Like a Prayer

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

Like a Prayer · 1988 was a difficult year for Madonna. Her film Who's That Girl flopped, the play Speed-the-Plow received poor reviews, and her marriage to Sean Penn fell apart. She turned thirty, the age at which her mother had died. She wanted to move away from slick teenage pop and make a more personal album about her Catholic upbringing, her marriage and her parents. She worked again with Patrick Leonard and Stephen Bray. Prince co-wrote and co-produced one track.

It is a pop record with rock and dance-pop elements. Recording ran from September 1988 to January 1989 in Los Angeles and at Paisley Park. Prince also played guitar, uncredited, on the title track among others. The reviews were unanimous in their praise for the introspective tone and the cohesion. Like a Prayer became her seventh number one on the US Hot 100, and Express Yourself reached number two. The record later came to be seen as a turning point: she was regarded as a serious artist rather than merely a pop star.

Listening

Track list

1. 1Like a Prayer5:41Apple Music ↗
2. 2Express Yourself4:39Apple Music ↗
3. 3Love Song4:53Apple Music ↗
4. 4Till Death Do Us Part5:18Apple Music ↗
5. 5Promise to Try3:38Apple Music ↗
6. 6Cherish5:03Apple Music ↗
7. 7Dear Jessie4:22Apple Music ↗
8. 8Oh Father4:59Apple Music ↗
9. 9Keep It Together5:03Apple Music ↗
10. 10Pray for Spanish Eyes5:18Apple Music ↗
11. 11Act of Contrition2:19Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗