Wham! - Make It Big (25th Anniversary Edition)

Released 25 years ago this week (5 November 1984) in the UK, George and Andrew's second and final proper album was the one that broke them in the States. As with their debut set Fantastic, the album consisted of only eight tracks, although half of those exceeded the five minute mark. Eyebrows were also raised at the inclusion of Careless Whisper which had been a much trumpeted George Michael solo single a few months earlier, although it was the only track on this album for which Andrew Ridgeley received a writing credit. Also included were the duo's two chart topping singles of that year, Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go and Freedom, plus their next single Everything She Wants (released shortly after the album as a double A-side with Last Christmas) and a cover of the Isley Brothers' If You Were There.

The original UK LP release had no text at all on the front cover.

The US release dispensed with such subtlety.

The Luxury Gap's 25th anniversary edition includes five bonus tracks:

• Last Christmas (Pudding Mix) - Released as a festive single a month after the album, as a double A-side with...
• Everything She Wants (Remix) - This remix was released in January 1985 in an attempt to prolong the chart life of the single.
• Freedom (Extended Version) - One of surprisingly few Wham! extended 12" mixes.
• Careless Whisper (7" Version) - Having said that, the album included the extended 12" mix of George's solo debut. This is the 7" mix, itself a tiny bit over five minutes in length.
• Everything She Wants '97 - A second remix for the track, this one was created as a bonus track for 1997's If You Were There - The Best Of Wham!

Free music - Wham! - Make It Big (25th Anniversary Edition)

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