We have again been commissioned to scan some truly extraordinary footage from the George Michael library, released in 1986.
The film is unique in that it was shot entirely on Kodak Negative Black and White 5231 stock which was used on the Oscar winning movies “Schindlers List” and “Raging Bull” the stock produced a stunning look that was a delight to scan and deliver. Sadly Kodak discontinued the stock in 2010.
At the time of its release in March 1986, Michael was still a member of pop duo Wham(the song is included on Wham!’s album Music from the Edge of Heaven only released in Japan and North America, as well as their compilation album The Final, released worldwide), though he and partner Andrew Ridgeley had announced that they would split in the summer after a farewell single, album and concert. Michael had already enjoyed a solo number one on the UK singles chart in 1984 with “Careless Whisper”, which was credited as Wham! featuring George Michael in the US.
After radio DJ Simon Bates first aired “A Different Corner” on Radio 1, he rated the song so highly that he immediately played it again from the beginning. Michael went back to the top of the UK chart with “A Different Corner”, becoming the first solo act in the history of the UK chart to reach number one with his first two releases, although he was hardly an unknown or new act on either occasion due to his previous hits with Wham!. The song reached number 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100 thus becoming the first single credited solely to Michael to become an American top-ten hit which was enough to make American executives at Epic Records confident that Michael would be viable as a solo artist and helped get the gears in motion for his solo album debut Faith.
The song was also remixed for his compilation Ladies and Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael. This version omitted the guitar and Michael’s background vocals during the instrumental break.
The song was performed by Chris Martin as part of a tribute to Michael during th2017 Brit Awards.
A note on the back of the sleeve proclaims, “This record is dedicated to a memory.”
