Like A Prayer (1989)

FORMATS: 7" Vinyl, 12" Vinyl, Cassette Single, 3" CD Single

HISTORY AND NOTES: "Like A Prayer" was the the title track and first single released from Madonna's fourth studio album, Like A Prayer. It is one of Madonna's signature 80's songs.

This was Madonna's first single to be commercially released on the CD format in the USA, in this case, the short-lived 3" CD which included the 7" Version of "Like A Prayer" (note that the 7" Version is a new mix and not just an edit) as well the album version of "Act Of Contrition" (this was also the tracklist for the 7" and the cassette singles). A 12" maxi was released featuring several extended dance mixes. Even though a cassette maxi was released for the previous two singles "Who's That Girl" and "Causing A Commotion", there were none issued for any of the singles from Like A Prayer (Madonna's next cassette maxi wouldn't come until 1990's "Vogue"). There were several dub mixes and remix edits of "Like A Prayer" that were only released on promotional formats.

"Like A Prayer" was an all-around smash on the Billboard charts and became Madonna's seventh #1 hit on the Hot 100. It also hit #1 on the Singles Sales, Radio Airplay, Maxi-Singles Sales, and Club Play charts, her first single to top all 5 of those charts. It also hit #3 on the Adult Contemporary chart and was Madonna's first Platinum-certified single. "Like A Prayer" went on to be included on 1990's The Immaculate Collection and 2009's Celebration compilations and has since become a fan favorite.

CERTIFICATION: Platinum


TRACKLISTINGS:

7" Vinyl / Cassette Single
A Like A Prayer (7" Version)
B Act of Contrition (Album Version)

12" Vinyl
A1 Like A Prayer (12" Dance Mix)
A2 Like A Prayer (12" Extended Remix)
A3 Like A Prayer (Churchapella)
B1 Like A Prayer (12" Club Version)
B2 Like A Prayer (7" Remix / Edit)
B3 Act of Contrition (Album Version)

Promo 12" Vinyl
A1 Like A Prayer (12" Dance Mix)
A2 Like A Prayer (Instra Dub)
A3 Like A Prayer (Bass Dub)
B1 Like A Prayer (12" Club Version)
B2 Like A Prayer (Dub Beats)
B3 Like A Prayer (7" Remix / Edit)

3" CD Single
1. Like A Prayer (7" Version)
2. Act of Contrition (Album Version)

Promo CD
1. Like A Prayer (7" Version With Fade)
2. Like A Prayer (7" Remix / Edit)
3. Like A Prayer (7" Dance Edit)
4. Like A Prayer (12" Dance Mix)
5. Like A Prayer (12" Club Version)


CHARTS:

THE BILLBOARD HOT 100
Debut Date: March 18, 1989
Peak Date: April 22, 1989
Peak Position: #1 (3 weeks)
Week-by-week Rundown: 38-25-11-5-3-1-1-1-2-10-18-31-41-56-73-98-// (16 weeks total)
Final Week on Chart: July 1, 1989

The Billboard Hot 100 Top 10: April 22, 1989 (the week that “Like A Prayer” peaked at #1)
1. Madonna “Like A Prayer”
2. Fine Young Cannibals “She Drives Me Crazy”
3. Roxette “The Look”
4. Ton-Loc “Funky Cold Medina”
5. Bon Jovi “I’ll Be There For You”
6. R.E.M. “Stand”
7. Deon Estus “Heaven Help Me”
8. Milli Vanilli “Girl You Know It’s True”
9. Bangles “Eternal Flame”
10. Thirty Eight Special “Second Chance”

HOT 100 SINGLES SALES
Debut Date: April 1, 1989
Peak Date: April 22, 1989
Peak Position: #1 (3 weeks)
Week-by-week Rundown: 12-6-2-1-1-1-2-12-20-31-37-// (11 weeks total)
Final Week on Chart: June 10, 1989

HOT 100 AIRPLAY
Debut Date: March 18, 1989
Peak Date: April 22, 1989
Peak Position: #1 (3 weeks)
Week-by-week Rundown: 29-17-11-5-3-1-1-1-2-7-16-33-// (12 weeks total)
Final Week on Chart: June 3, 1989

HOT DANCE MUSIC / CLUB PLAY
Debut Date: March 25, 1989
Peak Date: April 15, 1989
Peak Position: #1 (2 weeks)
Week-by-week Rundown: 47-14-5-1-1-3-5-19-40-44-// (10 weeks total)
Final Week on Chart: May 27, 1989

HOT DANCE MUSIC / MAXI-SINGLES SALES
Debut Date: April 8, 1989
Peak Date: April 22, 1989
Peak Position: #1 (4 weeks)
Week-by-week Rundown: 5-2-1-1-1-1-2-3-6-14-25-37-// (12 weeks total)
Final Week on Chart: June 24, 1989

ADULT CONTEMPORARY
Debut Date: March 18, 1989
Peak Date: May 13, 1989
Peak Position: #3
Week-by-week Rundown: 36-24-16-15-10-7-5-4-3-5-9-16-22-25-30-34-45-50-// (18 weeks total)
Final Week on Chart: July 15, 1989

HOT CROSSOVER SINGLES
Debut Date: March 18, 1989
Peak Date: April 29, 1989
Peak Position: #1
Week-by-week Rundown: 25-14-10-3-3-2-1-1-1-4-6-9-19-// (13 Weeks Total)
Final Week on Chart: June 10, 1989

HOT R&B SINGLES AND TRACKS
Debut Date: March 25, 1989
Peak Date: May 13, 1989
Peak Position: #20
Week-by-week Rundown: 89-62-48-41-32-25-24-20-36-51-79-100-// (12 weeks total)
Final Week on Chart: June 10, 1989

HOT R&B AIRPLAY
Debut Date: April 15, 1989
Peak Date: May 6, 1989
Peak Position: #21
Week-by-Week Rundown: 37-30-22-21-28-// (5 weeks total)
Final Week on Chart: May 13, 1989

HOT R&B SINGLES SALES
Debut Date: April 22, 1989
Peak Date: May 13, 1989
Peak Position: #18
Week-by-Week Rundown: 39-31-26-18-29-39-// (6 weeks total)
Final Week on Chart: May 27, 1989

DANCE / ELECTRONIC DIGITAL SONGS
Debut Date: February 6, 2010
Peak Date: February 6, 2010
Peak Position: #38
Week-by-week Rundown: 38-48-// (2 weeks total)
Final Week on Chart: February 13, 2010

Note: "Like A Prayer" entered the following charts in 2012 due to Madonna's Super Bowl performance of the song:

POP DIGITAL SONGS

Debut Date: February 18, 2012

Peak Date: February 25, 2012

Peak Position: #19

Week-by-week Rundown: 42-19-// (2 weeks total)

Final Week On Chart: February 25, 2012

HOT DIGITAL SONGS

Debut Date: February 25, 2012

Peak Date: February 25, 2012

Peak Position: #38

Week-by-week Rundown: 38-// (1 week total)

Final Week on Chart: February 25, 2012

HOT SINGLES RECURRENTS

Debut Date: February 25, 2012

Peak Date: February 25, 2012

Peak Position: #11

Week-by-week Rundown: 11-// (1 week total)

Final Week on Chart: February 25, 2012