Album of the Day

With its iconic Herb Ritts cover photo, Madonna's third studio album, TRUE BLUE, was class from start to finish. Dedicated to then-husband Sean Penn, the 1986 Sire set included a few love songs but the nine originals (all co-written by Madonna) offer a variety that speaks to the performer's growing ambition. Singles "Live to Tell," "Papa Don't Preach," "True Blue," "Open Your Heart" and "La Isla Bonita" were all Top 5 hits and range from torch song balladry to social commentary to Latin pop. The girlish voice of her earliest work has largely been supplanted by richer, more mature singing, though Madonna's sense of fun is still intact – it's a collection worthy of serious attention that's also light enough for dancefloors. With more then 25 million copies sold worldwide, TRUE BLUE cemented Madonna's status as a superstar and remains one of the defining albums of the 1980s.