Like a Prayer

iTunes Editors’ Notes

Scented with patchouli in its original release, 1989’s Like a Prayer was Madonna’s most explicit attempt yet at having it all – sexiness, artistic credibility, and dance-floor action—and a terrifically successful one at that. As was usual by now, its singles kept it on the radio for the better part of a year. At the same time, its kaleidoscopic range of styles and statements hung together almost as well as the best Prince albums. (The Purple One himself joined in on “Love Song,” a collaboration that hinted at more future work together that, sadly, never arrived.) The album ends with a religious joke that, while not causing as much controversy as the record’s tie-in soda commercial, shows that Madonna understood what was so funny about all of this.