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George Michael ‘Older’ reissue details emerge

Formats include $200+ super deluxe box set

By Paul Sinclair

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75

A listing on Rough Trade’s online shop in the USA confirms that the reissue of George Michael’s 1996 album Older is definitely happening this year and also offers some specifics.

Team GM told the world last May to expect something “very special” in 2021, regarding Older. We waited, but nothing happened. Then on 1 January 2022, the official George Michael account tweeted that “2022 marks an exciting year for George and his music and we can’t wait to share it all with you”.

Yesterday, two product listings appeared for the Older reissue on Rough Trade in the USA. They are as follows:

  • A “limited super deluxe edition” box set of Older that includes five CDs, three vinyl LPs, three 12-inch art prints and a 12-inch 48-page book called The Story of Older which has “contributions from key people who helped make the album”.
  • A 2LP vinyl edition of Older. This is a gatefold edition pressed on 180g vinyl, with the audio “beautifully remastered from the original tapes”.
The 8-disc Older super deluxe edition is listed on Rough Trade US at $233

There are no other formats listed, although clearly there will be other formats, which are likely to include a single CD remaster, and a vinyl-free, multi-disc CD package.

Let’s talk about that big super deluxe edition box set. For the first time, the album is pressed across two vinyl records which makes a lot of sense when you consider it’s only a minute or so short of a one hour running time. The third vinyl record in the box set is Upper, the bonus disc from the 2CD Older & Upper special edition that was released in December 1997, a full 19 months after the original album. Upper is only a six-track offering; it includes two non-album tracks – ‘You Know That I Want To’ and ‘Safe’ – radio versions of ‘Star People ’97’ and ‘The Strangest Thing ’97’ plus remixes of ‘Fastlove’ and ‘Spinning The Wheel’. It only has a running time of 28 minutes so it’s more like an EP, if we are being honest, so there would be scope to expand it, although I have a feeling that won’t be the case. The original CD had “interactive elements” which were very much a product of the time (lo res music videos, weblinks etc.).

What is more curious is the content on the five CDs in the box set. If we assume Older & Upper make up two of them, that still leaves three CDs for other content. While there were plenty of remixes at the time (particularly of Star People ’97) there definitely isn’t enough to fill three-and-a-half CDs worth. The Unplugged concert would have been perfect for this reissue but George inexplicably included that with the 2017 Listen Without Prejudice reissue which rules it out for Older. Fans will be hoping that George’s Estate have sanctioned some unreleased material (demos, alternative takes etc.) but that remains be to seen. It’s possible that one of the ‘CDs’ could well be a DVD or blu-ray (featuring promos, TV appearances, etc.) and is simply listed incorrectly on Rough Trade.

The 2LP vinyl edition is likely to be very popular

Even if the box does include a DVD or blu-ray element, I’d be very surprised if a surround sound edition of the album is offered in the big box. George had showed zero interest in ‘spatial audio’ with both Faith and LIsten Without Prejudice. The other point to make is that because the limited super deluxe edition has appeared on Rough Trade, we can conclude that it is not going to be exclusive to any George Michael online shop.

The super deluxe edition box set is listed at $233 in the USA – £177 at today’s exchange rate. That’s more than three times more expensive that the priciest edition (3CD+DVD) of Listen Without Prejudice. I’m still expecting a product that hits the £50-£70 price point (deluxe CD set, for example).

The fact that these details for Older have leaked, suggests an announcement is highly likely within the next week or so. There are no pre-order links available at this time except for the Rough Trade US listing for the 2LP set (the super deluxe is listed as ‘sold out’ which clearly isn’t the case, but there you go). Best advice is probably to wait until other retailers have this listed, when it’s officially announced, before committing to anything.

The Older reissue is slated for 8 July 2022, but that could well change. More information when we have it.

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75 Comments

75 thoughts on “George Michael ‘Older’ reissue details emerge”

  3. Really hoping this gets a release, I’m guessing everyone has seen the absolutely stupendous prices the original vinyl goes for at the moment – I’ve just checked Discogs and prices are over £500! And there have been takers at those prices. Glad I wasn’t one of them!. If there was a blu ray at 24/96 like symphonica I’d be a defo for vinyl and that.

  4. I’m hoping that, assuming the track listing as shown in the screenshot posted earlier is correct, this time the “unplugged” version of “Star People” won’t be censored this time, since the original Virgin B-side wasn’t.

  5. Sadly the error in issuing “Unplugged” as part of the “Listen Without Prejudice Vol 1” deluxe set ij 2017 has had a knock on effect on the forthcoming “Older” reissue box set. It would have made better sense in issuing any “Cover To Cover” CD or DVD extras from the 1991 tour with that “LWP Vol 1” set and then issue “Unplugged” from 1996 with any “Older” reissue. To also not include any unreleased material, such as “Moody” or “Tape Loop”, when very good bootleg versions already exist is also a mistake. But the biggest question is when will we get an official release of “Trojan Souls”? These sessions also have excellent leaked bootlegs of tracks such as “This Kind of Love” and “One Day I’ll Know”. With 2023 marking the anniversary of what have been Yog’s 60th birthday I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed.

  6. Majors should know very well that most people are not likely to buy vinyl+CD bundles. If there’s going to be a vinyl-less comprehensive release, count me in.

  7. This is amazing news. I can imagine getting the super limited deluxe edition, just need to save $$$. I got both the US and European versions of the CD + the Older & Upper CD when that limited edition came.

  10. Track listing is as expected. No unreleased items. At least they give us all the commercially released remixes and b-sides, that’s worth something. It would be interesting to do another interview with David Austin so we know what the thought process is behind these very average reissues. No demos, no outtakes, no original mixes, no unreleased tracks, etc. We know there are practically no unreleased tracks so that’s no surprise but demos, outtakes, etc should be fair game for a reissue of a hit record of a passed away mega star who was not prolific.

    1. Only unreleased completed track I know of is the ‘Tapeloop’ cover with Morcheeba. Should have gone to the effort to put this on at least. A number of demos floating around, with ‘Moody (Spinning the Wheel)’ being excellent with alternative lyrics. Unfinished/demos incl ‘So Damn Hard’ & ‘Night & Day’ from that period would have been great, but who owns/has these? Might be Andros so that might have been too much effort. Shame.
      Upper had no reason to be kept as is. 6 tracks? I would have gone for a definite flow on the track listing of the additional vinyl/CD (Upper/Downer side?), something like –
      Side A (Downer) – Safe, U know that I want To, Desafinado, I can’t make u Love me;
      Side B (Upper) – FastLove (Summer Mix), Tapeloop, I’m your Man 96, Star People 97, Strangest Thing 97.

      Also, Unplugged Blu-ray, Unplugged vinyl would have made this a must have. Instead, after all this wait, I have no interest in the deluxe set but will of course get the vinyl.

    1. Disappointing but expected. Those of us who have all the double CD singles wont really have to stretch for the box set (especially at that price). If they had put something exclusive in there, like at least the ‘Unplugged’ Blu-Ray or vinyl, then possibly, but all I’d be gaining is the ‘Upper’ Disc on vinly which is not a deal breaker. I’ll definitely be getting the vinyl. The album is a very clean/polished production so you wont be gaining much from a remaster on CD anyway.

      2. Agreed, nothing worth having if you have the CD singles. Shame, it’ll be good to have George’s music back in the news and celebrated but looks like my bank balance is safe.

    2. Thanks for posting the pic. Appears to have all the tracks from the singles. Noticed a typo (?) in that ‘Freedom ’93 (Live Version)’ is listed as ‘Freedom ’94 (Live Version)’ in the pic.

      Would be nice to get a future release ‘mopping’ up the non-album singles especially the vinyl only mixes (like for ‘Killer/Papa Was…’ and ‘Outside’).

      An ‘Unplugged’ video release would have been nice as several have mentioned. Hopefully that is done at some point.

      Hoping for a 5-CD release here. Don’t want/don’t want to pay for vinyl.

    1. Wouldn’t have been a bad idea actually. Give the box set some exclusive content worth getting it for. Like the Bowie sets have been doing. Even Unplugged on vinyl would have made this a tempting package.

  14. Paul aren’t we 5 days away from your George Michael “Make It Older” reissue news? Where are the shuttlecock and teeth whitening kit in this box?

  15. I don’t think you’ll be getting much more music if you have all the double CD single releases at the time (hopefully incl ‘Tapeloop’).
    I suspect these will “fill” 2 CDs, and the 3rd is likely to be an Unplugged DVD/blu-ray. Still, nice to have it all remastered and under one roof. However, for that price tag, might stick to the vinyl.

  16. VERY exciting news! Although by now George Michael funds are used to having to wait a long time and also being somewhat disappointed by reissues! This looks hopeful but it remains to be seen so I will await concrete news before I commit. I’m still mystified about the inclusion of Unplugged on the LWP reissue! I still think such a superb performance deserves a release in its own right – vinyl, CD, DVD, blu-ray – the full works. In the meantime I await news of the Older reissue with bated breath…

  17. I have seen some pics of the tracklist. Please please, don’t let this be the final tracklisting. As far as what i can see we’re getting the albums Older and Upper, the remixes and the non album and even (oh lord) a couple of unplugged tracks. No, nothing, nada unreleased material. ZIP. If this will be it i will utterly dissapointed. I’m sure Paul will get into this as soon as he has the info. I’m sure he will not be pleased.

    1. Sadly this is what I expect. Older hasn’t dated sound wise so can’t see any need for a remaster.

      I think those with a big interest in George could accept these release IF the estate were doing other stuff, at least Michael Jackson’s estate cobbled together unreleased tracks to make new albums.

      Where is Trojan Souls? Where are live albums? Where are the Wham reissues with extras?

  19. Could very well have an ‘Unplugged’ blu-ray as of course there has been no official video release. There are also quite a lot of bits/pieces floating around recorded before/during the Older period when George/Andros formed Aegean, probably recorded between spliffs! Some interesting stuff but doubt much was finished. Assume Andros has this “material”.
    George’s version of Morcheeba’s ‘Tapeloop’ destined for a b-side during this period is great and hopefully one of the unreleased tracks.

  20. There is at least one European site that listed both these variants on Saturday, not just Rough Trade US.
    I intially thought it was an early April’s fool.

  21. At least it appears that they are finally doing something. “Older” was a really good record that rewarded repeated listening. Although “Older” was huge in Europe (and did really amazing in the U.K.), I don’t recall it being quite as big in the U.S. compared to “LWP”, and that record was nowhere near as big as “Faith”. However, I came to love the album and will be in on this latest update.

    George was a complicated artist and there’s been word that he left a few projects half-finished. Obviously, Trojan Souls is the holy grail of sorts, but although I know there’s some in-studio footage, plus quite a bit of the project’s musical components were near completion, the biggest omission was most of his vocal tracks. The period between “LWP” and “Patience” was a rollercoaster for George personally and professionally, and while his estate is clearly mishandling his reissues, I also believe they really don’t know how to sort out his vault material. Perhaps Paul could come to the rescue ;)

    I would love to finally have a DVD / Blu-Ray video copy of the “Unplugged” performance, but I imagine that is a terribly complex rights issue between MTV / DreamWorks / Virgin / Aegean.

  22. Not my favourite George Michael album, but I’m happy for the fans they are finally doing this… BUT! I really hope for the fans sake they do a good job with this one and is going to be a strange one in a sense that if they are planning to add any TV appearances, what TV appearances did he even make during that era when Older was out? He only did the MTV unplugged show and the MTV Europe performance of Star People 97, that was it, from 1992 and later George was on a low profile unfortunately

  23. I saw the announcement on another forum and didn’t believe it. I’m super stoked but the price is crazy. I wouldn’t mind this album on vinyl. Buying a 5 CD box set would depend on the content, I guess we’ll see.

  24. I hope you are wrong about a surround mix, but you do of course make a very valid point that the GM camp has shown no interest up to this point. This is a pity; George’s music would be an excellent candidate for surround mixing. However, there does seem to be a bit of a push from the major labels recently for surround content on the streaming platforms. (For example, Elton’s Diamonds collection is now available in Atmos on the streaming platforms. Unfortunately there isn’t a physical version available. Perhaps a candidate for the SDE surround series?). Maybe with the current resurgence of interest in surround sound they’ll rethink their position.

  25. I just typed in George Michael Older into Google and there is link for Rough Trade US
    (Originally released in 1996, Older spent three weeks at Number 1 in the UK and spawned 6 singles including “Fastlove” and “Jesus To A Child.Genre: Rock-PopReleased: 07/08/22
    US$42.99 · ‎In stock)

    link doesn’t work…at the moment.

  26. If they do a simlar vesrion to the Listen Without Prejudice set (without vinyl) I will ceretainly grab one. This isn’t a big box set album for me, but I would be happy with the smaller box.

  27. Looks like it’s now been taken off RoughTrade website now. Assuming they may of jumped the gun and the GM estate maybe not happy as they not announced it as yet.

  28. Apologies for being off-topic, because I appreciate how starved George’s fans have been for quality definitive releases, but I’m getting worn-out waiting for news of the next Prince SDE. Paisley Park seem to be appropriating the management skills of George’s people.

    1. Think for Prince estate they been quite consistent and think we can wait a little longer either for Parade or D&P re-releases with hopefully super deluxe extended editions

  29. Surely there’s enough for three more CDs? Everything that appeared on any format of the six singles (that wasn’t in the LWP box), along with Five Live EP, Waltz Away Dreaming and everything on Outside and As (excluding Fantasy ‘98) plus A Moment With You.

    1. Why should they include the Five live EP, Outside and As on the Older reissue? Is not from that era at all so it wouldn’t make any sense

      1. @Andy123 Why on earth not? Where else would they go? Ideally, everything from a certain period needs to be on these reissues. I know that’s not now possible after Faith and LWP but in an ideal world, everything he ever released as a solo act should be included across all the reissues.

        1. Did his estate or David Austin mention anything about any future reissues for that to happen? They’ve done his 3 albums now, Patience?

          1. David Austin and the estate didn’t mention anything about Older until last year.

  30. I want to see it before I buy it. I’m still suffering through disappointment with the Listen Without Prejudice box set. I couldn’t even read the liner notes.

  31. “The other point to make is that because the limited super deluxe edition has appeared on Rough Trade, we can conclude that it is not going to be exclusive to any George Michael online shop”.

    This is good news though surely as it’ll mean the price will come crashing down within a few months? I cannot see anything in the above package that warrants a punt at this point, I wish these sets wouldn’t combine vinyl with CD as one doesn’t necessarily mean collectors want both. I do have the means to play vinyl but can’t stand the format and would prefer a CD and blu option only.

  32. Really looking forward to this release: I won’t bet on a strict timing or the presence of unreleased songs but “Older” is my favourite GM album so I will definitely buy at least one of the new formats

  33. I believe it when it releases, until then I’ll patiently and getting older doing that.
    A 5 cd package for a reasonable price would be a good compromise for the 177 pound collectors edition although it looks good and I want it.

  34. Great, can´t wait for it ! I was at the promo event when they present the album back in 1996 in Vienna, Austria. There were give aways and I nearly got one but failed. This album was a mega seller from George and is his most personal album. Sadly he didn´t tour at that time. I hope for unreleased studio stuff and hopefuly video material. George, you have been loved.

  36. I find it strange they way Team GM say “2022 marks an exciting year for George and his music”. An exciting year for “George”? Really? Fans of George and his music, yes. George himself, bit late for that.
    Yours,
    A Pedant.

    1. My thoughts exactly. If we were privy to the conversations had by the promotional people at the record companies I think we would be horrified at the callous nature of their thinking.
      Much like I am horrified at the price. I fear the custom for physical music will dwindle when what in effect is just a re-release which more than likely will have a lot of padding & unused space on the CDs can command £70 for five discs. Two CDs of a “lost” concert we have all heard? a Blu Ray with that mix we cannot do without. I think everyone visiting this page could do a better job than what we will get. We must all remember this is a great year for George.

    2. I would imagine (or hope) it’s just a lazy press release by some millennial PR office type who hasn’t a clue. Not that I’m ageist or against the youth but there does seem some severe fluff in sheer blogdom these days…

      1. Guide vocal? There is of course the actual duet floating around.
        The 2 hr raw video footage of those sessions filmed by Andros is amazing and gives an idea of what could have been. I wonder who owns all the Trojan Souls material?

  39. I’m anticipating disappointment because that’s what the GM estate has given us so far. For starters it will be delayed. Statistically that’s a 100% certain. Furthermore, those 5 cd’s are probably 2 cd’s and 3 DVD’s, the 3 DVD’s containing stuff like interviews, promo video’s, 3 concerts with practically the same track listing and one of the (disappointing) biographies. Whatever it contains, it won’t be any unreleased material.

    1. Well, they *did* include “Fantasy” on both the Faith and Listen Without Prejudice reissues, so it’s not as though there’s no precedent…

  41. “The Unplugged concert would have been perfect for this reissue but George inexplicably included that with the 2017 Listen Without Prejudice reissue which rules it out for Older. “

    Unless they include it again of course. Not relying too much on logic with his reissue campaign

    Or maybe it includes symphonica. :-/

      1. Paul I was actually waiting for your SDE announcement but came across these first. SDE is my master source for concrete info as always

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