Twenty Five (album)

''Twenty Five'' is a greatest hits 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.

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 British 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, 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 for his 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

International release

Disc 1: ''For Living''

# "Everything She Wants (12" remix)" – 6:33 original version on Wham!'s album ''Make It Big''
# "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" – 3:52 from Wham!'s album ''Make It Big''
# "Freedom" – 5:20 from Wham!'s album ''Make It Big''
# "Faith" – 3:15 from ''Faith''
# "Too Funky" (Single Version) – 3:46 Extended Version appears on ''Red Hot + Dance''
# "Fastlove" – 5:28 from ''Older''
# "Freedom! '90" – 6:30 from ''Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1''
# "Spinning the Wheel" – 6:09 from ''Older''
# "Outside" – 4:44 from '' Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael''
# " As" (with Mary J. Blige) – 4:43 from ''Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael''
# "Freeek!" (2002 single version) – 4:32 remixed version "Freeek! 04" appears on ''Patience''
# "Shoot the Dog" – 5:08 from ''Patience'' (non-USA release)
# " Amazing" – 4:25 from ''Patience''
# "Flawless (Go to the City)" (vs. The Ones) (Radio Edit) – 4:50 original version from ''Patience''
# " An Easier Affair" – 4:38 Previously unreleased
# "Kissing a Fool" – 4:34 from ''Faith'' / Japanese bonus track

Disc 2: ''For Loving''

#"Careless Whisper" (Single Edit) – 5:04 original version from Wham!'s album ''Make It Big''
#"Last Christmas" (Single Edit) – 4:27 original version from Wham!'s album ''The Final''
#"A Different Corner" (Single Edit) – 4:03 from Wham!'s ''The Final''
#"Father Figure" – 5:40 from ''Faith''
#" One More Try" – 5:53 from ''Faith''
#"Praying for Time" – 4:41 from ''Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1''
#" Heal the Pain" (with Paul McCartney) – 4:43 Previously unreleased version
#"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (with Elton John) – 5:48 from John's album ''Duets''
#"Jesus to a Child" – 6:50 from ''Older''
#"Older" – 5:34 from ''Older''
#"Round Here" – 5:55 from ''Patience''
#"You Have Been Loved" – 5:28 from ''Older''
#"John and Elvis Are Dead" – 4:23 from ''Patience''
#"This Is Not Real Love" (with Mutya) – 4:56 Previously unreleased
#"Club Tropicana" – 4:28 from Wham!'s album ''Fantastic'' / Japanese bonus track

Disc 3: ''For the Loyal'' (limited edition only)

# "Understand" – 5:56
# "Precious Box" – 7:36
# " Roxanne" – 4:10
# "Fantasy" – 5:02
# "Cars and Trains" – 5:51
# "Patience" – 2:52
# "You Know That I Want To" – 4:32
# "My Mother Had a Brother" – 6:19
# "If You Were There" – 3:43
# "Safe" – 4:25
# "American Angel" – 4:08
# " My Baby Just Cares for Me" – 1:43
# "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" – 4:27 (Performed at "Pavarotti and Friends")
# "Please Send Me Someone (Anselmo's Song)" – 5:25
# "Through" – 4:52

Digital download version (2 bonus tracks and 4 videos)

# " I'm Your Man" – 6:52
# "Edith & The Kingpin" – 3:41
# "I'm Your Man" – 3:59 (video)
# "John and Elvis Are Dead" – 4:23 (video)
# "An Easier Affair" – 4:31 (video)
# "Father Figure" – 5:34 (video)

North American release

Disc 1: ''For Living''

# "Everything She Wants (12" remix)" – 6:33 original version on Wham!'s album ''Make It Big''
# "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" – 3:52 from Wham!'s album ''Make It Big''
# "Feeling Good" – 2:54 Previously unreleased
# "Faith" – 3:15 from ''Faith''
# "Too Funky" – 3:46 from ''Red Hot + Dance''
# "Fastlove" – 5:28 from ''Older''
# "Freedom! '90" – 6:30 from ''Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1''
# "Spinning the Wheel" – 6:09 from ''Older''
# "Outside" – 4:44 from '' Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael''
# " As" (with Mary J. Blige) – 4:43 from ''Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael''
# "Freeek!" – 4:32 from ''Patience''
# "Shoot the Dog" – 5:08 from ''Patience''
# " Amazing" – 4:25 from ''Patience''
# "Flawless (Go to the City)" (vs. The Ones) – 4:50 from ''Patience''
# " An Easier Affair" – 4:38 Previously unreleased

Disc 2: ''For Loving''

#"Careless Whisper" – 5:04 from Wham!'s album ''Make It Big''
#"Last Christmas" – 4:27 from Wham!'s album ''Music from the Edge of Heaven''
#"A Different Corner" – 4:03 from Wham!'s ''Music from the Edge of Heaven''
#"Father Figure" – 5:40 from ''Faith''
#" One More Try" – 5:53 from ''Faith''
#"Praying for Time" – 4:41 from ''Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1''
#" Heal the Pain" (with Paul McCartney) – 4:43 Previously unreleased
#"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (with Elton John) – 5:48 from John's album ''Duets''
#"Jesus to a Child" – 6:50 from ''Older''
#"Older" – 5:34 from ''Older''
#"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" – 5:19 from ''Songs from the Last Century''
#"You Have Been Loved" – 5:28 from ''Older''
#"John and Elvis Are Dead" – 4:23 from ''Patience''
#"This Is Not Real Love" (with Mutya) – 4:56 Previously unreleased

Disc 3: ''For the Loyal'' (Best Buy exclusive)

# "Understand" – 5:56
# "Precious Box" – 7:38
# "Roxanne" – 4:11
# "Fantasy" – 5:03
# "Cars and Trains" – 5:51
# "Patience" – 2:53
# "You Know That I Want To" – 4:32
# "My Mother Had a Brother" – 6:20
# "If You Were There" – 3:44
# "Safe" – 4:25
# "American Angel" – 4:09
# "My Baby Just Cares for Me" – 1:43
# "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" – 4:27 (performed at Pavarotti & Friends)
# "Please Send Me Someone (Anselmo's Song)" – 5:25
# "Through" – 4:55

2010 Australian release

Disc 3: ''Bonus 2010 Australian Tour Disc''

# "Kissing A Fool" – 4:34
# "Feeling Good" – 2:54
# "My Baby Just Cares For Me" – 1:46
# "Roxanne" – 4:11
# "Club Tropicana" – 4:29
# "I'm Your Man (Extended Stimulation)" – 6:52

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Twenty Five (Album)
2006 greatest hits albums
George Michael albums