George Michael - Songs From The Last Century (1999)

Songs from the Last Century is the fourth album by singer George Michael, released on 13 December 1999. Co-produced by Phil Ramone, it was his first album of cover versions. It consists mainly of old jazz standards, plus new interpretations of more recent popular songs, such as "Roxanne" (originally by The Police) and "Miss Sarajevo" (originally by U2 with Luciano Pavarotti). "Roxanne" was released as a single in other countries except the United Kingdom.
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.

Track listing

01. "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?"  (E.Y. Harburg, Jay Gorney)  - 4:22
02. "Roxanne"  (Sting)  - 4:11
03. "You've Changed"  (Bill Carey, Carl Fischer)  - 4:25
04. "My Baby Just Cares for Me"  (Gus Kahn, Walter Donaldson)  - 1:45
05. "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"   (E. Maccoll)  - 5:19
06. "Miss Sarajevo"  (Clayton, Eno, Evans, Mullen, Hewson)  - 5:11
07. "I Remember You"  (John H. Mercer, Victor Schertzinger)  - 4:12
08. "Secret Love"  (Paul Webster, Sunny Fain)  - 2:39
09. "Wild Is the Wind"  (Dimitri Tiomkine, Ned Washington)  - 4:02
10. "Where or When"  (R.Rodgers, L. Hart) / "It's All Right with Me" (Instrumental)  (Cole Porter)  - 7:00  (Hidden track)

Credits
Vocals - George Michael
Acoustic Bass - David Finck
Bass - David Finck , Jacqui Danilow, Judy Sugarman, Marji Danilow, Tim Cobb
Bassoon - Kim Laskowski
Cello - Caryl Paisner, Diane Barere, Ellen Westerman, Jeanne LeBlanc, Mark Shuman, Richard Locker
Clarinet - Alan Kay, John Moses, Todd Levy, Virgil Blackwell
Clarinet [Bass] - Jim Ognibene, Virgil Blackwell
Concertmaster - Barry Filipetti, Elena Barere
Drums - Lewis Nash, Shawn Pelton
English Horn - Rich Dallesio
Flute - Karen Griffen, Katherine Fink, Pamela Sklar, Sheryl Henze, Trudy Kane
French Horn - Bob Carlisle, Chris Komer, Jeff Lang, John Clark
Guitar - Jeff Mironov
Harp - Stacey Shames
Oboe - Diane Lesser
Piano - Rob Mathes, Rob Mounsey
Trombone [Bass] - Dave Taylor, Herb Besson
Trombone [Tenor] - Jim Pugh , Mike Davis
Trumpet - Byron Stripling, Jeff Kievit, Jim Hynes, Tony Kadleck
Tuba - Marcus Rojas
Viola - Carol Landon, Crystal Garner, Judy Witmer, Juliet Haffner, Maryhelen Brennard, Sue Pray
Violin - Abe Appleman, Ann Leathers, Avril Brown, Barry Finclair, Carol Webb, Donna Tecco, Elena Barere, Liz Lim-Dutton, Enrico Dicecco, Jan Mullen , Jean Ingraham , Jonathan Dinklage, Joyce Hammann, Laura Hamilton, Laura McGinniss, Laura Oatts, Marti Sweet, Maura Giannini, Nancy McAlhaney, Regis Iandiorio, Ricky Sortomme, Yuri Vodovos
Woodwind - Andy Snitzer, Charlie Pillow, David Tofani, Dave Mann, Ken Hitchcock, Lawrence Feldman, Roger Rosenberg, Tim Ries
Mastered By - Ted Jenson
Mixed By [Assistant] - Jason Stasium, Steve Mazur
Mixed By, Recorded By – Frank Filipetti
Engineer [Assistant] – Scott Parker, Steve Mazur
Design - George Michael, Greg Jakobek
Arranged By, Conductor - Rob Mathes, Torrie Zito
Other [Management] - Andy Stephens
Other [Production Manager And Contractor] - Jill Dell'abate
Photography By - Andrew MacPherson 
Producer - George Michael, Phil Ramone

Companies, etc.
Record Company - Virgin Records America, Inc.
Recorded At - Right Track Recording
Mixed At - Right Track Recording
Mastered At - Sterling Sound

Notes
Release date: 13 December 1999
Recorded and mixed at: Right Track Studios, NYC 1999
Mastered at Sterling Sound, New York City, New York
Genre:  Pop Jazz
Length:  43:11
© 1999

Label - Virgin