The Singles: Echoes from the Edge of Heaven | ||||
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Compilation album by | ||||
Released | 7 July 2023 | |||
Recorded | 1982–1986 | |||
Length | 77:11 | |||
Label | Sony Music | |||
Producer |
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Wham! chronology | ||||
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The Singles: Echoes from the Edge of Heaven is the fourth compilation album by British pop duo Wham!, released on 7 July 2023 through Sony Music. It was released in a variety of formats in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the duo's formation, [1] with the standard physical and digital version containing the duo's singles in chronological order that were released from 1982 to 1986, with the exception of "Club Fantastic Megamix" (although it is included on the expanded version) and "Careless Whisper" (partially credited to Wham! in some regions upon release in 1984), [2] along with several B-sides. The expanded digital version adds 17 tracks, made up of different mixes of the singles, which are included across the separate singles in the CD and seven-inch vinyl box sets. [3] The compilation was released two days following the Netflix release of the 2023 documentary film Wham! [4]
Andrew Ridgeley stated that he "really enjoyed the process of reviewing our career from this point of time and getting a sense of how much fun it was", calling being part of Wham! "almost exclusively a joyful and positive period in both our lives. It had a beginning, middle, and an end – so it makes a great story". [1]
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Retropop Magazine | [2] |
Retropop Magazine stated that the compilation "brings together Wham!'s impeccable run of hit records" and also "showcas[es] Wham!'s knack for crafting and delivering hit after hit and scoring such tremendous worldwide success in just half a decade". [2]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do)" (from Fantastic , 1983) | Bob Carter | 3:31 | |
2. | "Young Guns (Go for It)" (from Fantastic, 1983) | Michael |
| 3:42 |
3. | "Bad Boys" (from Fantastic, 1983) | Michael |
| 3:21 |
4. | "Club Tropicana" (from Fantastic, 1983) |
|
| 4:30 |
5. | "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" (from Make It Big , 1984) | Michael | Michael | 3:53 |
6. | "Freedom" (from Make It Big, 1984) | Michael | Michael | 5:04 |
7. | "Last Christmas" (single version; from Music from the Edge of Heaven , 1986) | Michael | Michael | 4:25 |
8. | "Everything She Wants" (from Make It Big, 1984) | Michael | Michael | 5:30 |
9. | "I'm Your Man" (Non-album single: 1985, also from Music from the Edge of Heaven, 1986) | Michael | Michael | 4:06 |
10. | "The Edge of Heaven" (from Music from the Edge of Heaven, 1986) | Michael | Michael | 4:36 |
11. | "Where Did Your Heart Go?" (from Music from the Edge of Heaven, 1986) | Michael | 5:49 | |
12. | "Blue (Armed with Love)" | Michael | Michael | 3:55 |
13. | "A Ray of Sunshine" (instrumental remix) | Michael |
| 5:39 |
14. | "Freedom" (long mix) | Michael | Michael | 7:09 |
15. | "Everything She Wants" (remix) | Michael | Michael | 6:30 |
16. | "Battlestations" | Michael | Michael | 5:31 |
Total length: | 77:11 |
Chart (2023) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA) [5] | 26 |
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [6] | 35 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [7] | 9 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [8] | 4 |
Canadian Albums (Billboard) [9] | 33 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [10] | 10 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [11] | 12 |
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ) [12] | 39 |
Irish Albums (IRMA) [13] | 12 |
Italian Albums (FIMI) [14] | 56 |
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [15] | 22 |
Polish Albums (ZPAV) [16] | 73 |
Portuguese Albums (AFP) [17] | 4 |
Scottish Albums (OCC) [18] | 2 |
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) [19] | 35 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [20] | 17 |
UK Albums (OCC) [21] | 2 |
US Billboard 200 [22] | 31 |
Greatest Hits is a greatest hits album by English rock band the Cure. It was first released in Japan on 7 November 2001, before being released in the UK and Europe on 12 November and then in the US the day after. The band's relationship with longtime label Fiction Records came to a close, and the Cure were obliged to release one final album for the label. Lead singer Robert Smith agreed to release a greatest hits album under the condition that he could choose the tracks himself. The band also recorded a special studio album released as a bonus disc to some versions of the album. The disc, titled Acoustic Hits, consists of the eighteen songs from the North American release re-recorded using acoustic instruments.
"Last Christmas" is a song by British pop duo Wham! Written and produced by George Michael, it was released on 3 December 1984 via CBS Records internationally and as a double A-side via Epic Records with "Everything She Wants" in several European countries. The song has been covered by many artists since its original release, most notably by Whigfield, Crazy Frog, Billie Piper, Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande.
Andrew John Ridgeley is a British singer, songwriter, and record producer, best known for his work in the 1980s in the musical duo Wham!.
Wham! were an English pop duo formed in Bushey in 1981. The duo consisted of singer-songwriter George Michael and instrumentalist Andrew Ridgeley. They were one of the most successful pop acts during the 1980s, selling more than 30 million certified records worldwide from 1982 to 1986.
Make It Big is the second studio album by English pop duo Wham!, released in 1984. In comparison to their earlier work, Wham! had more control over the album's production and Michael would also be credited as a producer. The album was a commercial success, hitting number one in both the US and the UK and spawning four singles, all reaching the top three in the US and the UK.
"Club Tropicana" is a single by English pop duo Wham!, released on 23 July 1983 on Innervision Records. It was written by members George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley.
Fantastic is the debut studio album by English pop duo Wham!, released on 1 July 1983. It reached number one on the UK Albums Chart. It included the previously released singles "Young Guns", "Wham Rap!" and "Bad Boys". "Club Tropicana" was released as a single to coincide with the album's release. Although not on the album, "Club Fantastic Megamix" was released against the band's wishes by Innervision soon after Fantastic, and whilst they were in proceedings to leave the label.
"Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" is a song by the English duo Wham!, first released as a single in the UK on 14 May 1984. It became their first UK and US number one hit. It was written and produced by George Michael. The single was certified platinum in the US, which at the time commemorated sales of over two million copies. The music video features Michael and Ridgeley wearing oversized message T-shirts created by Katharine Hamnett, starting a craze covered in the 2002 VH1 series I Love the 80s.
"The Edge of Heaven" is a song by English pop duo Wham!, released on Epic Records in 1986. It was written and produced by George Michael, one half of the duo, and was promoted in advance as Wham!'s farewell single.
"Wham Rap! " is the debut single by English pop duo Wham! on Innervision Records, released on 16 June 1982. It was written by Wham! members George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley.
"A Different Corner" is a song written and performed by George Michael that was released on Epic Records in 1986.
The Final is a greatest hits album released in 1986 to summarise the career of English pop duo Wham!. The album was not initially released in North America, where the album Music from the Edge of Heaven was released instead. Six songs from that album appear on this compilation. The compilation album coincided with the farewell concert of the same name on 28 June 1986, at Wembley Stadium.
Twenty Five is the second compilation album by George Michael released in the UK on 13 November 2006, celebrating the 25th anniversary of his music career. It was released on 13 November 2006 by Sony BMG. It debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart and number 23 on the Billboard 200, and it reached the top 20 on most other album charts. After Michael's death in December 2016, the album re-entered the Billboard 200 at a new peak position of number 12.
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