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Fighting off stiff competition from much hotter (and younger) acts The Sugababes and Jamiroquai; George Michael zooms to the top of the UK charts. After only one week’s release, and the added bonus of stellar European gigs and a triumphant night in Manchester last Saturday, the ex-Whamer is top dog once again. Despite a protracted absence and unfortunate recent misdemeanours, the UK love affair rolls on like an unstoppable juggernaut. It comes as no surprise, because he’s unleashed some pretty impressive albums over the past 25 years, particularly Older and Songs From The Last Century, to name but a few. So it’s time for rich pickings from his expansive back-catalogue, spread over 2(or 3) discs. It’s whichever you fancy really. Highly recommended is the complete release, a 3 CD set.
For this review, it’s the full collection, called For Living (for party animals only) where it’s a non-stop sequences of Wham biggies like the stylish 'Everything She Wants' – which pointed to his future direction – cheesy 'Wake Me Up'… pseudo-Rock’N’Roll 'Faith' and 'Freedom', his current concert closer. Other HI - NRG blasts come via 'Too Funky', floor-filler 'Outside' and politically charged 'Shoot The Dog'. There’s also his tribute to partner Kenny – 'Amazing'.
Disc 2, For The Loving, (aahhh, love him) tackles his most emotive singing - evergreen classics like opener 'Careless Whisper' (1984), his defining moment 'Different Corner' (1986 ), both successive chart toppers, which, incidentally, he’s never repeated. There’s also saccharine Crimbo hit 'Last Christmas' (ouch). Elsewhere the classy stuff emerges in the form of 'Father Figure', 'Praying For Time' and Sir Elt’s amazing duet on 'Don’t Let The Go Down On Me'.
For The Loyal ( Uh ? ) the long-suffering fans presumably, it’s a mixed bag of solo and collaborations – Wham’s If You Were Here, silky smooth stompers, Precious Box, Fantasy, and jazzy standards My Baby Just cares For Me and Then Police’s reworked Roxanne.
Curiously absent is his stunning medley of Killer / Papa Was A Rolling Stone, nevertheless the album is a fascinating chronology of the teeny-bop hero, to a world renowned star. All this and Christmas around the corner.
