On June 30, 1986, “Sire” label released “True Blue”, the third Madonna studio album. It was recorded December 1985–April 1986, at “Channel Recording Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Madonna, Stephen Bray and Patrick Leonard. “True Blue” was global commercial success, reaching number one in record-breaking 28 countries worldwide, spending 34 consecutive weeks at the top of the “European Top 100 Albums” chart, longer than any other album in history. It became the world’s top-selling album of 1986,and the best-selling album of the 1980s by a female artist. In 1986, as recognition of her impact on the popular culture, Madonna became the first female artist to receive the “Video Vanguard Award” at the 1986 “MTV Video Music Awards”.

Personnel:

• Madonna – lead and backing vocals
• Bruce Gaitsch – guitar
• Dann Huff– guitar
• Paul Jackson, Jr.– guitar
• John Putnam – acoustic and electric guitar
• David Williams – guitar, rhythm guitar, backing vocals
• Fred Zarr – keyboards
• Stephen Bray – keyboards, drums, music programming, drum programming
• Patrick Leonard– keyboards, drums, drum programming, programming
• Jonathan Moffett – drums, percussion, backing vocals
• Paulinho da Costa– percussion
• Dave Boroff – saxophone
• Keithen Carter – backing vocals
• Edie Lehmann – backing vocals
• Jackie Jackson– backing vocals
• Siedah Garrett– backing vocals
• Richard Marx– backging vocals
• Billy Meyers – string arrangements
• Michael Hutchinson – engineer
• Michael Verdick – engineer, mixing
• Dan Nebenzal – mixing
• Ted Jensenat Sterling Sound, NYC – mastering
• Jeffrey Kent Ayeroff – art direction
• Jeri McManus – art direction, design
• Herb Ritts– photography

Track listing:

1. Papa Don’t Preach – Brain Elliot, Madonna
2. Open Your Heart – Madonna, Gardner Cole, Peter Rafelson
3. White Heat – Patrick Leonard, Madonna
4. Live to Tell – Patrick Leonard, Madonna
5. Where’s the Party – Madonna, Stephen Bray, Patrick Leonard
6. True Blue – Madonna, Stephen Bray
7. La Isla Bonita – Madonna, Patrick Leonard, Bruce Gaitsch
8. Jimmy Jimmy – Madonna, Stephen Bray
9. Love Makes the World Go Round – Madonna, Patrick Leonard