Showing posts with label George Michael. Show all posts
Showing posts with label George Michael. Show all posts

Wednesday 12 August 2009

Faith - George Michael

You don't hear it much on the radio nowadays, but George Michael's 'Faith' actually starts out with an organ intro, playing the Wham! song 'Freedom'. There were high expectations preceding the release of this solo single, since all of Michael's previous solo singles resulted in top three hits in the UK. This was the last single release before his debut album, also called 'Faith' saw the light of day one month later.

The single 'Faith' did not disappoint: it reached number 2 in the UK singles and topped the charts in Australia, Italy, New Zealand, the Netherlands and the USA.

My collection: 7" single no. 2452
Found: Record fair, September 2, 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Faith' / 'Hand to mouth'

Tuesday 4 August 2009

I want your sex - George Michael

George Michael released his first controversial solo single in 1987, the provocative 'I want your sex'. It was banned on many daytime radio stations in both the USA and the UK. Despite - or perhaps because of - all the controversy, the single became a number 1 hit in the UK and the Netherlands. It also reached number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

It is remarkable that George Michael's 1998 compilation album 'Ladies & Gentlemen' does not feature the A-side of this single, but rather the B-side. Perhaps he's grown to be ashamed of this display of casual hornyness?

My collection: 7" single no. 543
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'I want your sex (Rhythm 1: Lust)' / 'I want your sex (Rhythm 2: Brass in love)'

Sunday 2 August 2009

A different corner - George Michael

George Michael released his second solo single 'A different corner' in April 1986, while still a member of Wham!, although their farewell concert had already been announced. This song was written, arranged and produced by George Michael himself and the sleeve proclaimed that the song was 'dedicated to a memory'. It is rumoured that the song was written about his brief relationship with Pat Fernandez. Fernandez appeared in the Wham! videos 'Wake me up before you go-go' (as one of the dancers with Pepsi and Shirlie) and 'Last Christmas'.

The single was another number one hit for George Michael, in the Netherlands, the UK and Norway. It also reached number 7 in the US Billboard Hot 100. I recently bought the 12" single but found out that the tracks on it are exactly the same as the ones on the 7" single I've had for 20 years.

My collection: 7" single no. 880 / 12" single no. 507
Found: All that music, Leiden, June 16, 1989 / Songs for sale, Rotterdam, July 31, 2009
Cost: 3 guilders / 2 euro
Tracks: 'A different corner' / 'A different corner (instrumental)'

Friday 31 July 2009

Careless whisper - George Michael

Unlike all the singles by Wham!, 'Careless whisper' was written by George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley together. They didn't record it as a Wham! song however, considering it too out of synch with their other work.

The song was finally recorded as a solo single by George Michael, although he was still a member of Wham! at the time. It was recorded twice, once with legendary producer Jerry Wexler. George Michael wasn't happy with this version, so he re-recorded it with himself producing. The original version did appear on the UK 12" single of 'Careless whisper', but alas, this is the European version which only contains the extended and instrumental version of the song.

My collection: 12" single no. 506
Found: Songs for sale, Rotterdam, July 31, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Careless whisper (extended)' / 'Careless whisper (instrumental)'

Friday 19 December 2008

I knew you were waiting (for me) - Aretha Franklin and George Michael

George Michael released his first solo single while he was still in Wham! The fact that 'Careless whisper' became number one hit, may have been one of the factors that caused him to quit the band. After 'A different corner' had also reached the top spot, all eyes were on him. For his third solo single, he enlisted Aretha Franklin for a duet. And that helped him score the hattrick. Remarkably, it was Franklin's first and only number one hit in the UK.

The song was written by Dennis Morgan and Simon Climie. The latter was unknown at that point, but he would be part of the duo Climie Fisher, together with Rob Fisher, who'd previously been part of Naked Eyes.

My collection: 12" single no. 359
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 1999
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'I knew you were waiting (for me) (extended remix)' / 'I knew you were waiting (for me) (percapella)', 'I knew you were waiting (for me) (edited remix)'
Download: here
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