Blog - Latest Madonna Collectables, Music & Memorabilia to Surface

Barnes & Noble department store in the USA surprised the Madonna community on Saturday 14th July 2018 with their own special edition of the recently reissued The Immaculate Collection double LP vinyl. This was completely out of the blue and most of the 600+ stores only carried one or two copies of the LP. Their website did however also stock the exclusive LP although by mid week (17th July) all stock seems to have completely sold out! I would guess at around 1,500 LPs sold direct in store with maybe the same sold online. So this is set to become a very collectable and sought after item!

The first that was known of the B&N TIC was when images started appearing on social media of a sealed LP with special B&N hype sticker on the front. This was part of their weekend LP vinyl campaign and involved Warner’s Rhino Records.

Initially there was much excitement at the possibility of another USA coloured vinyl Madonna LP or maybe a second pressing of the same USA 2017 coloured vinyl reissue. This was later quashed when it was confirmed that the B&N special edition was maybe not quite as special as their hype sticker lead us to believe.

Despite the LP actually being an imported EU pressing, basically the same as the one that came out in June with "603497859434" catalogue number, the packaging, namely the gatefold picture sleeve has been altered slightly for the B&N campaign making it a bit more sought after than had it just been a straight forward import.

The spine of the B&N reissue LP sleeve has the USA-style: "RB1-26440" catalogue number added, replacing the original EU long catalogue number. The previous 2017 USA coloured vinyl reissue Immaculate Collection LP had "R1-26440" catalogue number (with just: "26440-1" on the labels), so I guess it was natural to adopt an "RB1" prefix to ensure it was unique. Likewise the original EU barcode printed on the rear sleeve has been hidden with the use of an additional barcode sticker stuck over it and the shrink wrap; it clearly shows the newer B&N barcode catalogue number: "8 1227 93056 1". Image of all three recent LP reissue showing the spine catalogue numbers

I wanted to mention that the "RB1-26440" short catalogue number adopted by the B&N pressing on the spine was already the catalogue number displayed prominently on the labels of the 2018 EU reissue; the longer catalogue number is printed within the edge perimeter wording along with EU Manufacture. The labels and discs used for the B&N pressing are exactly the same as those used for the previous EU reissues and simply exported for use in the USA. (See previous blog entries on the USA 2017 & 2018 EU reissue TIC LPs for more details)

Finally the packaging for the B&N LP is made from slightly thinner card than use for 2018 EU repressing and the legal credits at the bottom of the rear sleeve have been altered for USA sale and omit the original EU manufacture; they don't show any manufacture at all! Image of all three sleeves; the lower sleeve is the B&N edition

List of all recent Madonna The Immaculate Collection Reissue LPs to collect
• USA 2017 coloured vinyl LP with hype sticker
• EU 2018 black vinyl LP with hype sticker
• USA-sold B&N 2018 black vinyl LP with B&N sticker

Thanks to Riley York for showing some lovely pictures of this pressing which I have shown above. Thanks also to ??? for your images of the three Immaculate Collection spine image and similar image for the rear sleeve credits.

Friday 6th July 2018 saw the UK (& European) release of the Madonna Like A Virgin Exclusive White Vinyl LP Reissue. The USA has also had this but they did it approximately a week earlier. This 'third' Like A Virgin LP reissue since 2012 was intended as a global reissue by Warner Bros Rhino Records to reboot interest in the album as part of their "Back To The 80s" summer LP reissue campaign featuring other Warner Bros' albums and artists.

Once again the Like A Virgin LP has undergone another EU reissue; the first was back in 2012 on black vinyl, with the second being 2017 using clear vinyl and this time it's come in the form of a stunning white vinyl reissue.

Exclusive White Vinyl Hype Sticker & Upside-Down Rear Sleeve

Unlike the first two EU reissues (2012 & 2017), the 2018 Like A Virgin "Exclusive White Vinyl" LP, as the hype sticker states, has reverted back to the traditional European 'upside down' rear sleeve as featured on the original 1984 & 1985 pressings! The print quality in general for the picture sleeve is also better on the latest EU reissue.

As previously mentioned, the latest reissue comes with stunning circular pale-blue hype sticker, although the USA version came with an additional "Back To The 80s" silver sticker!

Brand New Catalogue Numbers

The white vinyl Like A Virgin also comes with a completely new set of printed catalogue numbers: "6 03497 86073 9", on the sleeve, spine and label perimetre text. The two previous EU reissues shared the same "8122-79735-9" printed catalogue number on the sleeve and labels, with the clear vinyl having a replacement barcode sticker with "0 081227 932312" catalogue number, stuck over the printed one on the rear sleeve under the shrink wrap. A common practice with reissue special editions!

Along with brand new catalogue numbers the labels have also changed slightly and the perimetre text shorter, although the basic label layout and design is mostly the same! However, the labels do also carry the shorter USA-style "RCV1-25157" catalogue number displayed right above the 'record side' number. It's worth mentioning that the numbers from the 'shorter' catalogue number matches the original Like A Virgin LP without Into The Groove! Which this reissue also omits!

Still No Into The Groove

It's strange that all reissues of Like A Virgin LP so far have never included the smash hit Into The Groove, which was added to the album before it being reissued in 1985 with the extra track and new set of catalogue numbers! Maybe this is also why The First Album has never had a reissue yet, instead Warners have only reissued the original Madonna LP!

Initially a total of 10,900 white vinyl LPs had been pressed with approximately 4,500 diverted to the USA for sale; the rest distributed globally. These have all been pressed at the German Alsdorf pressing plant but carry the generic EU manufacture. Only one pressing of the album was initially planned with no further pressings being manufactured, but I am not sure now whether this is still the situation. As of beginning of July 2018, the black vinyl 2012 reissue has been put on hold meaning that stores can only purchase the white vinyl edition, but It's too early to know whether the white will be deleted and discontinued in favour the black vinyl.

USA Like A Virgin Exclusive White Vinyl

America imported pressings from Germany so are technically the same as the ones sold in the EU and elsewhere, but there are differences to the packaging and an additional square silver "Back To The 80's Rhino" 'hype' sticker was added; this has tiny catalogue number on it: "3.6 RS80S.K.1"!

The USA-sold picture sleeve had the shorter USA-style "RCV1-25157" catalogue number on the spine and on the circular hype sticker, replacing the EU longer number; the rear sleeve barcode number did however stay unchanged! Worth also mentioning that the credits at the very bottom of the rear sleeve omitted reference to EU manufacture yet likewise did NOT display USA manufacture! Possibly because the sleeve was printed in the EU also.

As with the previous 2018 reissue Madonna LPs, the labels for the EU and USA were identical with all pressings displaying EU manufacture and long catalogue number within the labels tiny perimetre credits, yet displaying the shorter USA-style catalogue number above the record 'side' number in large text.

List of all 6 Like A Virgin Reissue LPs to collect
• EU 2012 black vinyl LP
• USA 2016 black vinyl LP with hype sticker
• UK 2017 Sainsbury's Clear Vinyl LP with Sainsbury's hype sticker
• EU 2018 Clear Vinyl LP (same pressing as above)
• EU 2018 White Vinyl LP with hype sticker
• USA-sold 2018 White Vinyl LP with additional hype sticker

Thanks for Alex Widger for the images of the discs and inserts & also Antoni Tr for the images of the USA edition. Plus Richard Aguilar Glupker for your superb image of BTT 80's sticker.

The black vinyl reissue of Madonna’s The Immaculate Collection LP (6 0349785934 4) was officially released through Warners’ Rhino Records on Friday June 1st 2018 in the EU and around the world. This is set to be the first of the three Madonna reissue LPs to be released throughout June and July.

I wanted to mention that The Immaculate Collection was however previously reissued in January 2017 but was for sale in the USA only and only as a coloured vinyl limited edition of approximately 6000. The black vinyl is however available globally and has an initial pressing of approximately 9600 units!

The Immaculate collection EU reissue has been pressed at the Alsdorf pressing plant in Germany for distribution throughout the world and all pressings will carry the same ‘EU’ manufacture no matter where sold.

The EU Immaculate Collection comes factory sealed with square hype sticker which looks similar to those used previously on the EU Bedtime Stories reissue and much of the USA LP reissues. Interestingly the EU sticker has been altered to include the singles: "Like A Prayer" and "Material Girl" below "Vogue" this replaces "Justify My Love" and "Rescue Me". Both of which were advertised on all originals as well as the 2017 USA 'Rhino' reissue.

Similarly, where the USA sticker advertised: "2-LP BLUE/GOLD COLORED VINYL" the EU sticker simply states "DOUBLE VINYL". Likewise, the EU sticker displays the now traditional ‘longer’ catalogue number (USA used: R1 26440).

Interestingly, while the EU pressing has the longer ‘6 0349785934 4’ catalogue number printed on the spine and barcode as you would expect. It’s only printed in tiny text around the edge of each label (along with visible EU manufacture which is also printed on the rear sleeve), with the labels predominantly showing the shorter (RB1-26440) catalogue number, usually associated with the USA reissue labels only. This was also the same for the previously released You can Dance EU RSD 2018 reissue LP and may have now been adopted permanently in order to allow the same discs to be exported from the EU and sold/used in the USA without the need for alternative labels for the USA.

Worth Also mentioning that the inner ‘dust jackets’ (or inner sleeves as some of us like to call them) are manufactured from very thick card and give a quality feel to the vinyl! Although many collectors and fans alike have shown dissatisfaction with the overall quaintly of the artwork used! But this does seem to be the case for all Madonna EU LP reissues and may be down to the possibility that all LP artwork was indeed destroyed when vinyl initially became extinct and the ‘people’ at Warners felt it was pointless keeping the original LP artwork any longer.

This pressing was never sold in the USA as an import so was never altered for the US market. However, shortly after this was released in the EU there was an American Barnes & Noble Exclusive Reissue LP which did come with altered sleeve. (For full details see my blog entry on this pressing.)

Who's That Girl and Like A Virgin White Vinyl LP Reissues on way soon!

June and July 2018 are set be busy months for Madonna collectors and fans alike with Rhino releasing a further three Madonna reissue LP vinyl pressings for sale around the world. All will originate from the Alsdorf pressing plant in Germany but packaging may be altered for sale in the USA.

June 29th 2018 should be the release date of the EU reissue of the 1987 movie soundtrack album, Who’s That Gil (0 60349786051 7), which includes four Madonna tracks: Who’s That Girl, Causing A Commotion, The Look Of Love and Can’t Stop. This will be black vinyl and available globally with approximately 6,200 units pressed.

The final Madonna reissue LP and by far the most sough after will be yet another reissue of Like A Virgin album and due for release on July 3rd; this time pressed on white vinyl rather than clear as used for the previously for the October 2017 Sainsburys reissue. Like A Virgin LP (0 60349786073 9) will be issued as part of the "Back To 80s" Rhino/Warners Campaign with approximately 10,900 units initially made. It will be sold globally and pressed specifically to allow fans another chance to buy the album on an alternative colour to the usual black vinyl.

All countries including the USA will sell the same EU made pressings (originating from the Alsdorf pressing plant in Germany, although other EU plants may also press them?). It’s not known yet as to whether the USA will have slightly different packaging/sticker to the rest of the world, but it is highly likely.