True Blue (1986)

FORMATS: 7" Vinyl, 12" Vinyl

HISTORY AND NOTES: The title track from Madonna's third album, True Blue, was released in the Fall of 1986. It was a tribute to her husband at the time, Sean Penn.

"True Blue" was available in both 7" and 12" vinyl configurations. Both formats included the song "Ain't No Big Deal", which was originally scheduled to be Madonna's very first single back in 1982, but ultimately replaced by "Everybody". A collectible, limited edition transparent blue vinyl pressing was also issued. The 12" maxi also included The Color Mix, an Instrumental mix, and the Remix/Edit (a shorter version of The Color Mix).

"True Blue" peaked at #3 on the Hot 100, and hit the Top 5 on several other charts including Adult Contemporary where it became her fourth Top 5 hit. This song also seems to be one of Madonna's more overlooked hits, as it was the only single from True Blue to not be included on either 1990's The Immaculate Collection or 2009's Celebration greatest hits albums (although it was originally scheduled to appear on Celebration, it was pulled from the tracklist before the album release).


TRACKLISTINGS:

7" Vinyl (Standard & Limited Blue Vinyl Editions)
A True Blue (Album Version)
B Ain't No Big Deal (Non-Album Track)

Promo 7" Vinyl
A True Blue (Album Version)
B True Blue (Fade)

12" Vinyl
A1 True Blue (The Color Mix)
A2 True Blue (Instrumental)
B1 Ain't No Big Deal (Non-Album Track)
B2 True Blue (Remix/Edit)


CHARTS:

THE BILLBOARD HOT 100
Debut Date: October 4, 1986
Peak Date: November 15, 1986
Peak Position: #3
Week-by-week Rundown: 40-32-20-13-6-5-3-3-3-12-22-39-57-57-72-90-// (16 weeks toal)
Final Week on Chart: January 17, 1987


The Billboard Hot 100 Top 10: November 15, 1986 (the week that “True Blue” peaked at #3)
1. Boston “Amanda”
2. The Human League “Human”
3. Madonna “True Blue”
4. Eddie Money “Take Me Home Tonight”
5. Bon Jovi “You Give Love A Bad Name”
6. Robert Palmer “I Didn’t Mean To Turn You On”
7. Cameo “Word Up”
8. Peter Cetera with Amy Grant “The Next Time I Fall”
9. Oran Juice Jones “The Rain”
10. Cyndi Lauper “True Colors”

HOT 100 SINGLES SALES
Debut Date: October 18, 1986
Peak Date: November 15, 1986
Peak Position: #4
Week-by-week Rundown: 27-14-8-5-4-5-5-14-19-32-// (10 weeks total)
Final Week on Chart: December 20, 1986

HOT 100 AIRPLAY
Debut Date: October 4, 1986
Peak Date: November 8, 1986
Peak Position: #3
Week-by-week Rundown: 29-20-14-11-6-3-3-3-4-10-24-// (11 weeks total)
Final Week on Chart: December 13, 1986

HOT DANCE MUSIC / CLUB PLAY
Debut Date: October 25, 1986
Peak Date: November 29, 1986
Peak Position: #6
Week-by-week Rundown: 33-22-17-14-10-6-13-32-// (8 weeks total)
Final Week on Chart: December 13, 1986

Note: charted as “True Blue” (Remix)

HOT DANCE MUSIC / CLUB PLAY BREAKOUTS
Debut Date: October 11, 1986
Peak Date: October 11, 1986
Peak Position: #9
Week-by-week Rundown: 9-// (1 week total)
Final Week on Chart: October 11, 1986

HOT DANCE MUSIC / MAXI-SINGLES SALES
Debut Date: October 18, 1986
Peak Date: November 1, 1986
Peak Position: #4
Week-by-week Rundown: 55-22-9-4-4-4-7-11-20-25-49-// (10 weeks total)
Final Week on Chart: December 20, 1986

Notes: charted as “True Blue” (Remix)

The #55 position in the beginning is for its debut as a “bubbling under” single. The Hot Dance Music / Maxi-Singles Sales chart only had 50 positions at that point.

ADULT CONTEMPORARY
Debut Date: October 11, 1986
Peak Date: November 22, 1986
Peak Position: #5
Week-by-week Rundown: 36-26-18-12-8-6-5-5-6-11-16-22-22-23-31-40-// (16 weeks total)
Final Week on Chart: January 10, 1987