When I get asked what my favourite Madonna album is, people are often shocked by my response. Sure, ‘Ray of Light’ is a masterpiece that redefined Madonna’s artistry and ‘Confessions on a Dance Floor’ proved that she was still the Queen of Reinvention, but for me I’ve always loved 1994’s rather under-rated ‘Bedtime Stories’. Arriving two years after the controversial ‘Erotica’, ‘Bedtime Stories’ carried a lot of expectation on its shoulders. ‘Erotica’ was Madonna’s worst-performing album commercially, at that point in her career, and fans were divided over her unapologetic embrace of sex and sexuality.
‘Bedtime Stories’ was another reinvention moment for Madonna. The underground and sexually-charged feel of ‘Erotica’ was replaced for a pop record that leaned heavily into R&B and hip-hop influences. Working with producers Dallas Austin, Babyface, Dave Hall and Nellee Hooper, Madonna delivered an unexpected sound and while the record went on to sell more than 8 million copies, besting ‘Erotica’, it still didn’t hit the commercial highs the star had been used to. The album housed the hits ‘Bedtime Story’, ‘Take a Bow’ and ‘Secret’, along with the iconic anthem ‘Human Nature’, a long-time fan favourite single.
Following on from ‘Veronica Electronica’, the ‘Ray of Light’ companion EP that arrived in the summer, Madonna is gifting fans with some more goodies in the shape of ‘Bedtime Stories: The Untold Chapter’. Whereas ‘Veronica Electronica’ mostly focused on remixes of album tracks, ‘Bedtime Stories: The Untold Chapter’ gives fans plenty of rare material that many may never have heard or been able to get their hands on before. The 8-track collection features 4 remixes or demo versions of songs from the ‘Bedtime Stories’ album along with 4 rare tracks from the ‘Bedtime Stories’ sessions.
The set opens with the Quiet Storm Demo Remix of ‘Survival’, which gives the song a much harder beat. It’s amazing how much of a different feel it gives the song and it’s a really great remix. The Allstar New Single Mix of ‘Secret’ adds a bit of New Jack Swing into the mix, really transforming the song from the yearning midtempo song that we all know and love. ‘Right On Time’, the project’s lead track, is a song that Madonna wrote with Dallas Austin during the original ‘Bedtime Stories’ sessions. The song fits perfectly with the vibe of the original album so it’s a wonder why it didn’t make it onto the final track list.
One of the highlights of this release if the Original Demo Edit of “Don’t Stop”. A favourite on the original album, the demo edit is rawer, a little funkier and there are different vocal harmonies. The song sounds instantly familiar but is considerably different from the eventual album version. ‘Freedom’, which was released on a 1997 charity album, is a nice inclusion here and the sound of the song makes sense in the context of ‘Bedtime Stories’. It’s nice to hear Madonna with stripped-down production and I certainly miss that in her more recent music.
The Howie Tee New Edit of ‘Human Nature’ is seriously groovy and moves the song into hip-hop territory, whilst retaining the attitude and edge that has made it one of Madonna’s best songs. The Rough Single Mix of ‘Let Down Your Guard’, which was the B-side to ‘Secret’ is a little more industrial sounding than the softer feel of ‘Bedtime Stories’ and it allows Madonna to unleash a raspier tone in parts. The final track is “Love Won’t Wait”, which was eventually recorded and released by Take That star Gary Barlow, after Madonna chose not to include it on ‘Bedtime Stories’. It’s fun to hear Madonna’s version but the song definitely doesn’t sound like something that should have been on the 1994 album.
‘Bedtime Stories – The Untold Chapter’ is a stronger release than ‘Veronica Electronica’. I love this era of Madonna and to hear more bits from it is a real treat. The real sell here for fans is that half of the tracks are rare and it’s a chance for fans to own songs they may have only ever heard bootlegged online. With new music on the horizon for 2026, Madonna fans should have a very good year to look forward to and I hope there’s more archival celebratory releases like this one to come too!
Track list: Side A – 1. Survival (Quiet Storm Demo Remix) 2. Secret (Allstar New Single Mix) 3. Right On Time (Original Demo Edit) 4. Don’t Stop (Original Demo Edit) Side B – 1. Freedom (Short Mix) 2. Human Nature (Howie Tee New Edit) 3. Let Down Your Guard (Rough Single Mix) 4. Love Won’t Wait (Original Demo Edit) Record Label: Warner Records Release date: 28th November 2025 Buy ‘Bedtime Stories – The Untold Chapter’ now
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