Symphonica (George Michael album)

Symphonica
Studio album with live tracks by George Michael
Released 14 March 2014 (2014-03-14)
Recorded 2011–12
Genre Pop
Length 64:14
Label Aegean, Virgin EMI
Producer Phil Ramone, George Michael, David Austin (exec.)[1]
George Michael chronology
Twenty Five
(2006)		 Symphonica
(2014)
Singles from Symphonica
  1. "Let Her Down Easy"
    Released: 4 February 2014[2]
  2. "Going To a Town"
    Released: 2014[3]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic60/100[4]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[5]
The Daily Telegraph[6]
The Guardian[7]
PopMatters(6/10)[8]
Rolling Stone[9]

Symphonica is the sixth album and first live album by English singer-songwriter George Michael, released on 14 March 2014 through Aegean and Virgin EMI Records. Symphonica is Michael's first album of new recordings since Patience (2004).[10]

Overview

The album contains mostly live versions of songs from his 2011–12 Symphonica Tour, including six of his own compositions (the rest being covers). The album was the final work by American producer Phil Ramone, who died in March 2013.[11] The lead single, Let Her Down Easy, debuted at number 53 on the UK singles chart in spite of little promotion. The album debuted at #1 on UK Charts and sold 49,989 in its first week. Patience, a further song from the tour which does not appear on the final album track listing, was available as a free download for one week only from Amazon.com in the UK to coincide with the album release.

Track listing

Symphonica – Standard version[12]
No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Through"  Georgios Panayiotou 5:09
2. "My Baby Just Cares for Me"  Walter Donaldson, Gustav Kahn 1:56
3. "A Different Corner"  Panayiotou 4:14
4. "Praying for Time"  Panayiotou 4:58
5. "Let Her Down Easy"  Sanandra Maitreya 3:50
6. "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"  James Miller 5:24
7. "Feeling Good"  Anthony Newley, Leslie Bricusse 3:15
8. "John and Elvis Are Dead"  Panayiotou, David Austin 4:31
9. "One More Try"  Panayiotou 5:14
10. "Cowboys and Angels"  Panayiotou 7:24
11. "Idol"  Elton John, Bernard Taupin 4:29
12. "Brother Can You Spare a Dime"  Edgar Harburg, Jay Gorney 4:51
13. "Wild Is the Wind"  Dimitri Tiomkin, Ned Washington 4:15
14. "You've Changed"  Bill Carey, Carl Fischer 4:44
Symphonica – Deluxe version[13]
No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Through"  Georgios Panayiotou 5:09
2. "My Baby Just Cares for Me"  Walter Donaldson, Gustav Kahn 1:56
3. "A Different Corner"  Panayiotou 4:14
4. "Praying for Time"  Panayiotou 4:58
5. "Let Her Down Easy"  Sanandra Maitreya 3:50
6. "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"  James Miller 5:24
7. "Feeling Good"  Anthony Newley, Leslie Bricusse 3:15
8. "John and Elvis Are Dead"  Panayiotou, David Austin 4:31
9. "Roxanne"  Gordon Sumner 4:20
10. "One More Try"  Panayiotou 5:14
11. "Going to a Town"  Rufus Wainwright 4:45
12. "Cowboys and Angels"  Michael 7:24
13. "Idol"  Elton John, Bernard Taupin 4:29
14. "Brother Can You Spare a Dime"  Edgar Harburg, Jay Gorney 4:51
15. "You Have Been Loved"  Panayiotou, Austin 5:41
16. "Wild Is the Wind"  Dimitri Tiomkin, Ned Washington 4:15
17. "You've Changed"  Bill Carey, Carl Fischer 4:44

Personnel

  • Laurence Anslow - Assistant Engineer
  • David Austin - Composer, Executive Producer, Mastering
  • Tom Bailey - Assistant Engineer
  • Chris Barrett - Assistant Engineer
  • Leslie Bricusse - Composer
  • Mike Brown - Guitar
  • Ben Butler - Guitar
  • Chris Cameron - Arranger, Keyboards, Musical Direction
  • Bill Carey - Composer
  • Fiona Cruickshank - Assistant Engineer
  • Danny Cummings - Percussion
  • Terence Trent D'Arby - Composer
  • Walter Donaldson - Composer
  • Frank Filipetti - Engineer
  • David Finck - Bass, Double Bass
  • Carl Fischer - Composer
  • Olga Fitzroy - Assistant Engineer
  • Niall Flynn - Engineer, Mastering, Pro-Tools
  • Geoff Foster - Engineer
  • Gordon Goodwin - Arranger
  • Jay Gorney - Composer
  • Laurence Greed - Assistant Engineer
  • Gavin Greenaway - Conductor
  • Simon Halfon - Design
  • Andy Hamilton - EWI, Keyboards, Saxophone
  • E.Y. "Yip" Harburg - Composer
  • Jay Henry - Vocals (Background)
  • Carlos Hercules - Drums
  • Henry Hey - Arranger, Musical Direction, Piano
  • James Jackman - Programming
  • Lincoln Jean-Marie - Vocals (Background)
  • Elton John - Composer
  • Lucy Jules - Vocals (Background)
  • Gus Kahn - Composer
  • Graham Kearns - Guitar
  • Shirley Lewis - Vocals (Background)
  • Ewan MacColl - Composer
  • Rob Mathes - Arranger, Conductor
  • Mark McLean - Drums
  • George Michael - Composer, Design, Primary Artist, Producer
  • Adam Miller - Assistant Engineer, Pro-Tools
  • Rob Mounsey - Arranger
  • Lea Mullen - Percussion
  • Anthony Newley - Composer
  • Phil Palmer - Guitar
  • Lori Perry - Vocals (Background)
  • Sharon Perry - Vocals (Background)
  • John Prestage - Assistant Engineer
  • Phil Ramone - Producer
  • Steve Sidwell - Conductor
  • Luke Smith - Keyboards
  • Ray Staff - Mastering
  • Symphonica Air Orchestra - Primary Artist
  • Symphonica US Orchestra - Primary Artist
  • Bernie Taupin - Composer
  • Dimitri Tiomkine - Composer
  • Caroline True - Photography
  • Steve Walters - Bass
  • Ned Washington - Composer
  • Torrie Zito - Arranger

Credits adapted from AllMusic.[14]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2014) Peak
position
scope="row" Australian Albums (ARIA)[15] 11
scope="row" Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[16] 7
scope="row" Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[17] 3
scope="row" Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[18] 4
scope="row" Croatian Foreign Albums (HDU)[19] 1
scope="row" Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[20] 2
scope="row" French Albums (SNEP)[21] 15
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[22] 6
scope="row" Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[23] 5
scope="row" Irish Albums (IRMA)[24] 1
scope="row" Italian Albums (FIMI)[25] 2
scope="row" Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[26] 2
scope="row" New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[27] 14
scope="row" Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[28] 33
scope="row" Polish Albums (ZPAV)[29] 1
scope="row" Portuguese Albums (AFP)[30] 8
scope="row" Scottish Albums (OCC)[31] 2
scope="row" Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[32] 16
scope="row" Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[33] 6
scope="row" UK Albums (OCC)[34] 1
scope="row" US Billboard 200[35] 60

Year-end charts

Chart (2014) Position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[36] 57
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[37] 49
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[38] 81
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[39] 86
Italian Albums (FIMI)[40] 97
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[41] 7
UK Albums (OCC)[42] 35

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Poland (ZPAV)[43] Platinum 20,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[44] Gold 100,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

  1. ↑ Release Date. "GeorgeMichael.com. Symphonica [Deluxe]". Store.georgemichael.com. Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  2. ↑ "George Michael unveils new single 'Let Her Down Easy' music video - Music News". Digital Spy. 2014-02-04. Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  3. ↑ http://www.ampya.com/news/Aktuell/George-Michael-mit-neuer-Single-Going-To-A-Town-SN108053/
  4. ↑ "Symphonica Reviews". Metacritic.com. Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  5. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen. "Symphonica - George Michael". AllMusic. All Media Network, LLC. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  6. ↑ McCormick, Neil (2014-03-13). "Kyle Minogue and George Michael: does age matter in pop?". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  7. ↑ Sullivan, Caroline. "George Michael: Symphonica review – 'Glides through songs like a pop swan'". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  8. ↑ James, Matt. "George Michael: Symphonica". PopMatters. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  9. ↑ Sheffield, Rob. "George Michael Symphonica". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  10. ↑ "George Michael Releases Piano Ballad 'Let Her Down Easy': Listen". Billboard. 2014-02-03. Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  11. ↑ "George Michael Returns With SYMPHONICA, First Album In Seven Years, Featuring Live... - NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/". Prnewswire.com. 2014-02-25. Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  12. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Symphonica by George Michael". Itunes.apple.com. 1963-06-25. Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  13. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Symphonica (Deluxe Version) by George Michael". Itunes.apple.com. 1963-06-25. Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  14. ↑ "Symphonica - George Michael Credits". AllMusic. All Media Network, LLC. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  15. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – George Michael – Symphonica". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  16. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – George Michael – Symphonica" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  17. ↑ "Ultratop.be – George Michael – Symphonica" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  18. ↑ "Ultratop.be – George Michael – Symphonica" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  19. ↑ "Top Stranih [Top Foreign]" (in Croatian). Top Foreign Albums. Hrvatska diskografska udruga. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  20. ↑ "Danishcharts.com – George Michael – Symphonica". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  21. ↑ "Lescharts.com – George Michael – Symphonica". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  22. ↑ "George Michael - Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  23. ↑ "Top 40 album DVD és válogatáslemez-lista – 2014. 12. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  24. ↑ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 13, 2014". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  25. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – George Michael – Symphonica". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  26. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – George Michael – Symphonica" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  27. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – George Michael – Symphonica". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  28. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – George Michael – Symphonica". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  29. ↑ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLIS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  30. ↑ "Portuguesecharts.com – George Michael – Symphonica". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  31. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  32. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – George Michael – Symphonica". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  33. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – George Michael – Symphonica". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  34. ↑ "George Michael | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  35. ↑ "George Michael – Chart history" Billboard 200 for George Michael. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  36. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 2014" (in Dutch). Ultratop & Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  37. ↑ "Rapports Annuels 2014" (in French). Ultratop & Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  38. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten - Album 2014" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  39. ↑ "Összesített album- és válogatáslemez-lista - chart-pozíció alapján - 2014" (in Hungarian). lightmedia. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  40. ↑ "FIMI - Classifiche Annuali 2014 "TOP OF THE MUSIC" FIMI-GfK: un anno di musica italiana" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Archived from the original on January 13, 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  41. ↑ "Jakie płyty Polacy kupowali najchętniej w 2014 roku – roczne podsumowanie listy OLiS" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  42. ↑ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 - 2014". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  43. ↑ "Polish album certifications – George Michael – Symphonica" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  44. ↑ "British album certifications – George Michael – Symphonica". British Phonographic Industry. Enter Symphonica in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
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