Madonna and Marilyn

No, not that Marilyn!
This one – Marilyn Martin.

Best known for her 1985 smash hit Phil Collins duet ‘Separate Lives‘, Marilyn Martin is an American singer who was trying to forge a successful solo career in the mid 1980s. Her 1988 album ‘This is Serious‘ was a stab at AOR radio-friendly pop rock. One of the cuts was chosen to be released as a single – ‘Possessive Love‘.

Sadly the song failed to chart but those who did take the time to pick up the single at the time may have flipped it over to check the tracklisting or slipped the disc out of the sleeve and the eagle-eyed amongst them would have seen that the single was written by none other than the 80’s hit-factory team of Pat Leonard and Madonna together with her regular keyboardist Jai Winding.

Madonna, together with her long time collaborator Donna DeLory, also sang back-up vocals on the song. The song is a fairly good, mid-tempo track and the lyrics reveal Madonna in a contemplative, almost resigned mood at the trials of a relationship, not dissimilar to the subject matter she was writing for songs she kept for herself around this time. Inspired by her own situation after three years of marriage to Sean?:

I want you back within my heart
Lettin’ go was the hardest part
Oh take me back into your heart
Lettin’ go was the hardest part

I think I finally understand
I let the reins slip through my hand
I held too tight
A caged bird always wants to fly

Marilyn repaid the favour by recording backing vocals for Madonna’s single ‘Cherish‘, again with Donna DeLory, during the recording sessions for Madonna’s 1989 ‘Like A Prayer‘ album.