[img:$uid]http://mykec.com/mykec/images/mly/michael_george_listen_without_prejudice_vol_1.jpg[/img:$uid]

Yes Faith was such a landmark album that George spent years running from but I think this album deserves some merit.

I just think this album in comparison to Faith was actually a more cohesive project. You definitely get why he named his album what he did because he was forcing you to listen rather than seeing.

I know some folks mock George for "trying to take himself too seriously". Hell folks here (some) have derided him and his projects ever since then but all the songs on this album to me were so personal and thought provoking that it sometimes is sad it didn't become a bigger album and that's probably due in part to George not wanting to promote it with videos - which I applaud him for.

But I definitely think this album don't get the props it needs to. Today I can say this album is a classic but I wonder if folks thought George had lost his mind with this album.

Thoughts?

awesome album. it would probably land squarely in the mid-20s to low 30s if i bothered to compile a list of my favorite albums of all time, ever.

definitely an overlooked classic of pop music.

That lead single Praying For Time had me hyped. I felt it was his greatest song at the time (hell, maybe I still do). Those lyrics are pure poetry and scathing to me.

I rmmeber seeing a special about Listen with him in the studio breaking some songs down and using Funky Drummer to make Freedom 90 (I think it was Freedom 90).

rdhull said:

That lead single Praying For Time had me hyped. I felt it was his greatest song at the time (hell, maybe I still do). Those lyrics are pure poetry and scathing to me.

I rmmeber seeing a special about Listen with him in the studio breaking some songs down and using Funky Drummer to make Freedom 90 (I think it was Freedom 90).

I think that's Waiting For That Day that he put Funky Drummer in but it said some elements of Drummer was in Freedom 90 too.

Timmy84 said:

rdhull said:

That lead single Praying For Time had me hyped. I felt it was his greatest song at the time (hell, maybe I still do). Those lyrics are pure poetry and scathing to me.

I rmmeber seeing a special about Listen with him in the studio breaking some songs down and using Funky Drummer to make Freedom 90 (I think it was Freedom 90).

I think that's Waiting For That Day that he put Funky Drummer in but it said some elements of Drummer was in Freedom 90 too.

Yeah, WFTD is the one they showed.

rdhull said:

Timmy84 said:

I think that's Waiting For That Day that he put Funky Drummer in but it said some elements of Drummer was in Freedom 90 too.

Yeah, WFTD is the one they showed.

I saw the footage on his Rockumentary when he was getting prepared for the album I think...

I've slowly come to release that this album is infinitely better than Faith and much more cohesive, perhaps my favourite album that he's ever released.

His best video, Freedom 90 comes from this album too imho. Damn that's a hot video and still good today. All those supermodels in it, the cinematogrpahy. Yes.

I think that song was the so called saving grace to those who didnt like the trur he made with this one.

I also liked how he incorporated You Cant Always Get What You Want into WFTD.

smoothcriminal12 said:

I've slowly come to release that this album is infinitely better than Faith and much more cohesive, perhaps my favourite album that he's ever released.

Its like his ATWIAD in its conception to me. The no frills promotion, lack of video exposure as much as possible, the left turn from his previous monster album etc etc.

Cowboys And Angels is my jam on there. Damn 22 yrs. old CD. I'm getting...

[Edited 6/29/12 10:46am]

rdhull said:

smoothcriminal12 said:

I've slowly come to release that this album is infinitely better than Faith and much more cohesive, perhaps my favourite album that he's ever released.

Its like his ATWIAD in its conception to me. The no frills promotion, lack of video exposure as much as possible, the left turn from his previous monster album etc etc.

I think that was very much what he was going for, even if ATWIAD wasn't his main inspiration.

smoothcriminal12 said:

I've slowly come to release that this album is infinitely better than Faith and much more cohesive, perhaps my favourite album that he's ever released.

George was on point and on focus with this album...

Listen Without Prejudice Vol.1 was for George Michael what Sign 'O' The Times was for Prince.

Hell yeah, I said it! George was going for genius status. And it's a shame that Sony Music Entertainment didn't promote this album a lot harder.

TonyVanDam said:

Listen Without Prejudice Vol.1 was for George Michael what Sign 'O' The Times was for Prince.

Hell yeah, I said it! George was going for genius status. And it's a shame that Sony Music Entertainment didn't promote this album a lot harder.

Sony kept him from putting out Vol. 2.

Timmy84 said:

smoothcriminal12 said:

I've slowly come to release that this album is infinitely better than Faith and much more cohesive, perhaps my favourite album that he's ever released.

George was on point and on focus with this album...

I think i have to somewhat agree with tony but also it was like his Around The World In A Day to

This album was a lot slower then faith.. lots of political songs(Politics as i mentioned are my favorite subjects in songs )

And with songs like Mothers Pride & Cowboys & Angels. George went an entire new level, and also Freedom is just a funky as hell track.

Oh and that cover of They Won't Go When I Go is one of the best Stevie covers ever imo. In fact i think George has made some of teh best Stevie Wonder covers

I think it's still weird Praying For Time was a number 1 hit. It was an overly politcal song with a video that wa sjust words on the screen. How it managed to get to number 1 is pretty impressive

wow, i guess i missed it. only familiar with the singles from this album. the only album have is Faith (on cassette at that) and the Jesus to a child cd single (i was intrigued by that title) maybe i'll cop it used and listen to it in its entirety with fresh ears.

datdude said:

wow, i guess i missed it. only familiar with the singles from this album. the only album have is Faith (on cassette at that) and the Jesus to a child cd single (i was intrigued by that title) maybe i'll cop it used and listen to it in its entirety with fresh ears.

Yeah maybe you'll like something in it... I mean I get it, it won't be for everybody but yeah try to give it a shot.

90-92 George was on fire!

Not only did he release this great album, but he did the Elton John duets which was really big. He did the Queen live cd & also relesed Too Funky

George was not fucking around

so you scream from behind the door, say

what's mine is mine and not yours

some very good, strong lyrics on that album and just a lot of great tunes.

still a bit sad that part 2 was never released.

Why was pt.2 shelved? are any of the tunes from it on Older or Patience?

Gunsnhalen said:

Why was pt.2 shelved? are any of the tunes from it on Older or Patience?

Not that I know of... but I think the reason it was shelved because they didn't like it. This result in George filing the charges against Sony.

Timmy84 said:

Gunsnhalen said:

Why was pt.2 shelved? are any of the tunes from it on Older or Patience?

Not that I know of... but I think the reason it was shelved because they didn't like it. This result in George filing the charges against Sony.

In retrospect, we know the score. Sony's them-CEO Tommy Mottola was AND still is a total bastard. Not quite on the level of Clive Davis or Jimmy Iovine, but definitely in the Top 5 of evil record label execs.

TonyVanDam said:

Timmy84 said:

Not that I know of... but I think the reason it was shelved because they didn't like it. This result in George filing the charges against Sony.

In retrospect, we know the score. Sony's them-CEO Tommy Mottola was AND still is a total bastard. Not quite on the level of Clive Davis or Jimmy Iovine, but definitely in the Top 5 of evil record label execs.

I'm just glad George got away from them when he did. I think he was working on the Older album also during this battle (he first started recording "Jesus to a Child" in 1993).

Some studio shots

How did I miss this thread?

Love this album.

George Michael is a Cancer, moody and sensitive. I feel these traits are counter-productive to a successful music career (among other more personal problems he has).

BTW was George Michael Unplugged NEVER released on DVD?

Timmy84 said:

[img:$uid]http://mykec.com/mykec/images/mly/michael_george_listen_without_prejudice_vol_1.jpg[/img:$uid]

Yes Faith was such a landmark album that George spent years running from but I think this album deserves some merit.

I just think this album in comparison to Faith was actually a more cohesive project. You definitely get why he named his album what he did because he was forcing you to listen rather than seeing.

I know some folks mock George for "trying to take himself too seriously". Hell folks here (some) have derided him and his projects ever since then but all the songs on this album to me were so personal and thought provoking that it sometimes is sad it didn't become a bigger album and that's probably due in part to George not wanting to promote it with videos - which I applaud him for.

But I definitely think this album don't get the props it needs to. Today I can say this album is a classic but I wonder if folks thought George had lost his mind with this album.

Thoughts?

Gotta say, I never knew what this album did on the charts but I always thought it was one of George's best and a definite classic IMHO.

It did 8 million worldwide (2 million stateside) and was considered a flop.