Songs from the Last Century

Songs from the Last Century
Studio album by
George Michael
Released6 December 1999 (1999-12-06)
Recorded1999
StudioRight Track Recording (New York City)
Length43:11
Labels
Producers
George Michael chronology
Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael
(1998)		 Songs from the Last Century
(1999)		 Patience
(2004)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStar[1]
BBC(mixed)[2]
NMEStarHalf star[3]
The Rolling Stone Album GuideStarStarStar[4]

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. Co-produced with Phil Ramone, it is Michael's only album consisting entirely of cover versions. It consists mainly of old jazz standards, along with new interpretations of more recent popular songs such as "Roxanne" by The Police and "Miss Sarajevo" by U2 and Brian Eno. Both were released as promotional singles.

History

Songs from the Last Century is the only album in Michael's solo catalogue to not reach number one on the UK Albums Chart, peaking at number two on the chart dated 11 December 1999. It was kept from the top spot by Shania Twain's Come On Over.[5]

Another version of the album's opening track, "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?", features Michael and Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti performing at the "Pavarotti and Friends for Cambodia and Tibet" live show on 6 June 2000. This version was included on the limited edition of Michael's 2006 greatest hits album, Twenty Five.

Promotion

The cover photograph, depicting Michael in New York City, was taken in November 1999 and features the original World Trade Center in the background.[6]

A promotional video for "Roxanne" was filmed in the Red District of Amsterdam, depicting the daily routines of real-life sex workers. At the end of the video, a woman named Franciska, who uses the alias "Roxanne", is shown leaving the profession.

Track listing

Personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic.[7]

  • 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

Certifications and sales

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

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

Notes

References

  1. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Songs from the Last Century – George Michael". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  2. ↑ Packer, Nigel (5 December 1999). "CD Review: George Michael". BBC News Online. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  3. ↑ "Songs From The Last Century". NME. 12 September 2005. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  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". Official Charts. 18 December 1999. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  6. ↑ "Press Release for George Michael's 'Songs from the Last Century' Album". 1 November 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
  7. ↑ "George Michael – Songs from the Last Century Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  8. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  9. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  10. ↑ "Ultratop.be – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  11. ↑ "Ultratop.be – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  12. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Image 10010". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  13. ↑ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  14. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  15. ↑ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  16. ↑ "Lescharts.com – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  17. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  18. ↑ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2000. 1. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  19. ↑ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  20. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  21. ↑ 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 19 May 2016.
  22. ↑ "Charts.nz – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  23. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  24. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 12/12/1999 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  25. 1 2 Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  26. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  27. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  28. ↑ "Official Albums Chart on 12/12/1999 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  29. ↑ "George Michael Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  30. ↑ "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Albums 1999". ARIA. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  31. ↑ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 1999". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  32. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 2000" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  33. ↑ "Rapports annueles 2000" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  34. ↑ "Chart of the Year 2000". Mogens Nielsen. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  35. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2000" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  36. ↑ "Year in Focus – European Top 100 Albums 2000" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 52. 23 December 2000. p. 9. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 19 January 2019 – via American Radio History.
  37. ↑ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  38. ↑ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2000". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  39. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1999 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  40. ↑ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 2000". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  41. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century". Music Canada. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  42. ↑ "French album certifications – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  43. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (George Michael; 'Songs from the Last Century')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  44. ↑ "New Zealand album certifications – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  45. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Songs from the Last Century')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  46. ↑ "British album certifications – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 27 October 2017. Select albums in the Formats field. Type Songs from the Last Century George Michael in the "Search:" field.
  47. ↑ "George Michael on the charts". Music Week. Intent Media. 11 January 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  48. ↑ Keith Caulfield. "Ask Billboard: George in the USA". Billboard. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  49. ↑ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 1999". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  50. ↑ "George Michael Eyeing Universal U.K." Billboard. Archived from the original on 31 December 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
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