Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael

Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael
Greatest hits album by George Michael
Released 1 December 1998
Recorded 1984–1998
Genre
Length 147:25
Label Epic
Producer George Michael
George Michael chronology
Older
(1996)Older1996		 Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael
(1998)		 Songs from the Last Century
(1999)Songs from the Last Century1999
Singles from Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George
  1. "Outside"
    Released: 18 October 1998
  2. "As"
    Released: 10 January 1999
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Jam! Showbiz[2]
MSN Music[3]
The Daily VaultA−[4]

Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael is a greatest hits album by George Michael, released on 1 December 1998.

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 his popular dance tunes.

Ladies & Gentlemen is notable for containing a large number of compilation tracks and duets that have not previously appeared on a George Michael album, including his US and UK 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 singer Astrud Gilberto; and the Elton John duet "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me", from John's 1993 album Duets.

Ladies & 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, however singles from Older do appear on the album as well.

To date, the album has reached worldwide sales of more than 15 million copies[5]

After his death it was revealed by Geri Halliwell on The One Show that all the British profits of the album went to Terrence Higgins Trust.

Commercial performance

In the United States the album debuted and peaked at number 24 on the Billboard 200 with 50,000 copies sold during the week of 28 November 1998, the next week it dropped to number 39 and remained on the chart for 27 weeks.[6][7][8] It was certified two times platinum by the RIAA on 5 October 2000 for shipments of 2 million units.[9] As of October 2006, the album has sold 1.1 million copies according to Nielsen SoundScan.[10] The week after Michael's death, the greatest hits compilation re-entered at number 84 on the Billboard 200 with 11,000 units sold.[11]

In the United Kingdom the album opened at number one on 21 November 1998 and stayed at the top of the chart for eight weeks, it fell off to number two on 16 January 1999 and was present on the top 10 for 23 weeks.[12] It remained on the chart for 119 weeks.[12] It was certified eight times platinum by the BPI on 22 July 2013 denoting shipments of 2.4 million units.[13] As of January 2017 the album has sold 2.5 million copies in the UK and stands as his best-selling album there.[14] The week following George's death the album had a 5,625% surge in sales and streams and re-entered at number eight on the UK Albums Chart; two weeks later it moved to number four and stayed there for two weeks.[15][12] In 2017 it was present on the chart for 23 weeks.[12]

To date the album has reached the sales of 15 million copies worldwide.[16]

Track listing

Disc one: For the Heart
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Jesus to a Child"George MichaelMichael6:49
2."Father Figure"MichaelMichael5:41
3."Careless Whisper" (7" version)
Michael5:00
4."Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (with Elton John)
Michael5:47
5."You Have Been Loved"
Michael5:28
6."Kissing a Fool"MichaelMichael4:36
7."I Can't Make You Love Me"
Michael5:20
8."Heal the Pain"MichaelMichael4:46
9."A Moment With You"MichaelMichael5:43
10."Desafinado" (with Astrud Gilberto)
Michael3:19
11."Cowboys and Angels"MichaelMichael7:14
12."Praying for Time"MichaelMichael4:41
13."One More Try"MichaelMichael5:53
14."A Different Corner" (new mix)MichaelMichael4:03
15."Waltz Away Dreaming" (with Toby Bourke) (cassettes only)
  • Bourke
  • Michael
  • Bourke
  • Michael
4:44
Disc two: For the Feet
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Outside"Michael
  • Michael
  • Jon Douglas
4:44
2."As" (with Mary J. Blige)Stevie WonderBabyface4:47
3."Fastlove"Michael
  • Michael
  • Douglas
5:31
4."Too Funky"MichaelMichael3:45
5."Freedom 90"MichaelMichael6:28
6."Star People 97"MichaelMichael5:39
7."Killer/Papa Was a Rollin' Stone"
Michael4:16
8."I Want Your Sex" (Part II)MichaelMichael4:38
9."The Strangest Thing 97"MichaelMichael4:41
10."Fantasy"MichaelMichael5:02
11."Spinning the Wheel"
  • Michael
  • Douglas
  • Michael
  • Douglas
6:09
12."Waiting for That Day"
Michael4:50
13."I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (with Aretha Franklin)
Narada Michael Walden3:58
14."Faith"MichaelMichael3:14
15."Somebody to Love" (with Queen)Freddie Mercury
  • Michael
  • Queen
5:23

New songs

Songs appearing on this set which were previously unreleased are:

  • "A Moment With You"
  • "Outside"
  • "As"

Songs appearing for the first time on a George Michael album are:

  • "Careless Whisper"
  • "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"
  • "I Can't Make You Love Me"
  • "Desafinado"
  • "A Different Corner"
  • "Too Funky"
  • "Killer / Papa Was a Rollin' Stone"
  • "Fantasy"
  • "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)"
  • "Somebody to Love"
  • "Waltz Away Dreaming", a duet with Toby Bourke, was only included on the cassette, DVD and MiniDisc versions of this album.

Singles

  • "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", Michael's duet with Mary J. Blige, was released as the second single in many territories around the world. It reached number four on the UK Singles Chart. The track was left off the North American release of the album. There were rumours that Blige's label was uncomfortable with Michael being gay, but this is contradicted by Blige's embracing of her large gay fan base.

Notable mixes

Most tracks are the full, unedited original album version.

  • "Careless Whisper" is the single version.
  • "A Different Corner" was remixed for this compilation.
  • "Fantasy" is the original 1990 version, not the "Fantasy 98" remix which appeared on the 'Outside' singles in the same period.
  • "I Want Your Sex" is presented as "Part II – Brass in Love" only, without the more widely publicised "Part I – Lust" section.

DVD release

A DVD release followed in 1999, featuring 23 music videos from Michael's career.

Charts

Certifications and sales

Region CertificationCertified units/Sales
Argentina (CAPIF)[65] Gold 30,000^
Australia (ARIA)[66] 7× Platinum 490,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[67] Platinum 50,000*
Belgium (BEA)[68] 2× Platinum 100,000*
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[69] Gold 100,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[70] 2× Platinum 200,000^
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[71] 9× Platinum 180,000^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[72] Gold 33,000[72]
France (SNEP)[73] 2× Platinum 714,300[74]
Germany (BVMI)[75] 3× Gold 750,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[76] 2× Platinum 200,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[77] 4× Platinum 60,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway)[78] Platinum 50,000*
Poland (ZPAV)[79] Platinum 100,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[80] 2× Platinum 200,000^
Sweden (GLF)[81] Platinum 80,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[82] Platinum 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[13] 8× Platinum 2,500,000[14]
United States (RIAA)[9] 2× Platinum 1,100,000[10]
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[83] 6× Platinum 6,000,000*
Worldwide 9,000,000[84]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

See also

References

  1. ↑ https://www.allmusic.com/album/r403889
  2. ↑ "GEORGE MICHAEL: LADIES & GENTLEMEN – THE BEST OF". 22 September 2002. Archived from the original on 22 September 2002.
  3. ↑ "News, reviews, interviews and more for top artists and albums – MSN Music". music.msn.com.
  4. ↑ "George Michael: Ladies And Gentlemen: The Best Of George Michael – Daily Vault". dailyvault.com.
  5. ↑ "George Michael – Ladies & Gentlemen (The Best Of George Michael)". Discogs. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  6. ↑ Mayfield, Geoff (28 November 1998). "Between The Bullets". Billboard. 110 (48): 74. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  7. ↑ "Top 200 Albums". Billboard 200. Billboard. 5 December 1998. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  8. ↑ "George Michael Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  9. 1 2 "American album certifications – George Michael – Ladies and Gentlemen, The Best of George Michael". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 27 October 2017. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
  10. 1 2 Caulfield, Keith (27 October 2006). "Ask Billboard: George In The U.S.A." Billboard. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  11. ↑ Caulfield, Keith (3 January 2017). "George Michael's U.S. Music Sales Up 2,678% Following Death". Billboard. Retrieved 5 January 2018. Michael additionally charts one more solo set on the list, the 1998 greatest hits compilation Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael, at No. 84 (11,000 units; up 3,291 percent, with 7,000 sold; up 5,257 percent).
  12. 1 2 3 4 "George Michael: Artist Chart History". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  13. 1 2 "British album certifications – George Michael – Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 27 October 2017. Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  14. 1 2 Jones, Alan (11 January 2017). "George Michael on the charts". Music Week. Retrieved 12 January 2017. It sold a million copies in less than six weeks, racked up eight straight weeks at No.1 and eventually went on to become his biggest selling album in the UK, with sales exceeding 2.5m.
  15. ↑ O'Connor, Roisin (31 December 2016). "George Michael: Ladies and Gentlemen returns top 10 album charts". The Independent. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  16. ↑ "George Michael – Ladies & Gentlemen (The Best Of George Michael". Discogs. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  17. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – George Michael – Ladies and Gentlemen – The Best of". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  18. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – George Michael – Ladies and Gentlemen – The Best of" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
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  20. ↑ "Ultratop.be – George Michael – Ladies and Gentlemen – The Best of" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  21. ↑ "George Michael Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  22. 1 2 3 "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  23. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – George Michael – Ladies and Gentlemen – The Best of" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  24. ↑ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  25. ↑ "George Michael: Ladies & Gentlemen – The Best of George Michael" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  26. ↑ "Les "Charts Runs" de chaque Album Classé" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  27. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – George Michael – Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  28. ↑ "Top 40 album DVD és válogatáslemez-lista – 1998. 53. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  29. ↑ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  30. 1 2 "Gli album più venduti del 1999". Hit Parade Italia. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  31. ↑ ジョージ・マイケルのアルバム売り上げランキング (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  32. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – George Michael – Ladies and Gentlemen – The Best of". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  33. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – George Michael – Ladies and Gentlemen – The Best of". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  34. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  35. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – George Michael – Ladies and Gentlemen – The Best of". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  36. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – George Michael – Ladies and Gentlemen – The Best of". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  37. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  38. ↑ "George Michael Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  39. ↑ "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Albums 1998". ARIA. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  40. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1998" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  41. ↑ "Rapports annueles 1998" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  42. ↑ "Chart of the Year 1998". Mogens Nielsen. Archived from the original on 16 December 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
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  44. ↑ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
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  48. ↑ "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Albums 1999". ARIA. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  49. ↑ "Jahreshitparade Alben 1999" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  50. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1999" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  51. ↑ "Rapports annueles 1999" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  52. ↑ "Chart of the Year 1999". Mogens Nielsen. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  53. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1999" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  54. ↑ "Europe's Top Albums of 1999" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  55. ↑ "Classement Albums – année 1999" (in French). SNEP. Archived from the original on 13 October 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
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  59. ↑ "Swiss Year-end Charts 1999". Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  60. ↑ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 1999". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  61. ↑ "1999: Billboard 200 Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
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  63. ↑ "ARIA End of Year Albums 2017". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  64. ↑ White, Jack (3 January 2018). "The Top 40 biggest albums of 2017 on the Official Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
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  66. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2017 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  67. ↑ "Austrian album certifications – George Michael – Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 19 October 2017. Enter George Michael in the field Interpret. Enter Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael in the field Titel. Select album in the field Format. Click Suchen. 
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  69. ↑ "Brazilian album certifications – George Michael – Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael" (in Portuguese). Associação Brasileira dos Produtores de Discos. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  70. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – George Michael – Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael". Music Canada. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  71. ↑ "George Michael "Ladies & Gentleman… The Best"" (in Danish). IFPI Denmark. 17 January 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  72. 1 2 "George Michael" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
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  74. ↑ "Les Meilleures Ventes de CD / Albums "Tout Temps"" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  75. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (George Michael; 'Ladies & Gentlemen...The Best of George Michael')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  76. ↑ "Dutch album certifications – George Michael – Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 27 October 2017. Enter Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael in the "Artiest of titel" box.
  77. ↑ "New Zealand album certifications – George Michael – Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  78. ↑ "IFPI Norsk platebransje" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Archived from the original on 25 July 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  79. ↑ "Polish album certifications – George Michael – Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  80. ↑ Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
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  82. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (George Michael; 'Ladies & Gentlemen')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  83. ↑ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2004". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  84. ↑ Sexton, Paul (27 March 2004). "Strong Interest Precedes New Michael Album". Billboard. 116 (13): 12. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
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