"Crazy For You" - issued in 1985 herald the Madonna limited edition, the seventh of sixty-six (sixty-eight including the duplicates: 'TX' 12" & "Hanky Panky" 12"). "Crazy For You" shaped picture disc has turned out to be one of twenty three different formats, a variation to include: 7", 12" and LP with poster; 7", 12" and LP in poster sleeve; 7", shaped, 12" and LP picture disc; 'TX' 12"; double pack 7"; badge pack 7"; zipper sleeve 7"; 'CDX' picture compact disc; box-set; 'CD2' The Dance Remixes; 'CD2' - Remixes; 'CDX' booklet sleeve; 'CDX' callendar; 'CDX' postcards, 'CDX' poster sleeve and 'CDX' film postcards. All of which have become collectable throughout the globe.

"Crazy For You" - shaped picture disc was the first of six. The initial five were all released within the seven proceeding months with the last, appearing some five years later, ironically issued as a reissue of the first. "Angel" and "Crazy For You" '91 reissue came complete with a fold out cardboard plinth, the latter also included a picture insert.

An important point worth a mention concerning all limited editions. When bought new at the time of their release, small promotional stickers are usually included, which them selves carry an appropriate catalogue number. Therefore their absence may render the item incomplete. Never peel these off.

Some four months previous to "Crazy For You" saw the emergence of the fifth poster issue, "Material Girl" was the fourth of thirteen 12" issues. The earliest confirmed issue being "Lucky Star" 'TV screen' - issued in March 1984, as ambiguity shrouds the exact details concerning the original 'sunglasses' issue - released just six months prior. What I can ascertain is that the 'TV screen' picture sleeve copy coupled a 'twenty inch' square colour poster of the bangles picture with an abundance of stars - as found on the 7" sleeve.

From the third such issue - "Like A Virgin", virtually undoubted clarity commenced: which appears to be true for all formats.

If definitive describes Madonnas "marriage" album - "True Blue" with tour poster, then differential could equally describe the fable of "You Can Dance": "My tale of two pressings and, continued factuality". Two very similar poster editions materialised, both posters taken from the sleeve photograph and identical but for small typographical wording. Pressing number one carries a square white sticker which reads: 'THE DANCE RECORD OF THE YEAR - All new extended remixes - limited edition-incl. special free poster" and, "C1987' - 'WX76 925 535-1" printed on the actual poster. In comparison to the other pressing with round sticker, reading "Includes FREE- POSTER' and, misleading "Made in the USA for promotional use only" wording on the actual poster.

One last, but equally important album pressing worth a mention is "Madonna". Issued in 1983 - initially in a limited edition, although only apparently; a poster or poster sleeve is most probable. If this is more than mere speculation, "Madonna" would be the debut poster issue and, maiden UK limited edition - maybe even worldwide!.

From general ambiguity I move to slight confusion - associated with "Vogue" and "Hanky Panky". "Vogue" gave rise to two totally separate pressings. The first and standard, included a "Face Of The Eighties" poster, partly identifiable by its small circular black sticker. The second, which included a 'Strike-A-Pose Dub', additional 'TX' prefix on its catalogue number (more information on 'TX' pressings later in the section) and a larger poster, with equally distinctive - large red square sticker. "Hanky Panky" was issued with a poster, although this accompanied a 12" picture disc only. Also included was a gate fold insert, emulating the picture cover.

Finally, "Erotica" and "Bad Girl", both post 1992 - four format rule, coupled "exclusive" (as titled on the latter) rather than limited posters.

From 'free posters' I move swiftly to 'poster sleeves' - otherwise known as 'wraparound's'. A seemingly regular picture sleeve which quite naturally unfolds into a poster. Many of which, no doubt ending-up stapled or taped to walls throughout Britain, only to be ripped off, incorrectly folded then thrown onto the poster-pile - "nightmare!". Not to much need be said concerning these issues. Four in total: "The Gambler" - debut 7" format, followed by the debut 12" - "Dress You Up", which may have been re-released to enable the advertisement of both music videos: "Madonna" and "The Virgin Tour", pictured on the back cover. The 'Like A Prayer' album, released some four years later produced a 7" for "Express Yourself", which also included a picture sleeve, and 12" for "Dear Jessie", which pictured a larger elephant than usual on its back cover.

To conclude pre "Crazy For You" limited editions, I would like to bring attention to what must be one of the most scarce pressings - "Borderline" double pack. Issued in may '84, it couples "The hit Holiday", as its promotional sticker states.

"Borderline" helped fill the limited edition gap, i.e. one format at least, issued consecutively from "Lucky Star" in '84 to "Holiday" in '91, with only "Everybody", the original "Holiday", "This Used To Be My Playground", "I'll Remember", "Human Nature" and "You Must Love Me" not released in any limited edition or exclusive format.

With pre "Crazy For You" format covered, I'll continue with the rest. Commencing with picture discs.

The "Like A Virgin" album picture disc in unique die-cut sleeve - allowing a glimpse of Madonna without actually removing the shrink wrap, must be one of my favourite items. Issued in August-1985, and including the extra track "Into The Groove".

Shortly previous - in July, the reissued "Holiday" initialised 12" picture discs. This debut turned out to be one of eighteen. With pressings appearing perpetually from "Papa Don't Preach" to "Cherish" - a span of three years!. Of these ten pressings: the first four, including "Who's That Girl" - apparently limited to just ten thousand, tend to demand the highest prices, although even later pressings from the albums, "Like A Prayer" and "Bedtime Stories" are fairly sought after, especially "Like A Prayer" 12" when complete with it's picture insert; the first ever. Inserts have since been issued with all picture discs from this point.

One other fairly interesting pressing from "Like A Prayer", especially as a debut, was "Dear Jessie" - issued in 7" picture disc format. This was subsequently followed by four more: "Vogue", "Fever", "Secret" and "Take A Bow"; the latter three included picture inserts, with "Fever" carrying it's own individual number.

Just for the record: "Holiday" '91 and "Rain" were pressed with grooves on one side only and, "Erotica" was pressed then subsequently withdrawn, with copies now selling at one hundred times their original cost, but beware of fakes.

'TX' prefix 12" seem to be the most underrated of all limited editions despite their abundance of otherwise unavailable remixes. The pre 'Maverick' pressings appear totally identical to 'Gema Biem' 12" pressings: boxed sleeves and German origin etc. For additional information on sleeve and label design, see "Gema Biem" within the "Top-Up" section.

There have been three such releases: "Who's That Girl", issued in 1987, which included a 'Dub' mix of the title-track and a 'Remix' of 'White Heat'. Followed in 1989 by "Like A Prayer", which carried three interesting mixes: '12" Dance Mix', 'Churchapella' and 'Remix Edit'. This pressing is also distinguishable by its 'sand coloured' sleeve. The final release was for "Vogue" - in 1990. Otherwise known by the title: "Strike A Pose 12" due to the inclusion of the 'Strike A Pose Dub'. This issue came with 'X-Rated' poster.

The latest pressing was "Bedtime Stories", a limited edition commercial release which although carried regular 'Junior Vasquez' mixes, was issued with unique 'hologramme' silver sleeve.

With the majority covered, I will finish this section with a look at the lesser occurring formats. "Borderline" aside, eleven one-off's' remain.

The first one-off limited edition was issued back in '88: "Causing A Commotion" 7" with small- button badge. Followed shortly by what must be one of the all time unique limited editions, "Express Yourself" with 'jeans' zipper-sleeve, a rather authentic pair of denim pants which un zip to reveal an equally authentic picture sleeve - what a gem!. Equally collectable is the picture compact disc for "Dear Jessie"; this carried 'CDX' prefix identification, as did four other, more recent one off limiteds. Notably: "Bedtime Stories", issued with a fabulous 'digipak' style booklet sleeve; "You'll See" with calendar; "Oh Father" with postcards; "One More Chance" with poster sleeve and "Another Suitcase In Another Hall" with film postcards. Three final 'remix' compact discs exist. The first, "The remixes", was issued for "Secret" and included five 'Junior Vasquez' mixes; the next, "The Dance remixes" accompanied "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" with three mixes by 'Pablo Flores' and 'Javier Garza'. The latest was the remi x CD for "Ray Of Light".

"Crazy For You" '91 also appeared in 'picture compact disc' format, and although fairly limited, was a commercial issue - not a limited edition.

"The Royal Box", the tenth one-off, released to coincide with "The Immaculate Collection", included unique pressings of the compact disc and video formats. The former, a fabric coated 'Digipak' edition, the latter, issued with a card box casing and, including an additional version of 'Vogue' - filmed at the 'MTV' awards. Also included in the box set were four colour postcards with paper sash and large poster.