After making fans wait nearly four years, Madonna delivers what may prove to be her first true blue rock album Ray of Light and commences with a moody ballad (co-written with new collaborator William Orbit) of new credos and fresh religions. Meanwhile, Kenny and Mark tie up a lot of loose threads as we head into the “Spiritual Girl” era and celebrate the inspiring return of Pat Leonard. Topics include: Animal Kingdom, the MTV and those pesky VMA, Kurts Loder and Cobain, Prodigy, Britney Spears, Princess Diana, Beck, Maverick Records, the Pre-Madonna album and “Crimes of Passion”, Jose & Luis, Elizabeth Taylor & Shirley Maclaine, Yoga & Gwenyth Paltrow, Rick Nowels, Rob Sheffield, San Sebastian Strings, Water Stern, the poetry of David Collins (RIP), Courtney Love and HOLE, BT&Sasha, Kenny’s writing chum Nathan Parker, the Rolling Stone Women In Rock September 1997 issue, and the realization that Madonna is really starting to chill out in London. Is it “traded fame for love” or “traded love for fame”? Who’s gonna wrestle that disposable camera away from that prying housekeeper? Join the conversation and find out.
