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.
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.
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.
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) Peakposition Danish Albums (Hitlisten) 5 European Albums (Top 100) 2 Irish Albums (IRMA) 7 Japanese Albums (Oricon) 59 Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) 11
Year-end charts Chart (1999) Position Australian Albums (ARIA) 74 UK Albums (OCC) 18 Chart (2000) Position Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) 93 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) 39 Danish Albums (Hitlisten) 86 Dutch Albums (MegaCharts) 87 European Albums (Music & Media) 33 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) 64 UK Albums (OCC) 98
Certifications and sales
References