THROWBACK THURSDAY: FAITH - GEORGE MICHAEL. THE #1 ALBUM OF 1988

George Michael was known for a few things: 1) Being the lead singer of Wham! 2) His flowing, blond locks and 3) being straight. In 1987 all of that changed one of those things changed. George Michael officially went solo. His very first solo album, Faith, was no fucking joke, y'all. Faith spawned six top 5 songs on the Hot 100 and stayed at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart for a non-consecutive 12 weeks. It went on to be the biggest selling album of 1988 and the first time an artist had the #1 album and #1 song of the year (Faith and it's title track) since Simon & Garfunkle in 1970. It's first single, I Want Your Sex, hit #2 on the Billboard US Hot 100 prior to the album's release date (It was also included on the Beverly Hills Cop II Soundtrack) and then Faith, Father Figure, One More Try and Monkey all hit #1. The sixth and final single, Kissing a Fool, hit #5 on the Hot 100 in late 1988. Yes, George Michael took a Sinatra-like jazz song to #5 on the charts in 1988. Suck on that, Buble! The album also became the very first by a white solo artist to hit #1 on the US R&B charts. Buble, you may also suck on that, but it's less suitable for you. Faith won Album of the Year at the 31st Annual Grammy Awards. George won Favorite Artist (Pop AND R&B) and Favorite Album (R&B) at the American Music Awards that year as well. Faith was the #1 single of 1988, One More Try was #11, Father Figure was #27, Monkey was #45, and Kissing a Fool was #91. I Want Your Sex was the #24 song of 1987. The album is considered one of the best of the 80s and certainly one of the best solo debut albums of all time, says me. George later went into hiding somewhat, not appearing in his videos or making appearances for his next album, because there was SOOOOOO much media attention on him during this time. Regardless, Faith is a pop classic by any standard and most of it really stands the test of time. I have to say that Father Figure is one of my favorite songs of all time. It is so sexy and so lush that I get chills every time I hear it. Listen below and watch George in all his 80s hunk glory in the videos for each single. He was SOOOOO hot, you guys! Faith was a monster album and you are required to like it.