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Unlike many covers albums, Songs from the Last Century is a cohesive, enjoyable diversion. With the help of co-producer Phil Ramone, George Michael has crafted a warm, intimate album built around a small combo of piano, guitar, bass, and drums. Orchestras, big bands, harps, and on one occasion, a rock band augment the basic combo, yet the flourishes never change the essential, close-knit nature of the group. For the first time ever, Michael sounds relaxed. He's lying back, singing songs he loves, not worrying about chart success, and the end result is quite fetching, even if it isn't perfect. The main flaw with Songs from the Last Century is that it's so smooth, it's occasionally a little sleepy, a trait that's emphasized by Michael's fairly predictable taste in covers -- "Brother Can You Spare a Dime," "My Baby Just Cares for Me," and "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," among others. Nevertheless, he does bring style and sophistication to these standards, even such often-covered yet still difficult tunes as "Wild as the Wind." When his selections are idiosyncratic -- whether it's a jazzy reading of "Roxanne," the brassy "Secret Love," the little-remembered "I Remember You," or a revelatory reading of "Miss Sarajevo," a song commonly dismissed as a U2 side project -- the album is delightful. Certainly, Songs from the Last Century isn't a major work; it's a way for Michael to decompress and have some fun, and the diehards who stuck with him through the turbulent '90s are likely to be charmed.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Abe Appleman, Violin - Alan Kay, Clarinet - Andy Snitzer, Woodwinds - Ann Leathers, Violin - Avril Brown, Violin - Barry Finclair, Violin - Bob Carlisle, French Horn - Byron Stripling, Trumpet - Carol Landon, Viola - Carol Webb, Violin - Caryl Paisner, Acoustic Cello - Charlie Pillow, Woodwinds - Chris Komer, French Horn - Crystal Garner, Viola - Dave Mann, Woodwinds - Dave Taylor, Trombone - David Finck, Bass - David Tofani, Woodwinds - Diane Barere, Acoustic Cello - Diane Lesser, Oboe - Donna Tecco, Violin - Elena Barere, Violin - Ellen Westermann, Acoustic Cello - Enrico DiCecco, Violin - Frank Filipetti, Engineer - Frank Filipetti, Mixing Engineer - George Michael, Performer - George Michael, Producer - Herb Besson, Trombone - Jacqui Danilow, Bass - Jan Mullen, Violin - Jason Stasium, 2nd Engineer - Jean Ingraham, Violin - Jeanne LeBlanc, Acoustic Cello - Jeff Kievit, Trumpet - Jeff Lang, French Horn - Jim Hynes, Trumpet - Jim Ognibene, Clarinet - Jim Pugh, Tenor - John Clark, French Horn - John Moses, Clarinet - Jonathan Dinklage, Violin - Joyce Hammann, Violin - Judy Sugarman, Bass - Judy Witmer, Viola - Juliet Haffner, Viola - Karen Griffen, Flute - Katherine Fink, Flute - Ken Hitchcock, Woodwinds - Kim Laskowski, Bassoon - Laura Hamilton, Violin - Laura McGinniss, Violin - Laura Oatts, Violin - Lawrence Feldman, Woodwinds - Lewis Nash, Drums - Liz Lim-Dutton, Violin - Marcus Rojas, Tube - Marji Danilow, Bass - Mark Shuman, Acoustic Cello - Marti Sweet, Violin - Maryhelen Brennard, Viola - Maura Giannini, Violin - Mike Davis, Trombone - Nancy McAlhany, Violin - Pamela Sklar, Flute - Phil Ramone, Producer - Regis Iandiorio, Violin - Rich Dallesio, English Horn - Richard Locker, Acoustic Cello - Ricky Sortomme, Violin - Rob Mathes, Arranger - Rob Mathes, Conductor - Rob Mathes, Piano - Roger Rosenberg, Woodwinds - Scott Parker, Engineer - Sheryl Henze, Flute - Stacey Shames, Harp - Steve Mazur, Engineer - Sue Pray, Viola - Ted Jenson, Mastering Engineer - Tim Cobb, Bass - Tim Ries, Woodwinds - Todd Levy, Clarinet - Tony Kadleck, Trumpet - Trudy Kane, Flute - Virgil Blackwell, Bass - Virgil Blackwell, Clarinet - Yuri Vodovoz, Violin
(P) 1999 G.K. Panayiotou, under exclusive license to Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
George Michael, Performer - Sting, Composer - Sting, Lyricist
(P) 1999 G.K. Panayiotou, under exclusive licence to Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Abe Appleman, Violin - Alan Kay, Clarinet - Andy Snitzer, Woodwinds - Ann Leathers, Violin - Avril Brown, Violin - Barry Finclair, Violin - Bill Carey, Composer - Bill Carey, Lyricist - Bob Carlisle, French Horn - Byron Stripling, Trumpet - Carl Fischer, Composer - Carl Fischer, Lyricist - Carol Landon, Viola - Carol Webb, Violin - Caryl Paisner, Acoustic Cello - Charlie Pillow, Woodwinds - Chris Komer, French Horn - Crystal Garner, Viola - Dave Mann, Woodwinds - Dave Taylor, Trombone - David Finck, Bass - David Tofani, Woodwinds - Diane Barere, Acoustic Cello - Diane Lesser, Oboe - Donna Tecco, Violin - Elena Barere, Violin - Ellen Westermann, Acoustic Cello - Enrico DiCecco, Violin - Frank Filipetti, Engineer - Frank Filipetti, Mixing Engineer - George Michael, Performer - George Michael, Producer - Herb Besson, Trombone - Jacqui Danilow, Bass - Jan Mullen, Violin - Jason Stasium, 2nd Engineer - Jean Ingraham, Violin - Jeanne LeBlanc, Acoustic Cello - Jeff Kievit, Trumpet - Jeff Lang, French Horn - Jeff Mironov, Guitar - Jim Hynes, Trumpet - Jim Ognibene, Clarinet - Jim Pugh, Trombone - John Clark, French Horn - John Moses, Clarinet - Jonathan Dinklage, Violin - Joyce Hammann, Violin - Judy Sugarman, Bass - Judy Witmer, Viola - Juliet Haffner, Viola - Karen Griffen, Flute - Katherine Fink, Flute - Ken Hitchcock, Woodwinds - Kim Laskowski, Bassoon - Laura Hamilton, Violin - Laura McGinniss, Violin - Laura Oatts, Violin - Lawrence Feldman, Woodwinds - Lewis Nash, Drums - Liz Lim-Dutton, Violin - Marcus Rojas, Tube - Marji Danilow, Bass - Mark Shuman, Acoustic Cello - Marti Sweet, Violin - Maryhelen Brennard, Viola - Maura Giannini, Violin - Mike Davis, Trombone - Nancy McAlhany, Violin - Pamela Sklar, Flute - Phil Ramone, Producer - Regis Iandiorio, Violin - Rich Dallesio, English Horn - Richard Locker, Acoustic Cello - Ricky Sortomme, Violin - Rob Mathes, Arranger - Rob Mathes, Conductor - Rob Mathes, Piano - Roger Rosenberg, Woodwinds - Scott Parker, 2nd Engineer - Sheryl Henze, Flute - Stacey Shames, Harp - Steve Mazur, 2nd Engineer - Sue Pray, Viola - Ted Jenson, Mastering Engineer - Tim Cobb, Bass - Tim Ries, Woodwinds - Todd Levy, Clarinet - Tony Kadleck, Trumpet - Trudy Kane, Flute - Virgil Blackwell, Clarinet - Yuri Vodovoz, Violin
(P) 1999 G.K. Panayiotou, under exclusive license to Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
G. Kahn, Composer - G. Kahn, Lyricist - George Michael, Performer - W. Donaldson, Composer - W. Donaldson, Lyricist
(P) 1999 G.K. Panayiotou, under exclusive licence to Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Ewan MacColl, Composer - Ewan MacColl, Lyricist - George Michael, Performer
(P) 1999 G.K. Panayiotou, under exclusive licence to Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Adam Clayton, Composer - Adam Clayton, Lyricist - Brian Eno, Composer - Brian Eno, Lyricist - Chris Cameron, Keyboards - Danny Cummings, Percussion - Dave Evans, Composer - Dave Evans, Lyricist - Frank Filipetti, Engineer - Frank Filipetti, Mixing Engineer - Frank Tontoh, Drums - George Michael, Performer - George Michael, Producer - George Michael, Vocal - Howie Gondewe, Guitar - Hugh Burns, Guitar - Jason Stasium, 2nd Engineer - Larry Mullen, Composer - Larry Mullen, Lyricist - Paul Hewson, Composer - Paul Hewson, Lyricist - Peter Gordeno, Keyboards - Phil Palmer, Guitar - Phil Ramone, Producer - Scott Parker, 2nd Engineer - Steve Mazur, 2nd Engineer - Steve Walters, Bass - Ted Jenson, Mastering Engineer
(P) 1999 G.K. Panayiotou, under exclusive license to Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Corky Hale, Harp - Frank Filipetti, Engineer - Frank Filipetti, Mixing Engineer - George Michael, Engineer - George Michael, Mixing Engineer - George Michael, Performer - George Michael, Producer - George Michael, Vocal - Jason Stasium, 2nd Engineer - Johnny Mercer, Composer - Johnny Mercer, Lyricist - Phil Ramone, Producer - Scott Parker, 2nd Engineer - Steve Mazur, 2nd Engineer - Ted Jenson, Mastering Engineer - Victor Schertzinger, Composer - Victor Schertzinger, Lyricist
(P) 2010 G.K. Panayiotou, under exclusive license to Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Abe Appleman, Violin - Alan Kay, Clarinet - Andy Snitzer, Woodwinds - Ann Leathers, Violin - Avril Brown, Violin - Barry Finclair, Violin - Bob Carlisle, French Horn - Byron Stripling, Trumpet - Carol Landon, Viola - Carol Webb, Violin - Caryl Paisner, Acoustic Cello - Charlie Pillow, Woodwinds - Chris Komer, French Horn - Crystal Garner, Viola - Dave Mann, Woodwinds - Dave Taylor, Trombone - David Finck, Bass - David Tofani, Woodwinds - Diane Barere, Acoustic Cello - Diane Lesser, Oboe - Donna Tecco, Violin - Elena Barere, Violin - Ellen Westermann, Acoustic Cello - Enrico DiCecco, Violin - Frank Filipetti, Engineer - Frank Filipetti, Mixing Engineer - George Michael, Performer - George Michael, Producer - George Michael, Vocal - Herb Besson, Trombone - Jacqui Danilow, Bass - Jan Mullen, Violin - Jason Stasium, 2nd Engineer - Jean Ingraham, Violin - Jeanne LeBlanc, Acoustic Cello - Jeff Kievit, Trumpet - Jeff Lang, French Horn - Jim Hynes, Trumpet - Jim Ognibene, Clarinet - Jim Pugh, Trombone - John Clark, French Horn - John Moses, Clarinet - Jonathan Dinklage, Violin - Joyce Hammann, Violin - Judy Sugarman, Bass - Judy Witmer, Viola - Juliet Haffner, Viola - Karen Griffen, Flute - Katherine Fink, Flute - Ken Hitchcock, Woodwinds - Kim Laskowski, Bassoon - Laura Hamilton, Violin - Laura McGinniss, Violin - Laura Oatts, Violin - Lawrence Feldman, Woodwinds - Lewis Nash, Drums - Liz Lim-Dutton, Violin - Marcus Rojas, Tube - Marji Danilow, Bass - Mark Shuman, Acoustic Cello - Marti Sweet, Violin - Maryhelen Brennard, Viola - Maura Giannini, Violin - Mike Davis, Trombone - Nancy McAlhany, Violin - Pamela Sklar, Flute - Paul Francis Webster, Composer - Paul Francis Webster, Lyricist - Phil Ramone, Producer - Regis Iandiorio, Violin - Rich Dallesio, English Horn - Richard Locker, Acoustic Cello - Ricky Sortomme, Violin - Rob Mathes, Piano - Roger Rosenberg, Woodwinds - Sammy Fain, Composer - Sammy Fain, Lyricist - Scott Parker, 2nd Engineer - Sheryl Henze, Flute - Stacey Shames, Harp - Steve Mazur, 2nd Engineer - Sue Pray, Viola - Ted Jenson, Mastering Engineer - Tim Cobb, Bass - Tim Ries, Woodwinds - Todd Levy, Clarinet - Tony Kadleck, Trumpet - Torrie Zito, Arranger - Torrie Zito, Conductor - Trudy Kane, Flute - Virgil Blackwell, Clarinet - Yuri Vodovoz, Violin
(P) 1999 G.K. Panayiotou, under exclusive license to Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Abe Appleman, Violin - Alan Kay, Clarinet - Andy Snitzer, Woodwinds - Ann Leathers, Violin - Avril Brown, Violin - Barry Finclair, Violin - Bob Carlisle, French Horn - Byron Stripling, Trumpet - Carol Landon, Viola - Carol Webb, Violin - Caryl Paisner, Acoustic Cello - Charlie Pillow, Woodwinds - Chris Komer, French Horn - Crystal Garner, Viola - Dave Mann, Woodwinds - Dave Taylor, Trombone - David Finck, Bass - David Tofani, Woodwinds - Diane Barere, Acoustic Cello - Diane Lesser, Oboe - Dimitri Tiomkin, Composer - Dimitri Tiomkin, Lyricist - Donna Tecco, Violin - Elena Barere, Violin - Ellen Westermann, Acoustic Cello - Enrico DiCecco, Violin - Frank Filipetti, Engineer - Frank Filipetti, Mixing Engineer - George Michael, Performer - George Michael, Producer - George Michael, Vocal - Herb Besson, Trombone - Jacqui Danilow, Bass - Jan Mullen, Violin - Jason Stasium, 2nd Engineer - Jean Ingraham, Violin - Jeanne LeBlanc, Acoustic Cello - Jeff Kievit, Trumpet - Jeff Lang, French Horn - Jeff Mironov, Guitar - Jim Hynes, Trumpet - Jim Ognibene, Clarinet - Jim Pugh, Trombone - John Clark, French Horn - John Moses, Clarinet - Jonathan Dinklage, Violin - Joyce Hammann, Violin - Judy Sugarman, Bass - Judy Witmer, Viola - Juliet Haffner, Viola - Karen Griffen, Flute - Katherine Fink, Flute - Ken Hitchcock, Woodwinds - Kim Laskowski, Bassoon - Laura Hamilton, Violin - Laura McGinniss, Violin - Laura Oatts, Violin - Lawrence Feldman, Woodwinds - Lewis Nash, Drums - Liz Lim-Dutton, Violin - Marcus Rojas, Tube - Marji Danilow, Bass - Mark Shuman, Acoustic Cello - Marti Sweet, Violin - Maryhelen Brennard, Viola - Maura Giannini, Violin - Mike Davis, Trombone - Nancy McAlhany, Violin - Ned Washington, Composer - Ned Washington, Lyricist - Pamela Sklar, Flute - Phil Ramone, Producer - Regis Iandiorio, Violin - Rich Dallesio, English Horn - Richard Locker, Acoustic Cello - Ricky Sortomme, Violin - Rob Mounsey, Arranger - Rob Mounsey, Piano - Roger Rosenberg, Woodwinds - Scott Parker, 2nd Engineer - Sheryl Henze, Flute - Stacey Shames, Harp - Steve Mazur, Engineer - Sue Pray, Viola - Ted Jenson, Mastering Engineer - Tim Cobb, Bass - Tim Ries, Woodwinds - Todd Levy, Clarinet - Tony Kadleck, Trumpet - Torrie Zito, Arranger - Torrie Zito, Conductor - Trudy Kane, Flute - Virgil Blackwell, Clarinet - Yuri Vodovoz, Violin
(P) 1999 G.K. Panayiotou, under exclusive license to Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Abe Appleman, Violin - Alan Kay, Clarinet - Andy Snitzer, Woodwinds - Ann Leathers, Violin - Avril Brown, Violin - Barry Finclair, Violin - Bob Carlisle, French Horn - Byron Stripling, Trumpet - Carol Landon, Viola - Carol Webb, Violin - Caryl Paisner, Acoustic Cello - Charlie Pillow, Woodwinds - Chris Komer, French Horn - Cole Porter, Composer - Cole Porter, Lyricist - Crystal Garner, Viola - Dave Mann, Woodwinds - Dave Taylor, Trombone - David Finck, Bass - David Tofani, Woodwinds - Diane Barere, Acoustic Cello - Diane Lesser, Oboe - Donna Tecco, Violin - Elena Barere, Violin - Ellen Westermann, Acoustic Cello - Enrico DiCecco, Violin - Frank Filipetti, Engineer - Frank Filipetti, Mixing Engineer - George Michael, Performer - George Michael, Producer - George Michael, Vocal - Herb Besson, Trombone - Jacqui Danilow, Bass - Jan Mullen, Violin - Jason Stasium, 2nd Engineer - Jean Ingraham, Violin - Jeanne LeBlanc, Acoustic Cello - Jeff Kievit, Trumpet - Jeff Lang, French Horn - Jeff Mironov, Guitar - Jim Hynes, Trumpet - Jim Ognibene, Clarinet - Jim Pugh, Trombone - John Clark, French Horn - John Moses, Clarinet - Jonathan Dinklage, Violin - Joyce Hammann, Violin - Judy Sugarman, Bass - Judy Witmer, Viola - Juliet Haffner, Viola - Karen Griffen, Flute - Katherine Fink, Flute - Ken Hitchcock, Woodwinds - Kim Laskowski, Bassoon - Laura Hamilton, Violin - Laura McGinniss, Violin - Laura Oatts, Violin - Lawrence Feldman, Woodwinds - Liz Lim-Dutton, Violin - Lorenz Hart, Composer - Lorenz Hart, Lyricist - Marcus Rojas, Tube - Marji Danilow, Bass - Mark Shuman, Acoustic Cello - Marti Sweet, Violin - Maryhelen Brennard, Viola - Maura Giannini, Violin - Mike Davis, Trombone - N/A, Composer - Nancy McAlhany, Violin - Pamela Sklar, Flute - Phil Ramone, Producer - Regis Iandiorio, Violin - Rich Dallesio, English Horn - Richard Locker, Acoustic Cello - Richard Rogers, Composer - Richard Rogers, Lyricist - Ricky Sortomme, Violin - Rob Mathes, Arranger - Rob Mathes, Conductor - Rob Mathes, Piano - Roger Rosenberg, Woodwinds - Scott Parker, 2nd Engineer - Shawn Pelton, Drums - Sheryl Henze, Flute - Stacey Shames, Harp - Steve Mazur, 2nd Engineer - Sue Pray, Viola - Ted Jenson, Mastering Engineer - Tim Cobb, Bass - Tim Ries, Woodwinds - Todd Levy, Clarinet - Tony Kadleck, Trumpet - Trudy Kane, Flute - Virgil Blackwell, Clarinet - Yuri Vodovos, Violin
(P) 1999 G.K. Panayiotou, under exclusive license to Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Album review
Unlike many covers albums, Songs from the Last Century is a cohesive, enjoyable diversion. With the help of co-producer Phil Ramone, George Michael has crafted a warm, intimate album built around a small combo of piano, guitar, bass, and drums. Orchestras, big bands, harps, and on one occasion, a rock band augment the basic combo, yet the flourishes never change the essential, close-knit nature of the group. For the first time ever, Michael sounds relaxed. He's lying back, singing songs he loves, not worrying about chart success, and the end result is quite fetching, even if it isn't perfect. The main flaw with Songs from the Last Century is that it's so smooth, it's occasionally a little sleepy, a trait that's emphasized by Michael's fairly predictable taste in covers -- "Brother Can You Spare a Dime," "My Baby Just Cares for Me," and "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," among others. Nevertheless, he does bring style and sophistication to these standards, even such often-covered yet still difficult tunes as "Wild as the Wind." When his selections are idiosyncratic -- whether it's a jazzy reading of "Roxanne," the brassy "Secret Love," the little-remembered "I Remember You," or a revelatory reading of "Miss Sarajevo," a song commonly dismissed as a U2 side project -- the album is delightful. Certainly, Songs from the Last Century isn't a major work; it's a way for Michael to decompress and have some fun, and the diehards who stuck with him through the turbulent '90s are likely to be charmed.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 10 track(s)
- Total length: 00:43:09
- Main artists: George Michael
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Sony Music UK
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
(P) 1999 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
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