OLDER is George Michael's first album of original material since 1990's LISTEN WITHOUT PREJUDICE VOL.1, and is the first full-length release of the DreamWorks SKG label. Personnel: George Michael (vocals, various instruments, programming); Hugh Burns (acoustic guitar); John Themis, Danny Jacobs, Alan Ross (guitar); Chris Cameron (strings, Fender Rhodes electric piano, keyboards); Phil Smith, Chris Davis, Andy Hamilton (saxophone); John Thirkell, Stuart Brooks (trumpet, flugelhorn); Steve Sidwell (trumpet); Fayyaz Virji (trombone); David Austin, Jon Douglas, Dave Clews (keyboards); Pete Gleadall, Steve McNichol (programming); Jo (background vocals). Producers: George Michael, Jon Douglas. Engineers include: Chris Porter, Paul Gomersall, Ren Swan. Personnel: George Michael (keyboards, bass guitar, drums, programming); Jo (vocals); Danny Jacob, Danny Jacobs, John Themis, Alan Ross (guitar); Hugh Burns (acoustic guitar); Chris Cameron (strings, piano, Fender Rhodes piano, keyboards); Chris Davis , Andy (Stewart) Hamilton, Philip Smith, Andy Hamilton, Phil Smith (saxophone); John Thirkell, Stuart Brooks (trumpet, flugelhorn); Steve Sidwell (trumpet); Fayyaz Virji (trombone); Jon Douglas (keyboards, drums); David Austin, Dave Clews (keyboards); Andreas Georgiou (cymbals); David Clayton , Steve McNichol, Pete Gleadall (programming). Recording information: Sarm West Studio, London, England. Photographers: Andrew McPherson ; Brad Branson; Nick Knight. Arrangers: George Michael; Jon Douglas. If George Michael sold his soul to get out of his Sony contract, he must have found a new one in the DreamWorks studios. On his first album in six years--he spent the interim in court with his old employer, Sony--Michael's voice is velvet, and the tempos of his songs are mellow cloaks in which he wraps himself as he wanders up and down the smooth strip of soul. Most of the tunes are slow-burning, jazz-infused numbers, though there are a few notable exceptions: "Fastlove" is a playful disco send-up, and the last track, "Free," is a jazz instrumental turned into an ambient-dub track with record scratches and Middle Eastern overtones. "I'm looking older/But something good has happened to me," Michael croons on the title track. He's OLDER, and sounding better than ever.
