George Michael we are familiar with thanks to the phenomenal success of Wham! in the mid 80’s. Armed with their boyish good-looks and foot stomping music, George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, took the music world by storm with hits like ’’Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go’, ’Club Tropicana’, ’Freedom’, ’Last Christmas’ et al.
When Wham! broke up it was the year 1987, and people had already written off their solo careers as no-gos. George Michael hit back with Faith, the most sensational debut ever in my books, which went onto win a Grammy for Album of the Year in 1987. He followed it up in 1990 with ’Listen Without Prejudice’ which again silenced the critics with stuff like ’Freedom ’90’, ’They Don’t Go When I Go’ and ’Praying For Time’
Older happened in 1996 and the critics were given a resounding lambast. The album was a matured (as the album’s title suggested) and musically rich attempt to discover that jazz streak in George Michael.
Tracks like ’Older’ & ’Fast Love’ became instant hits and not only because of the slick videos. The biggest hit was perhaps the beautiful ’Jesus To A Child’ a wonderful slow melodious track that explored the tremendous prowess of George Michael as a vocalist par excellence.
’Starr People’ was perhaps the jazziest of the lot, a concept which Michael had often left half-baked in earlier attempts. ’Spinning the Wheel’ was another lilting number which was slightly experimental as far as George Michael was concerned.
A great album that can be heard over and over again for the sheer genius that is George Michael. A must for every shelf in every music lover’s room. Truly original Older is inspirational stuff.
Get it.