Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael

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Ladies and Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael
Ladies and Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael cover
Greatest hits by George Michael
Released December 1, 1998
Genre Adult Contemporary/
Dance-pop
Length 147:25
Label Epic
Producer(s) George Michael
Professional reviews
George Michael chronology
Older
(1996)		 Ladies and Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael
(1998)		 Songs from the Last Century
(1999)


Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael is a greatest hits collection released by George Michael in 1998 (see 1998 in music).

The collection of 28 songs (29 songs are included on the European and Australian release) are separated into two halves, with each CD of the double set containing music of a particular theme and mood. The first CD, titled "For the Heart" predominantly contains Michael's hit ballads, while the second CD, "For the Feet," comprises mostly of his popular dance tunes.

Ladies and Gentlemen... is notable for containing a large number of compilation tracks and duets that haven't previously appeared on a George Michael album, including his U.S. number one duet with Aretha Franklin, "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me),", previously available on Aretha Franklin's 1986 album Aretha, "Desafinado", the duet in Portuguese with Brazilian legendary singer Astrud Gilberto and the Elton John duet "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me," from Elton's 1993 album Duets.

Ladies and Gentlemen... was released by Michael through Sony Music Entertainment as a condition of severing contractual ties with the label (Michael departed Sony with a great deal of acrimony and publicity prior to the release of Older in 1996). He would later return to Sony to release his 2004 album Patience.

Outside was the first single from the album. The song was a humorous look at his arrest shortly before the release of the album for soliciting a policeman in a public restroom.

As, his duet with Mary J Blige was released as the second single in many territories around the world. It made #4 in the UK charts. The track was left of the North American release of the album as Blige's record label, MCA, felt that association with the openly gay and often controversial pop star wouldn't be in her best interest.

Contents

[edit] Track listing

All songs written by George Michael except where indicated

[edit] Disc 1: For the Heart

  1. "Jesus to a Child" – 6:49
  2. "Father Figure" – 5:41
  3. "Careless Whisper" (George Michael, Andrew Ridgeley) – 5:00
  4. "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (Elton John. Bernie Taupin) – 5:47
  5. "You Have Been Loved" (George Michael, David Austin) – 5:28
  6. "Kissing A Fool" – 4:36
  7. "I Can't Make You Love Me" (James Allen Shamblin II, Mike Reid) – 5:20
  8. "Heal the Pain" – 4:46
  9. "A Moment with You" – 5:43
  10. "Desafinado" (Antonio Carlos Jobim, Newton Ferreira de Mendonça) – 3:19
    • Performed by George Michael and Astrud Gilberto. Previous available on the charity compilation Red Hot and Rio
  11. "Cowboys and Angels" – 7:14
  12. "Praying for Time" – 4:41
  13. "One More Try" – 5:53
  14. "A Different Corner" – 4:03

[edit] Disc 2: For the Feet

[edit] European and Australian release

  1. "Outside" – 4:44 (#2 UK)
    • Previously unreleased
  2. "As" (Stevie Wonder) – 4:47 (#4 UK)
    • Performed by George Michael and Mary J. Blige. Previously unreleased
  3. "Fastlove" (George Michael, Jon Douglas) – 5:31
  4. "Too Funky" – 3:45
  5. "Freedom '90" – 6:28
  6. "Star People '97" – 5:39
  7. "Killer" / "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" (Adam Tinley, Seal-Henry Samuel / Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong) – 4:16
  8. "I Want Your Sex (Part II)" – 4:38
  9. "The Strangest Thing '97" – 4:41
  10. "Fantasy" – 5:02
  11. "Spinning the Wheel" (George Michael, Jon Douglas) – 6:09
  12. "Waiting For That Day/You Can't Always Get What You Want" (George Michael, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards) – 4:50
  13. "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (Simon Climie, Dennis Morgan) – 3:58
  14. "Faith" – 3:14
  15. "Somebody to Love" (Freddie Mercury) – 5:23
    • Performed by George Michael and Queen

[edit] United States and Canada release

  1. "Outside" – 4:44
    • Previously unreleased
  2. "Fastlove" (George Michael, Jon Douglas) – 5:31
  3. "Too Funky" – 3:45
  4. "Freedom '90" – 6:28
  5. "Star People '97" – 5:39
  6. "Killer/Papa was a Rollin' Stone" (Adam Tinley, Seal-Henry Samuel/Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong) – 4:16
  7. "I Want Your Sex (Part II)" – 4:38
  8. "Monkey" – 4:46
  9. "Spinning the Wheel" (George Michael, Jon Douglas) – 6:09
  10. "Waiting For That Day/You Can't Always Get What You Want" (George Michael, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards) – 4:50
  11. "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (Simon Climie, Dennis Morgan) – 3:58
  12. "Hard Day" – 4:53
  13. "Faith" – 3:14
  14. "Somebody to Love" (Freddie Mercury) – 5:23
    • Performed by George Michael and Queen
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