I have to admit that I haven’t had the kindest thoughts about the remastered Faith collections coming out on February 1. Don’t get me wrong … I love Faith and my memories of 1987-1988 are filled with the joy of being a George Michael fan and seeing and hearing him everywhere. You’d turn on MTV, and it was always premiering the newest George Michael video or giving news of the Faith tour. It was the best time to be a George Michael fan, at least for me.
When I heard about this remastered Faith, I felt a little jaded. Perhaps if it had been released in 2012, which would have been the 25th anniversary of Faith, I wouldn’t have felt like they were trying to profit off of Faith, while the faithful fans wait for a new George Michael CD. Yeah, it’s fun that GeorgeMichael.com looks like a George Michael web site in 1987 would have looked. But I lived Faith. It’s funny now to get press information that Faith was released in November 1987 … yeah, on November 2, 1987, in the U.S. I still remember.
I have Faith on CD, cassette, and LP. At first, I wasn’t even going to buy this remastered collection. Faith always sounded great, and I’m not sure I would be able to tell the difference with the remastered CD. However, when I looked at the song list of the B sides, I knew why this collection was something a George Michael fan, even one who thought she had every Faith-related thing, would want.
Yes, you can get “Fantasy” (one of my all-time favorites) on other George Michael CDs. Yes, the instrumentals of “Faith” and “Kissing a Fool” are nice to have, but it’s George Michael’s voice that I want to listen to. And, yes, it’s nice to have the remixes for “Hard Day” (a song I always thought deserved to be released from the album) and “Monkey.”
Ultimately, it’s the song, “I Believe When I Fall in Love,” that changed my mind about this collection. I used to listen to this song all the time on my cassette single—or cassingle—as we used to call them. And since my pink boom box long ago started eating my cassettes, having this little gem alone on CD is why any long-time fan would want to buy one of the remastered Faith collections. I’m sure many George Michael fans, especially if you became a George Michael fan later, may have missed out on this song and “Love’s in Need of Love Today.”
Since I wasn’t privy to some of the cool stuff from the deluxe edition, I can’t recommend shelling out $141, unless you’re a real collector. If you’re like me and the music is why you continue to be a George Michael fan, then the special edition or remastered edition should make you happy.
The year 2011 marks my 26th year as a George Michael fan and my 14th year running this George Michael fan site. This new collection reminds me of just why I’ve been a George Michael for as long as I have. Yes, I still have faith in George Michael’s music.
Melanie
Webmaster of Yours Only George
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My husband surprised me with it knowing what a big fan I am. I love the book that came with it with the new interview and the trip down memory lane. The DVD is pretty great, too. I remember when that MTV special first aired! I probably have it on VHS at my mom’s house somewhere. I blogged about my getting it in the mail this week at: http://krystenlindsay.blogspot.com/2011/01/i-gotta-have-faith-and-now-i-finally-do.html
That’s so cool that your husband surprised you with it! I have that MTV special on VHS somewhere too. Thanks for sharing your article.
Great review, thank you Melanie!
Thanks! There was so much more that I wanted to say, but I just didn’t have the time before the CD was released.
I was surprised the book had so many pics of him with his ex-girlfriend from that time. I remember being soooo jealous of her 😉
Krysten, that’s interesting there were so many pictures of Kathy Jeung. I was surprised to find that she has a web site … http://www.kathyjeung.com/
Melanie,
I’ve been a long, long, long time visitor of your website(i.e. pre-blog) and continue to check in.
I totally agree with the review you posted.
keep up the good work.
CA
CA, thanks so much. I was hesitant to post it because I didn’t want fans saying I wasn’t a fan for not buying the deluxe version. I don’t want to get into that debate about who is the biggest fan! Thanks for staying with the site all the years!!
Thanks for review, Melanie.:)
Basia L.
Thanks Mel. You are pretty much summing up everything I’ve been thinking. I’ve been a George fan for about 25 years and have your website as one of my favourite sites. I have faith in him and always will.
Mel – I wish they would release a remastered version of ‘If you were my woman’ too. How brillant this is … http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6vufUR_yqk
My cassette tape version got chewed up years ago. 🙂
Enjoyed reading your review, Melanie. You’ve got a lovely way with words:)I think you’re right in saying Faith Remastered is definitely a collector’s item. Myself I’m not rushing out to buy it, I’ve got to admit.(I’ve still got a record player to play my old records on, and my Faith LP is still looking and sounding mint!)But it’s nice indeed that that the Remastered edition has so many extra’s that will please any GM fan. Btw. You’ve been doing a great job with your website all these years, catering for the GM Community around the globe, if there’s any one deserving of the title Faithful GM fan, it’s you! 😛 Keep up the good work!
Thanks so much Lizzy. I still have my record player too, but all my records are packed away in a closet.
It’s been a little more difficult in the past few years to keep up with the site, so it’s nice to hear that I’m still doing an okay job of maintaining the site. 🙂