This Is Serious is the second solo studio album by American singer Marilyn Martin. Except for two tracks, the album was produced entirely by Jon Astley, who had also produced some of Martin's debut album. Michael Verdick and Patrick Leonard produced "Possessive Love", and Terry Brown produced the album's closing track "Pretender". The album's lead single was "Possessive Love", which was co-written by Madonna and Patrick Leonard, but failed to chart. A second single, "Love Takes No Prisoners," written by Bruce Woolley and Jimmy Scott, was released to similar commercial failure.