Thread title. I have some of my fav artists on my profile so could anyone please look at that and recommend me Madonna albums to listen to first? I’m a fan of La Isla Bonita and Like A Prayer, I’ve listened to Erotica before but it didn’t really click with me. 

Thank you all!

Stream her best sing, Secret.

Immaculate Collection then True Blue then Like a Prayer

One day I just streamed her entire discography on Spotify in order BUT I will say, I’d start with The Immaculate Collection so you can get a good gist of her late 80s/early 90s hits. It is her best selling greatest hits compilation for a reason and it’ll allow you to understand why she became so successful.

I just got into her myself. I streamed Immaculate Collection first and then GHV2 and picked the albums I wanted to stream first based on my favorite singles. Confessions is also a popular album if you love Hung Up and Sorry and that kind of dance music

Everyone saying Greatest Hits.....

 

As far as albums go, Debut, Like a Virgin, Like a Prayer, and True Blue are essential listening for Madonna. Start there, and in order, Debut/LAV are short records and have some of her biggest hits from the 80s.

 

Erotica/Bedtime Stories if you like house/R&B.

 

I don't really use anything from her after the 90s like that, ngl.

 

If you like ballads, listen to Something To Remember, it's a compilation of her ballads up until that point. It's the first Madonna album I ever listened to, given to me by my aunt. Great songs.

 

Edit: I forgot about ROL.  It's acclaimed for a reason, but maybe wait to listen until you familiarize yourself with her earlier work.

 

Also: Vogue, Who's That Girl & Justify My Love are good too, give them a listen.

Edited July 15, 20233 yr by Big Bad Wolf

Start with Madam X so that everything else seems even better in comparison. 

16 minutes ago, GraceRandolph said:

I listened to her whole discography a couple of years ago for the first time but basically this and THEN you can venture out and if you (the OP) have interest and time, listen to the rest of them in full

 

idk if this GH is dragged since everyone seems to prefer Immaculate, BUT i think this has a rly comprehensive tracklist with all of her biggest hits from the 80s, 90s, and 00s (so basically all of her eras that actually matter)

Watch her tour movie from 1991 and start listening to the songs that you like from it then eventually you’ll fall down a deep hole and realize that all of her albums pre-2010s are excellent in one way or another. My personal favorite albums are Bedtime Stories, Ray of Light, Music, and True Blue.

I would highly recommend you listen to Ray of Light Album! It has a very modern sound, and some of her best vocal takes! 
this will literally change your life! Ray of Light, Frozen, The Power or Goodbye, Sky fits Heaven, Nothing Really Matters all still sounds Insane to this day! Frozen and Nothing really matters are the first 2 songs you should check out

 

Edited July 15, 20233 yr by Gorjesspazze9

start with The Immaculate Collection, from there if you like the dance singles like Into The Groove, Holiday, etc then listen to COADF. if you like the artsy stuff like LAP, Express Yourself, Live To Tell, listen to Ray of Light

 

Bedtime Stories is pretty much an r&b/ softer version of Erotica. Music and American Life are electronic mixed with acoustic

 

LAP and her debut are like 1989, Future Nostalgia- well crafted pop albums. True Blue and LAV are your typical pop fluff like Teenage Dream

Nah to all of the above, if you’re in your twenties I’d start with Confessions. 
 

Reason being, it’s the best gate way drug. It’s not like 20s pop but it isn’t dated (not in a bad way of course that’s her best work) 80s pop. It’s right in the middle. 
 

I’d start there THEN do Celebration or Immaculate. 

Listen to "Hung Up" aka modern 2000s bop that saved the gays

23 minutes ago, Jaay said:

Nah to all of the above, if you’re in your twenties I’d start with Confessions. 
 

Reason being, it’s the best gate way drug. It’s not like 20s pop but it isn’t dated (not in a bad way of course that’s her best work) 80s pop. It’s right in the middle. 
 

I’d start there THEN do Celebration or Immaculate. 

i agree with this. Confessions is easier to digest and will give you an appreciation for her music while you bop. Then after that you can dig deeper into her discography. Because for me personally I couldn’t get into her older stuff until i listened to Confessions 

maybe I'm vanilla but I always like to start with the artist's first album and just work my way up to the present (except for Madonna you can save your time and stop after Confessions  ) 

 

also no one's mentioning this yet but watch the music videos and see her artistic progression. Madonna is such a visual person that just listening to the music doesn't do her justice

Listen in order , do not start with erotica, and do not start with ray of light 

34 minutes ago, ebaby said:

maybe I'm vanilla but I always like to start with the artist's first album and just work my way up to the present (except for Madonna you can save your time and stop after Confessions  ) 

 

also no one's mentioning this yet but watch the music videos and see her artistic progression. Madonna is such a visual person that just listening to the music doesn't do her justice

hard candy is amazing , why would you skip that?

12 minutes ago, DonnaSpring said:

hard candy is amazing , why would you skip that?

I was like who downvoted me what did I do

 

hard candy is a skip for me  it's the beginning of the decline in quality something shifted. I like Beat Goes On and that's about it.

 

 

Give It 2 Me  also is  a  workout bop at the gym I'll give her that 

 

I just find Hard Candy the first Madonna album that instead of  forging its own path and setting the trend sonically it instead followed trend. Like come on. Timbaland production in 2008 was not unique.

Unpopular opinion but I became a Madonna fan during Rebel Heart era. That album is pure fun! Even AJayII agreed!

Immaculate collection is nice but I’d say start with True Blue and if you think you’re committed then listen to RoL and Bedtime Stories.

The Immaculate Collection is a good starting point.

Hard Candy is a good starting point