Songs from the Last Century

Songs from the Last Century
Songs from the Last Century
Studio album by George Michael
Released	6 December 1999
Recorded	1999
Length	43:11
Label	Aegean; Virgin;
Producer	Phil Ramone; George Michael;
George Michael chronology

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
BBC	(mixed)^[2]
NME	^[3]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	^[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. Produced by Michael and Phil Ramone, 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^[a] and Brian Eno with Luciano Pavarotti. Both songs were released as promotional singles.

History

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

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

Personnel

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

Weekly charts

Chart (1999–2000)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[7]	12
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)^[8]	12
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)^[9]	11
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)^[10]	4
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)^[11]	33
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)^[12]	5
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[13]	6
European Albums (Top 100)^[14]	2
French Albums (SNEP)^[15]	7
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[16]	4
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)^[17]	5
Irish Albums (IRMA)^[18]	7
Italian Albums (FIMI)^[19]	4
Japanese Albums (Oricon)^[20]	59
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[21]	8
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)^[22]	13
Scottish Albums (OCC)^[23]	8
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)^[24]	11
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)^[25]	16
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[26]	6
UK Albums (OCC)^[27]	2
US Billboard 200^[28]	157

Year-end charts

Chart (1999)	Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[29]	74
UK Albums (OCC)^[30]	18

Chart (2000)	Position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)^[31]	93
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)^[32]	39
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)^[33]	86
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)^[34]	87
European Albums (Music & Media)^[35]	33
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[36]	64
UK Albums (OCC)^[37]	98

Certifications and sales


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[38]	Gold	35,000^{^}
Belgium (BRMA)^[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

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

References

^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Songs from the Last Century – George Michael". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
^ Packer, Nigel (5 December 1999). "CD Review: George Michael". BBC News Online. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
^ "Songs From The Last Century". NME. 12 September 2005. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
^ 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.
^ 1999 Top 40 Official Albums Chart UK Archive, 18 December 1999. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
^ "George Michael – Songs from the Last Century Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
^ "Australiancharts.com – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
^ "Austriancharts.at – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
^ "Ultratop.be – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
^ "Ultratop.be – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 10010". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
^ "Lescharts.com – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
^ "Offiziellecharts.de – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2000. 1. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
^ "Italiancharts.com – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
^ 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.
^ "Charts.nz – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
^ "Norwegiancharts.com – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
^ ^a ^b Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
^ "Swedishcharts.com – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
^ "Swisscharts.com – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
^ "George Michael Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
^ "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Albums 1999". ARIA. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 1999". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
^ "Jaaroverzichten 2000" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
^ "Rapports annueles 2000" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
^ "Chart of the Year 2000". Mogens Nielsen. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2000" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
^ "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.
^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2000". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1999 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 2000". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
^ "Canadian album certifications – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century". Music Canada. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
^ "French album certifications – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (George Michael; 'Songs from the Last Century')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
^ "New Zealand album certifications – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Songs from the Last Century')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
^ "George Michael on the charts". Music Week. Intent Media. 11 January 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
^ "British album certifications – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
^ Keith Caulfield. "Ask Billboard: George in the USA". Billboard. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
^ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 1999". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
^ "George Michael Eyeing Universal U.K." Billboard. Retrieved 26 May 2016.

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

[Erlewine-1] Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Songs from the Last Century – George Michael". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 January 2018.

[BBC_review-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.

[Cross-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.

[6] 1999 Top 40 Official Albums Chart UK Archive, 18 December 1999. Retrieved 6 August 2014.

[7] "George Michael – Songs from the Last Century Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 October 2014.

[ac_Australia_George_Michael-8] "Australiancharts.com – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2016.

[ac_Austria_George_Michael-9] "Austriancharts.at – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2016.

[ac_Flanders_George_Michael-10] "Ultratop.be – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2016.

[ac_Wallonia_George_Michael-11] "Ultratop.be – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2016.

[group=-12] "Top RPM Albums: Issue 10010". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 19 May 2016.

[13] "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved 19 May 2016.

[ac_Netherlands_George_Michael-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.

[ac_France_George_Michael-16] "Lescharts.com – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2016.

[ac_Germany_George_Michael-17] "Offiziellecharts.de – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 19 May 2016.

[ac_Hungary_-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.

[ac_Italy_George_Michael-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.

[ac_New_Zealand_George_Michael-22] "Charts.nz – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2016.

[ac_Norway_George_Michael-23] "Norwegiancharts.com – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2016.

[ac_Scotland_-24] "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 May 2016.

[spain-25] Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.

[ac_Sweden_George_Michael-26] "Swedishcharts.com – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2016.

[ac_Switzerland_George_Michael-27] "Swisscharts.com – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2016.

[ac_UK2_-28] "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 May 2016.

[ac_Billboard200_George_Michael-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.

[AustraliaalbumCertRef-39] "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1999 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 27 October 2017.

[BelgiumGeorge_MichaelSongs_from_the_Last_CenturyalbumCertRef-40] "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 2000". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 October 2017.

[CanadaGeorge_MichaelSongs_from_the_Last_CenturyalbumCertRef-41] "Canadian album certifications – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century". Music Canada. Retrieved 27 October 2017.

[FranceGeorge_MichaelSongs_from_the_Last_CenturyalbumCertRef-42] "French album certifications – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 27 October 2017.

[GermanyGeorge_MichaelSongs_from_the_Last_CenturyalbumCertRef-43] "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (George Michael; 'Songs from the Last Century')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 27 October 2017.

[New_ZealandGeorge_MichaelSongs_from_the_Last_CenturyalbumCertRef-44] "New Zealand album certifications – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 November 2024.

[SwitzerlandGeorge_MichaelSongs_from_the_Last_CenturyalbumCertRef-45] "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Songs from the Last Century')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 October 2017.

[UK_sales-46] "George Michael on the charts". Music Week. Intent Media. 11 January 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.

[United_KingdomGeorge_MichaelSongs_from_the_Last_CenturyalbumCertRef-47] "British album certifications – George Michael – Songs from the Last Century". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 27 October 2017.

[48] Keith Caulfield. "Ask Billboard: George in the USA". Billboard. Retrieved 26 May 2016.

[EuropeGeorge_MichaelSongs_from_the_Last_CenturyalbumCertRef-49] "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 1999". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 27 October 2017.

[50] "George Michael Eyeing Universal U.K." Billboard. Retrieved 26 May 2016.

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v t e George Michael
Discography Awards Live performances
Studio albums	Faith Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 Older Songs from the Last Century Patience
Live albums	Five Live MTV Unplugged Symphonica
Compilations	Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael Twenty Five
Video releases	Faith Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael Twenty Five Live in London
Concert tours	The Faith Tour Cover to Cover 25 Live Live in Australia Symphonica Tour
Documentaries	George Michael: A Different Story George Michael: Portrait of an Artist
Related	Wham! Boogie Box High Panayiotou v Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd. Aegean Records Eli Stone Imagine Piano Peace Project Last Christmas soundtrack
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