Twenty Five (album)

Last updated

Twenty Five
TwentyFive Cover.jpg
Greatest hits album by
Released13 November 2006 (2006-11-13)
Recorded1984–2006
Genre Pop
Length
  • 78:21 (disc 1)
  • 77:41 (disc 2)
  • 71:05 (disc 3)
Label Sony BMG
Producer George Michael
George Michael chronology
Patience
(2004)
Twenty Five
(2006)
Symphonica
(2014)
Singles from Twenty Five
  1. "An Easier Affair"
    Released: 3 July 2006
  2. "This Is Not Real Love"
    Released: 6 November 2006
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
PopMatters (8/10) [2]
The Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]

Twenty Five is the second compilation album by English singer-songwriter George Michael released in the UK on 13 November 2006, [4] celebrating the 25th anniversary of his music career. [5] It was released on 13 November 2006 by Sony BMG. [6] It debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart [7] and number 23 on the Billboard 200, [8] 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. [9]

Contents

The album mostly contains songs from Michael's solo career but also from his earlier days with Wham!. The album is sold in two formats: a 2-CD set and a limited edition 3-CD set. The 2-CD set contains 29 tracks, including four recorded with Wham! and three new songs: "An Easier Affair", "This Is Not Real Love" (a duet with the English singer Mutya Buena) and a new version of "Heal the Pain", recorded with Paul McCartney. The limited edition 3-CD version contains an additional 14 lesser-known tracks, including one with Wham! and another new song called "Understand".

The 2-CD version was released in the United States on 1 April 2008, [10] with two changes: "Feeling Good" replaced the Wham! track "Freedom", and "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" (from Songs from the Last Century ) replaced "Round Here", a track from Patience that was not released as a single in the US.

A 3-CD limited deluxe version was released in the United States exclusively by Best Buy. The track listing for the third CD is the same as the international version, but unlike the 2-CD US version, it includes "Freedom" instead of "Feeling Good". The 3-CD version is packaged in a digipak. It includes a 36-page colour booklet with lyrics for every track, along with screen shots from the videos for most of the tracks on the first two CDs.

In 2010, a special tour edition of the album was released in Australia to coincide with Michael's short three date George Michael Live in Australia tour. The track listing itself contained the same tracks as the international version alongside a bonus third disc. A Twenty Five DVD was also released.

Track listing

Disc 1: For Living

For LivingInternational edition
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
1."Everything She Wants" (12" remix) Make It Big (original version)6:33
2."Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go"Make It Big3:52
3."Freedom"Make It Big5:20
4."Faith" Faith 3:13
5."Too Funky" (single version)Non-album single3:45
6."Fastlove" Older 5:27
7."Freedom! '90" Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 6:30
8."Spinning the Wheel"Older6:09
9."Outside" Ladies & Gentlemen 4:44
10."As" (with Mary J. Blige)Ladies & Gentlemen4:42
11."Freeek!" (single version) Patience ("Freeek! '04")4:33
12."Shoot the Dog"Patience5:08
13."Amazing"Patience4:24
14."Flawless (Go to the City)" (vs. The Ones – radio edit)Patience (original version)4:50
15."An Easier Affair"New recording4:36
For LivingUS edition
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
3."Feeling Good"New recording2:54
For LivingJapanese bonus track
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
16."Kissing a Fool"Faith4:35

Disc 2: For Loving

For LovingInternational edition
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
1."Careless Whisper" (single edit)Make It Big (extended version)5:00
2."Last Christmas" (single edit) The Final (Pudding Mix)4:27
3."A Different Corner" (single edit)The Final4:03
4."Father Figure"Faith5:37
5."One More Try"Faith5:53
6."Praying for Time"Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 14:41
7."Heal the Pain" (with Paul McCartney)New recording4:43
8."Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (with Elton John – live) Duets 5:47
9."Jesus to a Child"Older6:49
10."Older"Older5:32
11."Round Here"Patience5:55
12."You Have Been Loved"Older5:28
13."John and Elvis Are Dead"Patience4:24
14."This Is Not Real Love" (with Mutya)New recording4:54
For LovingUS edition
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
11."The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" Songs from the Last Century 5:19
For LovingJapanese bonus track
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
15."Club Tropicana" Fantastic 4:28

Disc 3: For the Loyal

For the LoyalAll deluxe editions
No.TitleSourceLength
1."Understand"New recording5:55
2."Precious Box"Patience7:38
3."Roxanne"Songs from the Last Century4:10
4."Fantasy""Waiting for That Day" B-side5:02
5."Cars and Trains"Patience5:51
6."Patience"Patience2:53
7."You Know That I Want To""Spinning the Wheel" B-side4:32
8."My Mother Had a Brother"Patience6:19
9."If You Were There"Make It Big3:43
10."Safe""Spinning the Wheel" B-side4:25
11."American Angel"Patience4:08
12."My Baby Just Cares for Me"Songs from the Last Century1:43
13."Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" (live) Pavarotti & Friends for Cambodia and Tibet4:27
14."Please Send Me Someone (Anselmo's Song)"Patience5:25
15."Through"Patience4:54

2010 Australian tour edition

Bonus disc
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
1."Kissing a Fool"Faith4:34
2."Feeling Good"New recording2:54
3."My Baby Just Cares for Me"Songs from the Last Century1:46
4."Roxanne"Songs from the Last Century4:11
5."Club Tropicana"Fantastic4:29
6."I'm Your Man" (Extended Stimulation)The Final6:52

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [57] 2× Platinum140,000^
Belgium (BEA) [58] Gold25,000*
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [59] 4× Platinum80,000
France (SNEP) [60] Gold75,000*
Germany (BVMI) [61] Gold100,000
Greece (IFPI Greece) [23] Gold7,500^
Hungary (MAHASZ) [62] 2× Platinum12,000^
Ireland (IRMA) [63] 3× Platinum45,000^
Italy (FIMI) [64] Gold25,000
New Zealand (RMNZ) [65] Gold7,500^
Poland (ZPAV) [66] 2× Platinum40,000*
Portugal (AFP) [67] Gold10,000^
Russia (NFPF) [68] Gold10,000*
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [69] Gold15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [70] 5× Platinum1,500,000
Summaries
Europe (IFPI) [71] Platinum1,000,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

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