Happy 30th Birthday to Like a Virgin, Madonna’s 2nd and arguably most iconic LP, originally released November 12, 1984.

Just a young buck of seven years when the album was released, my pop music palette was admittedly rather shallow at the time. Growing at full-speed, mind you, but certainly not as extensive as it would become in the years to follow. But despite my musical naiveté, upon hearing Like a Virgin – both the lead single and album – for the first time, my ears instantly registered that this was pop of a totally different and thrilling breed.

Sure, at its core, it was pop music unabashedly designed to make bodies move and dominate radio playlists. Nothing overly cerebral was on offer here – this was Provocative Pop with a capital “P.” An arousing collection of songs that challenged the listener to contemplate not just Madonna’s overt sexuality on full and glorious display, but also his or her own feelings about sexual freedom, repression and the thin line that often separates the two.

http://www.soulhead.com/2014/11/12/long-play-love-madonnas-like-celebrating-30-years-justin-chadwick