Songs from the Last Century

Summary

Songs from the Last Century is the fourth solo studio album by English singer-songwriter George Michael, released on 6 December 1999 by Aegean Records and Virgin Records. Produced by Phil Ramone and George Michael, it was his only album of cover versions. It consists mainly of old jazz standards plus new interpretations of more recent popular songs, such as "Roxanne" by The Police and "Miss Sarajevo" by U2[nb 1] and Brian Eno with Luciano Pavarotti. "Roxanne" was released as a single in other countries except the United Kingdom.

Songs from the Last Century
Studio album by
Released6 December 1999 (1999-12-06)
Recorded1999
Length43:11
Label
Producer
George Michael chronology
Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael
(1998)
Songs from the Last Century
(1999)
Patience
(2004)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
BBC(mixed)[2]
NME(3/10)[3]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[4]

History edit

This album is the only album in Michael's entire solo catalogue to not reach number one on the UK Albums Chart, peaking at number two instead. It was kept off the top spot by Shania Twain's Come On Over.[5]

A music video for "Roxanne" was shot in Amsterdam, in the so-called Red District, using ordinary people, not actors, who really live their lives on the street.

Another version exists of the album's opening track, "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?", sung by Michael with Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti at one of his famous "Pavarotti and Friends" live shows. This version is included on the limited edition of Michael's 2006 greatest hits album, Twenty Five.

Track listing edit

  1. "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" (E.Y. Harburg, Jay Gorney) – 4:22
  2. "Roxanne" (Sting) – 4:11
  3. "You've Changed" (Bill Carey, Carl Fischer) – 4:25
  4. "My Baby Just Cares for Me" (Gus Kahn, Walter Donaldson) – 1:45
  5. "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" (Ewan MacColl) – 5:19
  6. "Miss Sarajevo" (Adam Clayton, Brian Eno, Dave Evans, Larry Mullen, Paul Hewson) – 5:11
  7. "I Remember You" (Johnny Mercer, Victor Schertzinger) – 4:12
  8. "Secret Love" (Paul Francis Webster, Sammy Fain) – 2:39
  9. "Wild Is the Wind" (Dimitri Tiomkin, Ned Washington) – 4:02
  10. "Where or When" / "It's All Right with Me" (Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart / Cole Porter) (instrumental) (hidden track) – 7:00

Personnel edit

Credits adapted from AllMusic.[6]

  • Abe Appleman – violin
  • Diane Barere – cello
  • Elena Barere – concert master, violin
  • Herb Besson – trombone
  • Yuri Vodovoz – violin
  • Virgil Blackwell – clarinet
  • Arvil Brown – violin
  • Jacqui Danilow – bass guitar
  • Marji Danilow – bass guitar
  • Lawrence Feldman – woodwind
  • Frank Filipetti – engineer, mixing
  • David Finck – bass guitar
  • Barry Finclair – concert master, violin
  • Crystal Garner – viola
  • Maura Giannini – violin
  • Karen Griffen – flute
  • Juliet Haffner – viola
  • Corky Hale – harp
  • Laura Hamilton – violin
  • Joyce Hammann – violin
  • Sheryl Henze – flute
  • Kenneth Hitchcock – woodwind
  • Jim Hynes – trumpet
  • Regis Iandiorio – violin
  • Jean Ingraham – violin
  • Greg Jakobek – design
  • Ted Jensen – mastering
  • Tony Kadleck – trumpet
  • Jeff Kievit – trumpet
  • Chris Komer – French horn
  • Carol Landon – viola
  • Jeff Lang – French horn
  • Kim Laskowski – bassoon
  • Ann Leathers – violin
  • Jeanne LeBlanc – cello
  • Nancy McAlhany – violin
  • Diane Lesser – oboe
  • Richard Locker – cello
  • Dave Mann – woodwind
  • Rob Mathes – arranger, conductor, piano
  • Andrew McPherson – photography
  • George Michael – design, liner notes, primary artist, producer
  • Jeff Mironov – guitar
  • John Moses – clarinet
  • Rob Mounsey – arranger, conductor, piano
  • Nick Murdoch – piano
  • Jan Mullen – violin
  • Lewis Nash – drums
  • Danny Cummings – percussion
  • Phil Palmer – guitar
  • Laura Oatts – violin
  • Caryl Paisner – cello
  • Scott Parker – assistant engineer
  • Shawn Pelton – drums
  • Steve Walters – bass guitar
  • Charles Pillow – woodwind
  • Sue Pray – viola
  • Phil Ramone – liner notes, producer
  • Tim Ries – woodwind
  • Marcus Rojas – tuba
  • Roger Rosenberg – woodwind
  • Stacey Shames – harp
  • Mark Orrin Shuman – cello
  • Pamela Sklar – flute
  • Andy Snitzer – woodwind
  • Jason Stasium – mixing
  • Byron Stripling – trumpet
  • Marti Sweet – violin
  • Donna Tecco – violin
  • David Tofani – woodwind
  • Carol Webb – violin
  • Ellen Westermann – cello
  • Torrie Zito – arranger

Charts edit

Certifications and sales edit

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[38] Gold 35,000^
Belgium (BEA)[39] Platinum 50,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[40] Gold 50,000^
France (SNEP)[41] 2× Gold 200,000*
Germany (BVMI)[42] Gold 150,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[43] Platinum 15,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[24] Platinum 100,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[44] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[46] 2× Platinum 600,000[45]
United States 152,000[47]
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[48] 2× Platinum 2,000,000*
Worldwide 3,600,000[49]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Notes edit

  1. ^ "Miss Sarajevo" was originally released under the name Passengers, a side project consisting of U2 and Brian Eno.

References edit

  1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Songs from the Last Century". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  2. ^ "BBC News | NEW MUSIC RELEASES | CD Review: George Michael". news.bbc.co.uk. 5 December 1999. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  3. ^ NME review
  4. ^ Cross, Charles R. (2004). "George Michael". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 540. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  5. ^ 1999 Top 40 Official Albums Chart UK Archive, 18 December 1999. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  6. ^ "George Michael – Songs from the Last Century Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
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  11. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 10010". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  12. ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
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  14. ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  15. ^ "Lescharts.com – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
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  23. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  24. ^ a b Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  25. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  26. ^ "Swisscharts.com – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
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  32. ^ "Rapports annueles 2000" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
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