MotownSubdivision said:

Cinny said:

I totally agree, although I think it has something to do with George Michael's rebranding as a solo artist, but he wrote Wham's stuff too!

Make It Big absolutely holds up to Faith (and those 1984 smashes you mentioned).

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If one can look past their coloruful teenybopper exterior and actually listen to their music then they will realize that they had the lyrics and the talent that the average label creation wouldn't. "Everything She Wants" and "Freedom" spring to mind when I think of their edgy/ mature songs, the latter is harder to see that however because of its more upbeat, sunny production but it's all in the lyrics. I love "Wake Me Up" but unfortunately that song didn't truly exhibit the duo's/ George's musical ability other than being a fun, happy and catchy pop tune than perfectly matched Wham!'s image. I'm kinda surprised "Careless Whisper" was a hit although that was more so on the UK side than the US IIRC. BTW, nice collection, Cinny.

Yeah, I found the content of Make It Big mature and relevant far into my adulthood. Hell, even "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" sounds like a skanky hook-up. The sound of it is not far from the mod take of The Style Council, with synth arrangements of a 60s soul style of pop writing.

Cinny said:

MotownSubdivision said:

MichaelJackson5 said: Never heard Faith but Bad has aged just fine. Dated and not holding up are two different things.

It's okay for a 28 year old album to sound "dated", IMO! Especially when the recordings are definitive of that era.

What is unfortunate is when things sound dated and out of step with their time of release, ie. Blood On The Dance Floor.

Blood on The Dance Floor was one of the worst songs in MJ's discography.

MichaelJackson5 said:

Here's the Jerry Wexler produced version of Careless Whisper

I have Andrew's solo album. If you're into Def Leppard, you might like it, cause that's what it sort of sounds like. George sings background on one song Red Dress.

It's a great album."Careless Whisper","Everything She Wants" and their excellent remake of the Isley Brother's 1973 hit "If You Were There" make this a must-have 80s album.

MickyDolenz said:

MotownSubdivision said:

Also had no idea CCB was an Isley Brothers song.

It's not, If You Were There is. I actually heard the Isley version on some TV show or commercial about a week ago.

I rank them pretty much in chronogical order

Fantastic > Make It Big = Faith > Listen Without Prejudice > Older > Patience

did I miss some? The Final is not a proper new album so I do not rank it in there, just as some GM solo compilations

oh yeah, and I can't really rate the cover album Songs from the Last Century, since it's not George Michael originals, but I admit I like it quite a lot.

[Edited 10/27/15 1:32am]

Dancelot said:

MotownSubdivision said:

There's also Music from the Edge of Heaven, Wham's last proper album.

I know, but that had no European release. back then I just got The Final, which is their greatest hits plus a few new songs, b-sides, leftovers... (=all from MFTEOH). so I personally don't count it as a a real third album. I file it under Best Of, and in my book Wham had just two albums

Dancelot said:

I rank them pretty much in chronogical order

Fantastic > Make It Big = Faith > Listen Without Prejudice > Older > Patience

I like Fantastic but not more than Faith and Make It Big.

Cinny said:

I like Fantastic but not more than Faith and Make It Big.

Maybe if the remixes were on the album instead of the versions on it, maybe it would be better to me. But I still like Edge Of Heaven & Fantastic better overall. It's like I like the single versions of the BBD songs more than the ones on the Poison album. Even on Faith, I like the maxi single versions better, especially Hard Day and the Jam & Lewis Monkey. The other 2 Wham! albums I don't need the remixes. I like the albums as they are. The only remixes from Fantastic I really care about is Wham! Rap as they have different lyrics.

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careless whisper is amazing song... one of my all time faves!