Out in NY 1981-1982

onthecoverofamagazine posted this fab early image of Madonna!

Madonna's Group 'Emmy' @MaxsKansasCity 1981

@MaxsKansasCity

1981 - Madonna and her then group Emmy perform at the legendary Max's Kansas City in New York City. Madonna on guitar and lead vocal, Stephen Bray on drums, Gary Burke on bass, Mike Monahan on guitar.

Madonna circa 1981

Fabulous shots. They seem to be taken around the time of In Artificial Light.

I've always wanted this version of Hot House Flower. Now, Sweetie, Now!

Unbelievable - 30 Years Ago - Stay '81

The other day as I was blogging the Peter Cunningham photographs of Madonna, I put 1982 in the tags. 1982 - as I've done a gazillion times before - ! - But it's 2011! Wow, in one year Madonna has professionally been with music for 30 years! Those pics are older than most of her fans! It's unbelievable. She's unbelievable.

For Madonna, she's been at it since 1980. And this gem was on the demo tape that got her signed to Sire Records in 1982. Its the early version of Stay (the Virgin version produced by Nile Rodgers is a mixture of this and Don't You Know?) and it was recorded in 1981.

It was mentioned in both Rolling Stone (Madonna Goes All the Way - November 1984) and in Michael McKenzie's Lucky Star book.

Ever since I knew there were early versions, I was dying to hear them. I didn't get to hear them until 1996 when Stephen Bray released them, but it was well worth the wait and one of my all-time favorite Madonna recordings.

Dubtronic's Madonna 'Get Up' Remix

Head over to Dubtronic's page and download his brilliant Get Up remix. Get Up is from the "Gotham Tape" demos with Camille Barbone from 1981.

Click HERE to get it.

Emmy

With Steve Bray.

Bodybuilder Lisa Lyon and Bodybuilder Madonna - 1981-1992