Twenty Years Of Erotica

Twenty years ago today Madonna released Erotica, arguably her most controversial album, primarily because of its companion softcore porn book Sex, which included the now-iconic shot of Madge hitchhiking in the nude on South Beach's Alton Road.  Many booksellers refused to stock Sex and yet it sold out of its first printing of 1.5 million copies within three days.  And that was without the internet.

Despite complaints that the binding of Sex fell apart almost immediately (this happened to all of my friends that bought it), it reportedly remains the "best-selling coffee table book of all time." A poll conducted last year revealed that Sex is the "most wanted out-of-circulation" book in the world.  (You can find copies still sealed in the original mylar packaging on eBay for around $300.)

As far as the actual album, Erotica spawned four hit singles, including the title track, the video for which was initially banned by MTV, who later played the clip a grand total of three times to great outrage from religious groups. The clip also prompted the Vatican to ban Madonna from visiting, a move she reportedly was thrilled by.  (Lots of folks found Erotica merely to be Justify My Love: Part Two, including myself.) Below is the uncensored version of the video, which was sold at retail as a video single but got virtually zero airings. You'll see why.