Today marks the 38th anniversary of George Michael’s first solo single, ‘Careless Whisper’.
The song was co-written by George and his Wham! partner, Andrew Ridgeley when they both were just 17 years old. Although it was a solo single, the release was credited in some countries as Wham! featuring George Michael, and appeared on the Wham! album, ‘Make It Big’.
It was a #1 hit around the world, and has reportedly sold six million copies worldwide. It was Epic Records’ first single to sell over 1 million copies. It was also named Billboard’s #1 song of 1985.
When it reached #1 in the UK, it made George the first person to have a #1 as a solo artist and as a member of a band in the same year, and was George’s biggest-selling single in the UK of his entire career. The song also won the Ivor Novello Award for ‘Most Performed Work’ in 1985.
The song has been covered by many artists over the years, including Tamia, and Kenny G with Brian McKnight.
Notable Chart Positions:
- Australia: #1
- Canada: #1
- New Zealand: #3
- UK: #1
- US: #1
Music Video: