So, three people have famously covered the Allen Shamblin and Mike Reid penned tune. Bruce Hornsby played the piano on it, but did no co-writing. (He later added it to his set list in concert, often times.)

Bonnie Raitt put it on her Luck of the Draw album in 1991, the first version.

George Michael had already recorded it and had it as a track on Older, released January 1997, and had a very popular version on Unplugged.

covered it on Emancipation in 1996.

So - who did it best? My list is as noted above, 1, 2, and 3. Prince's addition of lyrics near the end, etc., makes an otherwise nice song turn hokey. GM's version is pure GM, but firmly pays homage to the original. Nothing beats Bonnie's version - the first that the public ever heard of the song at the time.

So, 1 to 3, how would you arrange the list? I hope people can listen to the song and not automatically put Prince first solely because they're a Prince fan. This is about the song itself, and who put out the best version.

Edited to correct Allen's first name spelling.

[Edited 12/27/16 13:35pm]

sorry to say Prince's version is not good....

Glad to say Prince's version is very good so is George's.

kepurplehunter said:

IMO george michaels version is simply awesome as princes is.
since prince never did a cover 1:1 but made something own out of it and I only know his studio version they are hard 2 compare.
I personally don't like bonnie raitts version so much. she hasn't the voice range (at least she doesn't show it in this song) and ... lets say I don't feel it.
there is a version from adele I like more than bonnies.

GM didn't include this track on Older nor on any of his albums.

It was included only on his unplugged presentations for the MTV series .

[Edited 12/27/16 14:42pm]

IamBryan said:

sorry to say Prince's version is not good....

Totally disagree. Love Prince's Version!!

Astasheiks said:

IamBryan said:

sorry to say Prince's version is not good....

Totally disagree. Love Prince's Version!!

i gave it 2 listens back 1996 and then...

Astasheiks said:

tritoncin said:

Bonnie Raitt's version is very stark vocally and for me, that makes it sound much more earnest.

I hadn't heard George Michael's version (until just now) and it is stunning.

I like Prince's version, but I don't think it's the best version. His ihas more going on musically, sometimes to the detriment of the song. I haven't heard it in a month or two, but I remember thinking that something he did it with it made it more cheesy and less earnest.

tritoncin said:

GM didn't include this track on Older nor on any of his albums.

It was included only on his unplugged presentations for the MTV series .

[Edited 12/27/16 14:42pm]

OOps. I so associate it with that era, but you're right. It might have been that it was a double-A side release is what makes me think that. That Unplugged version is just so beautiful. The whole thing was well recorded, and it need to be spruced up and put out on CD.

Latin said:

Prince's version is good. He also added his own lyrics towards the end of the song. FYI.

Yeah, I mentioned that in my original post. I think the extra "in this bedroom slash church" stuff is just goofy A.F.

TrivialPursuit said:

TrivialPursuit said:

Latin said:

TrivialPursuit said:

OOps. I so associate it with that era, but you're right. It might have been that it was a double-A side release is what makes me think that. That Unplugged version is just so beautiful. The whole thing was well recorded, and it need to be spruced up and put out on CD.

A studio version was released on "The Older EP" and is also available as part of the magnificent collection entitled, "Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael".

And amazingly, it wasn't on TwentyFive nor performed on Symphonica

TrivialPursuit said:

Latin said:

Symphonica was an awesome tour. Have you watched the full concert? [Edited 12/27/16 16:14pm]

I saw parts of it, but not all yet.

To be honest, I think P's cover of ICMYLM isn't that great.

It suffers of the 1996-1997 P's typical "plastic" production (that I never liked so much) and I find somewhat boring.

On the other side, the GM rendition is near perfection, a strong mix of emotions and class.

BoraBora said:

To be honest, I think P's cover of ICMYLM isn't that great.

It suffers of the 1996-1997 P's typical "plastic" production (that I never liked so much) and I find somewhat boring.

On the other side, the GM rendition is near perfection, a strong mix of emotions and class.

Prince's Ghost should come back and "snip" slap your arse. I Wish I Could see the look on his face saying his version wasn't that great!

BoraBora said:

To be honest, I think P's cover of ICMYLM isn't that great.

It suffers of the 1996-1997 P's typical "plastic" production (that I never liked so much) and I find somewhat boring.

On the other side, the GM rendition is near perfection, a strong mix of emotions and class.

Totes agree. I've long mentioned Prince's plastic or acrylic production from 1996 onward (with TRC being the exception probably). His version is will sung, and production is perfect, but it lacks character, emotion, and personality.

Astasheiks said:

BoraBora said:

To be honest, I think P's cover of ICMYLM isn't that great.

It suffers of the 1996-1997 P's typical "plastic" production (that I never liked so much) and I find somewhat boring.

On the other side, the GM rendition is near perfection, a strong mix of emotions and class.

Prince's Ghost should come back and "snip" slap your arse. I Wish I Could see the look on his face saying his version wasn't that great!

Hey he knew some of his fans had no soul and would not know anything funky if it hit them in the head.

IamBryan said:

If you can track down the promo radio edit of Prince's version (and finding it is a challenge), it edits out those additional lyrics at the end and thus improves the song immensely.

I always liked Bonnie Raitt's version and haven't heard George Michael's yet.