25 Years Of Keeping The Faith: October 30, 1987 is the anniversary of the release of Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou's first solo album. It would go on to sell over 8 million copies in the first year of its release in the US alone, spawn six Top 5 singles (including four which hit #1, another reaching #2), would reach the top of the album charts in countries around the world, and to date has sold over 25 million copies across the planet. That's right, ladies and gentlemen,
George Michael's Faith is 25 years old.
After the breakup of Wham! in 1986, speculation about what would come next from George Michael lingered in the minds of music fans. He had already released two solo singles while still with Ridgeley (
Careless Whisper and
A Different Corner), as well as
a duet single with Aretha Franklin, and he seemed to be the most likely of the two to continue a music career.
George Michael spent a good portion of 1987 recording and producing (and playing many of the instruments on) the album on his own, using the new
Synclavier 9600 Tapeless Studio digital recording system. [Rumor has it that is the ACTUAL UNIT which Michael used at Trevor Horn's studio.] The new toy not only allowed Michael freedom [heh] in the studio, but also allowed him to explore innovations such as sped-up vocals inspired by Prince's
Camille, and gave his remixers access to sampling technology similar to what the Fairlight afforded The Art Of Noise.
June 1st had seen the first glimpse of the new project, in the form of lead-off single
I Want Your Sex, which quickly became infamous (and more popular) due to having a censored video. Even during the era of Madonna's button pushing, the song was groundbreaking for its frankness and the pro-monogamy message of the video (something Michael may have been pressured into including during the AIDS crisis). Its synth backing track was created by accident when a MIDI unit triggered a synthesizer instead of a drum machine, and Michael liked it so much he based the song around the chaotic pattern.
Finally, Faith was released on October 30.
Faith
The third single from the album (technically -- Hard Day was released only as a promo single), it spent 15 weeks in the Top 40 including 4 weeks at #1. The top single of 1987, combined with Faith (the album) being the top album of 1987, meant Michael had duplicated a feat (top album and single) which had only previously been achieved by Simon & Garfunkel in 1970. The Faith video featured icons such as the leather jacket, jukebox, and acoustic guitar which would later be "destroyed" in Michael's Freedom 90 video. The organ at the beginning is playing Wham's Freedom.)
Father Figure
Fourth single. Two weeks at #1, 14 weeks in the Top 40. The video features either a brokenhearted taxi driver or a stalker, depending on how you chose to view the imagery.) It was originally going to be a dance number until Michael played it back minus some of the rhythm tracks and liked the effect enough to make the song a ballad. The b-side for the single was a live recording of Stevie Wonder's Love's In Need Of Love Today.
I Want Your Sex (Parts 1 & 2) [video as inexplicable blank audio at the end]
The success of I Want Your Sex as a single has already been outlined. The single track is continue here with Part II, which features expanded melodic and lyrical ideas as well as a horn section. These are presented as a single track on the original release.
One More Try
Single number five. Video. Tied for second-longest #1 single of 1988 (with Poison's Every Rose Has Its Thorn), with Steve Winwood's Roll With It beating both at 4 weeks. It spent 14 weeks in the Top 40. Triple topper, also reaching #1 on the R&B and Adult Contemporary charts. B-side was a live gospel version of the song.
Hard Day
Second single, released the same day as the album. No video filmed. Charted briefly on the Dance Club and R&B/Hip-Hop charts. Most notable for having I Want Your Sex (The Monogamy Mix) as a b-side: Rhythm 1: Lust, Rhythm 2: Brass In Love, Rhythm 3: A Last Request. This unique mix is the only version where all three part of I Want Your Sex can be found as unified song. The other b-side is the full-length Shep Pettibone Mix.
Hand To Mouth
Michael intended to release this as a single, but was discouraged from doing so.
Look At Your Hands
Monkey
Sixth single. This spent two weeks at #1 on the US Hot 100. Also reached #1 on the Dance Club chart. The only single to have extensive alternate versions released for the single. These included the Extended [by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis], A'Cappella [sic], Extra Beats, and 7" Edit mixes. The video featured yet another mix, largely derived from the 7" Edit mix.
Kissing A Fool
This was the seventh (!) and final single from this album, and it peaked at #5 on the Hot 100, but did hit #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Singles included an instrumental version. Video.
These final two tracks were available on CD only.
Hard Day (Shep Pettibone Remix) [an edit of the full-length extended mix]
A Last Request (I Want Your Sex Part 3)
Full album for those who like to listen that way.
Astoundingly, none of George Michael's singles from Faith hit #1 in the UK.
Even while the album was working the charts and singles were being released, George Michael went on
a world tour. Glimpses of his tour can be seen in these videos:
I Want Your Sex
Hard Day
Everything She Wants
Monkey
After the tour and the album had died down, George Michael would finally return with
Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1. The album would prove to be a point of dispute between him and his label, and he would not produce much new material for 6 years.
