On March 21, 1989, “Sire” label released “Like a Prayer”, the fourth Madonna studio album. It was recorded September 1988 – January 1989, at “D&D Recording” in New York City, “Ocean Way Recording” in Hollywood, and was produced by Madonna, Patrick Leonard, Stephen Bray and Prince. In 2003, magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked the album at number 239 of its list of “500 greatest album of all time”. In 2006, magazine “Q” ranked the album at number 14 in its list of “40 Best Albums of the ’80s”. In 2012, “Slant Magazine” ranked the album at number 20 on its list of “Best Albums of the 1980s”. “Like a Prayer” was certified quadruple platinum by “RIAA”.
Personnel:
- Madonna – madona, synthesizer
- Niki Haris, Marilyn Martin, Donna DeLory, Ali Nadirah, Lynne Fiddmont, Rose Banks, Marcos Loya, The Andrae Crouch Choir – vocals
- Chester Kamen, David Williams, Dann Huff, Bruce Gaitsch – guitar
- Sandra Crouch – tambourine
- Jai Winding, Stephen Bray – synthesizer
- Patrick Leonard – acoustic piano, B3 organ, clavinet, synthesizer
- Guy Pratt, Randy Jackson – bass
- Chuck Findley, David Boruff, Steven Madaio, Dick Hyde – brass section
- Jonathan Moffett, Jeff Porcaro, John Robinson – drums
- Luis Conte, Paulinho da Costa – percussion
- Joseph Mayer, Richard Todd – French horns
- Marcos Loya – requinto
- Joe Porcaro – marimba
- Larry Corbett – solo cello
- Chuck Findley – horn arrangements
- Bill Meyers – strings arranged and conducted
- Suzie Katayama – concertmaster
- Bill Bottrell, Eddie Miller, Stephen Shelton, Heidi Hanschu – engineer
- Michael Vail Blum, Robert Salcedo, Stacy Baird, Joe Schiff – additional engineering
- Bill Bottrell – mixing
- Bob Ludwig – mastering
- Herb Ritts – photography
- Jeri Heiden – art design
Track listing:
All tracks by Madonna, except where noted.
- Like a Prayer – Madonna and Patrick Leonard
- Express Yourself – Madonna and Stephen Bray
- Love Song – Madonna, Prince and Roger Nelson
- Till Death Do Us part
- Promise to Try
- Cherish
- Dear Jessie
- Oh Father
- Keep It Together – Madonna and Stephen Bray
- Spanish Eyes
- Art of Contrition
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