The Analog Kid lives for b-sides and non-album cuts! In this continuing series, I will share some of my favorite EPs and 12″ singles from over the years in their entirety. And since it’s digital, you don’t have to worry about correctly setting the turntable speed to 33⅓ or 45!
“Father Figure” is the song that finally forced The Analog Kid to admit something a little scary: I actually liked George Michael. I guess enough time has passed that I can confess to some private toe-tapping to “Freedom” back in high school, and maybe I did perform some pre-James Corden carpool karaoke to “Careless Whisper” (who didn’t?)– but it was the single release of “Father Figure” in early 1988 that really blew me away. And it still does– “Father Figure” is one of my favorite songs to perform with my ’80s band, although our version differs a bit from Michael’s (since he can actually, you know, sing).
“Father Figure” was the third single taken from 1987’s Faith LP, and the second from the album to reach the #1 position on the Billboard Hot 100 (the title track also hit #1, but “I Want Your Sex” petered out at #2). Unlike many of Michael’s other single releases, there were no extended remixes created for “Father Figure”– George did, however, release a fantastic instrumental on the U.S. 12″ single. I spent a good chunk of my morning removing all of the little pops and clicks from a new vinyl rip of that 12″, and I couldn’t wait to get it into your hands. Carpool karaoke away, my friends!
P.S. I know this post will make my baby’s green eyes shine, so this one is for her…
George Michael: Father Figure [U.S. 12″]
Columbia Records, 1987
*vinyl rip courtesy of The Analog Kid
1. “Father Figure” (George Michael)
2. “Love’s In Need Of Love Today” [Live] (Stevie Wonder)
Love’s In Need Of Love Today [Live]
3. “Father Figure” [Instrumental] (George Michael) *
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Bonus Tracks!
The first rule of The Analog Kid blog is that if you write about a song on the Analog Kid blog, you share the song on the Analog Kid blog.
Wham!: “Freedom” [Long Version] (George Michael)
From the Japanese 12″ Freedom
Epic/Sony Records, 1984
Freedom [Long Version] [Japanese 12″]
Wham!: “Careless Whisper” [Instrumental] (George Michael)
From the Japanese 12″ Careless Whisper
Epic/Sony Records, 1984
Careless Whisper [Instrumental]
George Michael: “Faith” [Instrumental] (George Michael)
From the U.K. 12″ Faith
Columbia Records, 1987
George Michael: “I Want Your Sex” [Monogamy Mix] (George Michael)
From the U.S. 12″ single I Want Your Sex
Columbia Records, 1987
Vinyl rip courtesy of The Analog Kid
I Want Your Sex [Monogamy Mix]
Stevie Wonder: “Love’s In Need Of Love Today” (Stevie Wonder)
From the album Songs In The Key Of Life
Tamla/Motown Records, 1976
Diamondbag: “Father Figure” (George Michael)
Recorded live at The Barley House in Dallas, TX on 10/12/2012
The Analog Kid 
“Petered out”? I see what you did there.
Not so fast Kid. Give me time to get my hair fixed up right, a few blonde streaks here and there, a can of Schwarzkoph spray. Where did I put my white blouse…
“Look at my butt! It’s the world’s most perfect butt. Scientists calibrate their instruments with it!”
I’ll fetch the butter…
As a teenaged girl in the 80s it was somewhat required that I love Wham and George Michael. Father Figure is one of my all time favorite GM songs. Love the instrumental!