After Faith, before getting Older... (Listen Without Prejudice Vol.1 - George Michael)

Member Name: DJBorley

Product:	Listen Without Prejudice Vol.1 - George Michael
Date:	25/01/03 (157 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great album, Timless

Disadvantages: Slightly depressing

I'm writing an op on something that I vowed I wouldn't do. My favourite album of all time. The reason that I had promised not to write this op is that I know it will be biased. The songs that I dislike on this album are few and far between, though they still get listened to regularly. I've justified writing this opinion to myself by saying that all opinions are biased, which is why they are opinions. Sorted. On to the review.

Living Without Prejudice (1990)

* Album Cover

The cover of the album reflects George Michael's stance at the time that he wanted to stay out of the media, and thus features a shot of a crowd, with no reference to George Michael at all. It's a black and white photo, and as album covers go, is pretty boring. If it was designed to slip into the background of a record shop, then I'd say it achieves its goal pretty well.

* Track Listing & Info

1. Praying For Time - The first release from the album, and surprisingly the only song to make the UK Top 20. A powerful, slightly haunting song. A good way to start the album, but it sets the standard for the rest of the album, which is mostly slow, heartfelt songs.

2. Freedom 90 - The third single from the album, charting at a mere 28th Place. A great upbeat song, that seems to be about escaping first from a boy-band, and then from a marketing-driven image. Covered by Robbie Williams a few years later, shortly after he left Take That. This version proved more successful than the original, and it hit Number Two.

3. They Won't Go When I Go - Written by Stevie Wonder, this song sounds as though it was recorded live in a studio, in just one take. Hauntingly beautiful, and shows just what a terrific voice George Michael has.

4. Something To Save - Another great song, with lyrics pertaining to a relationship full of mistrust. By no means the greatest song on the album, but still not one to skip past.

5. Cow
boys & Angels - The last single released from this album, reaching Number 45 at a time when the artist was suing Sony. A lengthy song that always seems to draw mixed reactions. Some people love it, others hate it. In the decade that I've had this album, I've swung from the latter to the former, finally settling somewhere in the middle.

6. Waiting For That Day - Possibly my least favourite song on the album. The second single made number 23 in the charts. Another upbeat song, but this time with downbeat lyrics, seemingly about another break-up.

7. Mothers Pride - Again, another song that I think of as weak, though it's perhaps the only track that I would refer to as an album track (i.e., a track put on an album to fill it out and make it longer, despite it not being of a quality similar to other tracks.) A cleverly written song about a boy who watches his dad go to war and not return, only to follow the same footsteps himself years later. A dead soldier - Mothers Pride

8. Heal The Pain - The fourth single, reaching Number 31. A great song, again with lyrics about a relationship, though this time about the possibility of a new one, rather than the end of an existing one.

9. Soul Free - A song that seems very out of place on this album. After several tracks to do with the start and end of relationships, most with fairly depressing lyrics, this couldn't be more different. This is about the only tune on the CD that screams, "Get up and dance". This has shaded of the later-written Fast Love about it. This would be an excellent way to end an album on an upbeat note. However, seeing as this album is not a dancey album, it finishes with:

10. Waiting Reprise - Considering that this is a Reprise of a song that I don't particularly like, it's strange for me to say that this is my favourite song. Short, sweet and to the point, this song is another vehicle for George to show us his vocal skills, with s
ome lyrics that strike home for me, this is about as personal a song as I can get.

* Price / Availability

101cd.com have this online and in stock for £8.95 with free p&p, though if you're feeling particularly flush, you can buy the same album for £16.99 plus £1.50 p&p at Countrybookshop.co.uk. Alternatively, HMV have it at £9.99 if you want to buy it from a High Street name.

* Conclusion

An amazing album. The kind of album that you can sing along to just about every song. Unlike other self-penned albums from George Michael, the songs on Listen Without Prejudice didn't chart very well, which I think is a blessing in disguise, as the songs were not over-played on the radio. Ideal to listen to if you're at the end of a relationship, or feeling sorry for yourself, as you can dwell on the lyrics and ideal to sing along to in the car, as there are some great tunes behind the lyrics.

This album is where George Michael shook off the image of tight jeans and leather jacket that seemed to haunt him from the Faith era. At a time of great personal conflict in his life, where, with hindsight, he was obviously deeply unhappy with his record company, and in confusion with his private life, you can take a lot of the lyrics to mean several different things - Is he talking about falling out with a lover, or a record company?

If you don't have this album in your collection, then you should get it. All of the songs may not appeal to everyone, but there should be some songs that appeal to everyone.

* The End Bit

My favourite lyrics? From Waiting (Reprise):

All those insecurities
That have held me down for so long
I can't say I've found a cure for these
But at least I know them
So they're not so strong.

Something that rings very true, even to this day.

Summary: