When you call my name…
March 1989 saw the release of the title track from Madonna’s ‘mature’ fourth studio album ‘Like A Prayer‘ as the lead single. Whilst the 7″, cassette and CD used the same pale yellow bordered Herb Ritts photo of a praying Madonna from the rear of the album sleeve, the 12″ was slipped into the racks in a completely different sleeve.
This sleeve was designed by Madonna’s brother Christopher Ciccone and appeared mysteriously anonymous with just the song title and some cryptic lettering placed around the design of a nun (Mary?) with a halo wrapped in barbed wire.
Fans who knew the song was the latest offering from the ‘Queen of Pop’ were quick to spot the MLVC related to her initials (Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone), but it would appear Warner weren’t certain this would be the case for the public at wide as subsequent batches sent to retailers had a hastily created name sticker plastered on the sleeve…but what of the mysterious fallen ‘P‘ lying across the ‘holy Madonna’s chest?
This was Chris’s solemn way of recognising that whilst his sister’s marriage to Sean Penn had ended amid much pain, the ‘P’ dropping off her initials (as she discarded the Penn surname) landed on her heart. A reflection on the fact she still loved Sean, despite their his ill-treatment of her and their eventual incompatability as husband and wife.
Fact of the day is brought to MadonnaTribe readers by Tony from London