of an ad campaign Madonna and Elliott took part in for The Gap. The disc's highlight, though curious in its inclusion, is a decade-old outtake from the Bedtime Stories sessions, entitled "Your Honesty." Score: 1/5
021. The Confessions Tour (2007)
The best of Madonna's live albums, The Confessions Tour captures highlights from its namesake disco roadshow, including her live revival of the fan-favourite "Erotica (You Thrill Me)" remix, and the "Future Lovers/I Feel Love" and "Music Inferno" mash-ups. Score: 2/5
020. 'Evita' OST (1996)
The soundtrack from Madonna's award-winning titular role in the film version of the Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd-Webber musical, Evita was released in both a double-disc format, containing the full movie soundtrack, and as a single disc featuring highlights. Hardly exemplary of Madonna's usual output, one's feelings toward Evita likely depend on one's feelings toward musical theatre in general. Singles: "You Must Love Me", "Don't Cry For Me Argentina", "Another Suitcase In Another Hall" Score: 2/5
019. I’m Breathless: Music From And Inspired By The Film 'Dick Tracy' (1990)
Conceived of as a tie-in to her role as Breathless Mahoney in the 1990 film 'Dick Tracy,' I'm Breathless is typically not thought of as a Madonna studio album, but a motion picture soundtrack, despite only three of its songs actually appearing in the movie. The remaining tracks represent music "inspired by" the film, with M delivering a handful of swing and jazz tunes, before the album disjointedly concludes with then recent single "Vogue." Singles: "Vogue", "Hanky Panky" Score: 2/5
018. Hard Candy (2008)
Madonna's final album for Warner Brothers, after a quarter century with the label, Hard Candy is one of the singer's more "urban" sounding efforts, with about half of the album being produced by Timbaland and Justin Timberlake, and duty on the other half overseen by Pharrell Williams and the Neptunes. Singles: "4 Minutes", "Give It 2 Me", "Miles Away" Score: 2/5
017. MDNA (2012)
Madonna's first album under her new contract with record label Interscope, MDNA is a slightly jumbled affair, no doubt due in part to a whole slough of producers being involved, including Martin Solveig, William Orbit, Benny and Alle Benassi, The Demolition Crew, and still more. Singles: "Give Me All Your Luvin'", "Girl Gone Wild", "Masterpiece", "Turn Up The Radio" Score: 2/5
016. You Can Dance (1987)
Though remix albums have become somewhat commonplace over the years since, You Can Dance and its non-stop continuous mix format was considered novel in 1987. Featuring reworked versions of six of Madonna's previously released songs, the set also included a new song, originally recorded during the True Blue sessions, "Spotlight." Singles: "Spotlight" Score: 3/5
015. Music (2000)
For a period often described as her "cowgirl" phase, the Music album yielded some of Madonna's more unconventional, er, music. Riding a career high following the success of Ray Of Light, M appeared more open to creative experimentation on its follow-up, offering up some out-there production on cuts like "Impressive Instant" and "Nobody's Perfect." Co-produced by Madonna, Mirwais Ahmadzai, William Orbit, Guy Sigsworth, and Mark "Spike" Stent. Singles: "Music", "Don't Tell Me", "What It Feels Like For A Girl" Score: 3/5
014. True Blue (1986)
To this day, True Blue remains one of the fifty best selling albums of all time. If we're being completely truthful though, while the five singles remain pop classics, the rest of the record doesn't hold up quite as well. Co-produced by Madonna, Patrick Leonard, and Stephen Bray. Singles: "Live To Tell", "Papa Don't Preach", "True Blue", "Open Your Heart", "La Isla Bonita" Score: 3/5
013. American Life (2003)
2003's American Life is probably the most unfairly maligned album in Madonna's catalogue. While definitely an uneven listen, adverse reactions to the title cut (and in particular M's rapping), seemed to disproportionately sour people's overall response to the entire album. The reality is that the record contains some of Madonna's best deep cuts, like "X-Static Process", "Nobody Knows Me", and "Easy Ride." Co-produced by Madonna and Mirwais Ahmadzai. Singles: "Die Another Day", "American Life", "Hollywood", "Nothing Fails", "Love Profusion" Score: 3/5
012. Like A Virgin (1984)
The big hits may have been the songs brought in from outside writers, but the Madonna-penned tracks off Like A Virgin further proved the singer as a more-than-capable songsmith in her own right. Still, her record label wasn't ready to allow her complete artistic control, a point of contention that also lead to her selection of Chic's Nile Rodgers as the record's producer when Warner Brothers wouldn't let M handle the job herself. Singles: "Like A Virgin", "Material Girl", "Angel", "Dress You Up" Score: 3/5
011. Rebel Heart (2015)
Madonna's most recent studio album, Rebel Heart had its release date bumped up when unfinished mixes of several tracks leaked on to the internet months in advance. The scramble to put out the album legitimately and compete with piracy concerns resulted in an album that may or may not contain songs that otherwise wouldn't have made the final track listing. Also, the sequence of said track listing may have been affected, as the official recordings were quickly made available through online retailers in the same order as the leaked versions. The eventual final result was an overly long, and somewhat disconnected set of songs. Singles: "Living For Love", "Ghosttown", "Bitch I'm Madonna", "Hold Tight" Score: 3/5
010. Madonna (1983)
Where it all began. "Think Of Me" is decidedly a product of its time, and "I Know It" is largely skippable, but the other six tracks on Madonna's self-titled debut are now rightfully regarded as eighties dance-pop classics. Produced by Reggie Lucas, except "Holiday" produced by John "Jellybean" Benitez, and "Everybody" produced by Mark Kamins. Singles: "Everybody", "Burning Up", "Holiday", "Lucky Star", "Borderline" Score: 4/5
009. Bedtime Stories (1994)
Though there's always been crossover between the worlds of pop and R&B, Bedtime Stories was Madonna's most deliberate foray into the latter genre by engaging producers like Dallas Austin, Dave Hall, and Babyface. At a time when she was dating Tupac Shakur, M needed little in the way of street cred, but also recruiting producer Nellee Hooper (known for hit records by Björk, Sinéad O'Connor, and Soul II Soul, among others) to work on a few of the album's cuts didn't hurt. Singles: "Secret", "Take A Bow", "Bedtime Story", "Human Nature" Score: 4/5
008. GHV2 (2001)
While a handy compilation of many of Madonna's biggest hits released between 1992 and 2001, GHV2 falters by a) not including all of the singles issued during this era, and b) not including any new material. Only necessary for hardcore collectors, or people who didn't already own the studio albums. Score: 4/5
007. Something To Remember (1995)
As a calculated attempt to engage the easy-listening crowd, Madonna and her label released the ballads collection Something To Remember in the mid-nineties. The set handily collected previous non-album singles like "I'll Remember" and "This Used To Be My Playground" on a Madonna release for the first time, alongside two mixes of her and Massive Attack's cover of Marvin Gaye's "I Want You", a remix of her cover of Rose Royce's "Love Don't Live Here Anymore", two brand new tracks, and at least one song representing each of her studio albums, save for her ballad-less debut. Singles: "You'll See", "One More Chance", "Love Don't Live Here Anymore [Remix]" Score: 4/5
006. Confessions On A Dance Floor (2005)
After a lukewarm reception to 2003's American Life, Madonna just wanted to dance. A classic disco record for the modern era, the twelve songs on Confessions On A Dance Floor are continuously mixed, giving the feeling of a night at the club. Though mostly helmed by Madonna and Les Rythmes Digitales mastermind Stuart Price, the set also contains songs co-produced with Mirwais Ahmadzai, and Bloodshy & Avant. Singles: "Hung Up", "Sorry", "Get Together", "Jump" Score: 5/5
005. Celebration (2009)
Her to-date most recent compilation, Celebration compiled 36 of Madonna's biggest hits (18 on the single-disc version), spanning from her 1982 debut through to the new songs recorded for this 2009 release. Still incomplete as far as a singles collection, but nevertheless, a good compact source for your daily dose of Madonna. Singles: "Celebration", "Revolver" Score: 5/5
004. Erotica (1992)
The music on Erotica was nearly overshadowed by puritan protest, but controversy aside, the album is one of her boldest, and most cohesive, artistic statements. That the content seems positively benign by today's standards is indicative that Madonna was simply ahead of her time. Co-produced by Madonna, Shep Pettibone, and André Betts. Singles: "Erotica", "Deeper And Deeper", "Bad Girl", "Fever", "Rain", "Bye Bye Baby" Score: 5/5
003. Ray Of Light (1998)
After her unprecedented chart run in the eighties, it was inevitable Madonna would experience a decrease in popularity at some point. While her dip in sales during the early nineties still yielded numbers many artists would kill to achieve in today's industry, her resurgence with another run of international chart hits off Ray Of Light, some sixteen years into her career, confirmed she was in league with industry heavyweights like McCartney, Cher, and the Stones. One of Madonna's most lyrically inspired albums, the recent experience of becoming a mother permeates her writing. Co-produced by Madonna, William Orbit, Patrick Leonard and Marius de Vries. Singles: "Frozen", "Ray Of Light", "Drowned World/Substitute For Love", "The Power Of Goodbye", "Nothing Really Matters" Score: 5/5
002. Like A Prayer (1989)
A watershed moment, Like A Prayer was the moment when even her harshest critics had to accept Madonna as a genuine artist, and not just a product. With some of her most personal songwriting, the record features songs about her complex relationships with her parents ("Promise To Try", "Oh Father"), and both the highs ("Cherish") and lows ("Till Death Do Us Part") of her then recently-ended marriage to Sean Penn. Nary a bum track on it. The cat's pyjamas. The bees' knees. Among the finest pop albums ever. When a Prince collaboration is arguable one of the filler tracks on a record, you know you're dealing with gold. Co-produced by Madonna, Patrick Leonard, Stephen Bray, and Prince. Singles: "Like A Prayer", "Express Yourself", "Cherish", "Dear Jessie", "Oh Father", "Keep It Together" Score: 5/5
001. The Immaculate Collection (1990)
Perfect. Indispensable. Essential from beginning to end, the greatest hits of Madonna's first eight years in the business, all collected in one neat package. Worth owning for the "Like A Prayer" and "Express Yourself" remixes alone. Whoever is in charge of curating Rihanna and Beyoncé's first hits collections, take notes. Singles: "Justify My Love", "Rescue Me" Score: 5+/5
text-only version of the list
###. Album Title (Release Date)
027. Sticky & Sweet Tour (2010)
026. MDNA World Tour (2013)
025. Rebel Heart Tour (2017)
024. 'Who’s That Girl' OST (1987)
023. I’m Going To Tell You A Secret (2006)
022. Remixed & Revisited (2003)
021. The Confessions Tour (2007)
020. 'Evita' OST (1996)
019. I’m Breathless: Music From And Inspired By The Film 'Dick Tracy' (1990)
018. Hard Candy (2008)
017. MDNA (2012)
016. You Can Dance (1987)
015. Music (2000)
014. True Blue (1986)
013. American Life (2003)
012. Like A Virgin (1984)
011. Rebel Heart (2015)
010. Madonna (1983)
009. Bedtime Stories (1994)
008. GHV2 (2001)
007. Something To Remember (1995)
006. Confessions On A Dance Floor (2005)
005. Celebration (2009)
004. Erotica (1992)
003. Ray Of Light (1998)
002. Like A Prayer (1989)
001. The Immaculate Collection (1990)
Did you also catch our ranked lists of Madonna's songs and tours? Check back tomorrow when we play favourites with her videos, too. Finally, on Friday we'll present the results of our readers poll, featuring the 60 Greatest Madonna Songs, as voted by the readers of Wet Thud.
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