Faith (George Michael album)

By 1986, Michael had spent five years as the lead singer of the popular duo Wham! and had grown tired of accusations that the group, which featured his best friend Andrew Ridgeley, was nothing more than a teenybopper group despite the serious subject matter that was included on albums such as Fantastic and Make It Big. After the success of Make It Big, Michael had grown weary of continuing the group, and expressed to Ridgeley the desire that they should split up. A decision was made that the group would dissolve following the end of a tenure at Wembley Stadium for what was titled the Final. Following the split, Michael began to work on songs that would eventually make his first solo album, which would be titled Faith.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-01-14-ca-36257-story.html|title=George Michael's Got 'Faith' and Lots More|last1=GREIN|first1=PAUL|date=14 January 1988|website=Los Angeles Times}} Michael was inspired by his contemporaries Michael Jackson and Prince: "I absolutely wanted to be in the same stratosphere as [Jackson and Prince], definitely. I'd gone from, a couple of years before, being perfectly happy with being on Top of the Pops, to thinking, 'I can do what Michael Jackson can do.' I mean, he'd just done Thriller for fucks sake! I wouldn't have the guts now. I wanted to be in that vein but, mostly, I wanted to make music as good as theirs."{{Cite web|url=https://gmforever.com/mark-goodier-interview-with-george-michael-2010-part-2/|title = Mark Goodier Interview with George Michael (2010) | Part 2}}

The album took over a year to make.{{cite magazine|title=George Michael: Act of Faith|first=Jon|last=Bowermaster|magazine=US Weekly|publication-date=May 30, 1988|url=https://gmforever.com/george-michael-keeps-the-faith-interview-in-us-weekly-1988/}} The first songs to be put together for the album were "I Want Your Sex (Part 1)" and "Look at Your Hands" (working title "Betcha Don't Like It"), recorded in August and September 1986 respectively, at Sarm West Studios in London.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/the-second-coming-of-george-michael-103627/|title=The Second Coming Of George Michael|first=David|last=Fricke|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=20 November 1986|access-date=28 December 2020}} However, it wasn't until February 1987—after six months of little activity—that recording had properly started,{{cite magazine|title=Everything He Wants|first=David|last=Jensen|author-link=David Jensen|magazine=No.1 Magazine|publication-date=February 14, 1987|url=https://gmforever.com/george-michael-on-aretha-franklin-solo-album-and-aids-benefit-1987/}} this time at the Puk Studios facility, located near Randers, Denmark. The lack of press activity there proved it to be a comfortable environment for Michael to work in without harassment. Songs were usually written by Michael bit by bit in the studio, often with the aid of technology such as drum machines to help create basic rhythms; he would then develop ideas further from there. Rather than using a live rhythm section (as was the case on Wham!'s Make It Big), each instrument was overdubbed in the main studio. Michael would use session musicians to help realise his musical ideas, otherwise he'd try playing a lot (if not, all) of the parts himself, as was the case on "I Want Your Sex (Part 1)", "Hard Day" and "Monkey". The recording sessions at Puk, however, ended in late May shortly after the recording of the title track, "Faith", owing to Michael beginning to suffer from a bout of cabin fever, according to engineer Chris Porter. Sessions later resumed at Sarm West, where the latter stages of production would take place.

In addition to playing various instruments on the album, he wrote and produced every track on the recording except for one, "Look at Your Hands", which he co-wrote with David Austin. A contemporary "black" pop-R&B album, Faith showcases Michael's vocals in a new style mode. Its songs are littered with introspective lyrics, which generated controversies about Michael's personal relationships at that time. The album comprises many musical styles including soul ("Father Figure", "One More Try"), rock ("Look at Your Hands", "Faith", "Hand to Mouth"), funk ("Monkey", "Hard Day") and jazz ("Kissing a Fool").

Some of the material was more graphic than Michael's previous efforts with Wham! One such song was "I Want Your Sex", which had three parts: the first part was titled "Rhythm 1: Lust", which was the version that would eventually be released as a single and featured electro funk influences; the second part was titled "Rhythm 2: Brass in Love", which mixed a more instrumentally-based funk live instrumentation with a smoother R&B arrangement during the verses; the third part, which was edited to be the final song on the album, was titled "Rhythm 3: A Last Request", featuring a jazz-influenced quiet storm and R&B sound combined with lyrics telling of Michael drunkenly trying to bring his lover to his bed.

{{Quote box

| width = 250px

| align = right

| quote = {{resizediv|1=Michael's liner notes in the booklet:

"These songs are the result of the last two years of my life. They are dedicated to my family and friends, whose loyalty and time are more important to me than ever before.

Love as always,

George"{{cite web|title=Image of Faith booklet|url=https://img.discogs.com/NfWcmqrA-bFXneRUH0RE0dd5oKc=/fit-in/600x627/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-2307196-1352491870-3908.jpeg.jpg|website=Discogs|access-date=29 December 2016}}}}

}}

The title track began with an organ fanfare that was actually the music to Wham!'s "Freedom" played as if in a cathedral. After this, the song featured a rockabilly sound similar to Bo Diddley while Michael added his own style with his vocals. "Father Figure" originally was a dance-styled production until Michael removed the snare drums from it and kept it that way because he loved what he heard, making the song a mid-tempo R&B ballad. "One More Try" was a soul song in the tradition of songs by Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder; its lyrics tell of a man who pushes his lover away out of fear of repeating past relationships, only to accept the invitation in the end.

"Hard Day", much like the first two parts of "I Want Your Sex", was inspired by funk. The social commentary song "Hand to Mouth" had a slight pop and folk approach while a similar social commentary song, "Look at Your Hands", co-written by Michael and David Austin, produced a pop song with rock elements featuring a piano and saxophone. "Monkey" returns to the funk influences of some of the other songs. A remix of the song by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis brings a new jack swing approach to the original. "Kissing a Fool" is a jazz-influenced ballad with lyrics solemnly describing a breakup.

The synthesizers used by Michael on the album include the Yamaha DX7, Roland S-50, Roland D-50 and Roland Juno-106 (used for most synthesized bass parts and strings). Drum machines were a LinnDrum (Michael's main drum machine on the album—not the Linn 9000), Roland TR-808 and a Yamaha RX-5, while drum parts were played on a Pearl drum kit ("Look at Your Hands") and Roland Octapad. Engineer Chris Porter's Greengate DS3 sampler was sometimes used in conjunction the Linn for certain drum sounds, although the Linn's sounds were what Michael preferred. Non-synthesized parts were played by Michael on a Fender Precision Bass.{{cite magazine|title=George Michael: Artist or Airhead?|first=Rob|last=Tannenbaum|magazine=Musician|date=January 1988}}{{cite magazine|title=George Michael: A Question Of Faith|first=Tony|last=Horkins|magazine=International Musician|location=UK|date = December 1987}}

File:George Michael.jpeg concert in 1988. The album propelled him to solo stardom and one of the most successful English acts of the 1980s.]]

10 weeks after its release, Faith reached number one on the US Billboard 200.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7639982/george-michael-history-billboard-rb-charts|title=George Michael's History on Billboard's R&B Charts|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2020-01-05}} Its early, and successive, success on the chart was said to be partly sustained—with help from plenty of press appearances and promotions—by its strong single releases. After "I Want Your Sex" helped propel Faith to its debut atop the chart, the second single "Faith" aided the album's continuing sales dominance. It also reached number one on the UK Albums Chart, although it stayed at the top spot for only one week. Faith stayed for 51 non-consecutive weeks inside the Billboard 200 top 10, including 12 weeks at number one.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/dec/26/why-george-michael-turned-his-back-on-america|title=Why George Michael turned his back on America|last=Helmore|first=Edward|date=26 December 2016|work=The Guardian|access-date=2020-01-05|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}} It was also the first album by a white solo artist to hit number one on the Billboard Top Black Albums chart.

In a 1988 interview with Jet magazine, Michael was quoted as saying: "I was much happier with [Faith] being the No. 1 Black [chart] album than I was when it became the No. 1 Pop album. There was much more of a sense of achievement. I knew this album would be a shock or a surprise to people in this country. The uptempo side of the new music is more overtly sexual, more black."

During 1987 and 1988, Faith produced a string of hit singles for Michael, including six top-five Billboard Hot 100 hits, four of which ("Faith", "Father Figure", "One More Try", and "Monkey") reached number one, making him the only British male solo artist to have four number one hits from one album on the Billboard Hot 100. "Faith" was 1988's best-selling single in the United States; with "Careless Whisper" having been the best-selling single in 1985, Michael became the first musician to achieve two Billboard Year-End number one singles chart since the Beatles' "Hey Jude" topped the Year-End singles chart in 1968 after "I Want to Hold Your Hand" had done so in 1964. Michael also had both the year's number one album and the number one single, which hadn't happened since 1970, when Simon & Garfunkel grabbed both positions with Bridge over Troubled Water and its title track.

A video compilation of the same name was released by CMV Enterprises on August 9, 1988, to promote the album.{{cite book |title=Faith VHS: George Michael |publisher=Legacy |date=9 August 1988|asin=6301090411 }} The singer's first solo video compilation, it contained six music videos from the album—"I Want Your Sex", "Faith", "Father Figure", "One More Try", "Monkey", and "Kissing a Fool". These videos were later released on the 1999 video compilation Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael.

{{Main|The Faith Tour}}

Michael embarked on a world tour to promote the album in February 1988, opening at Tokyo's Budokan arena, before going on to dates in Australia, Europe and North America. In Los Angeles, Michael was joined on stage by Aretha Franklin for a duet on "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)". While on tour, new singles from the album continued to be released. In June, Michael interrupted the tour to sing three songs at Wembley Stadium's Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute.{{Cite web|url=https://gmforever.com/nelson-mandela-tribute-concert-1988/|title=George Michael at the Nelson Mandela Tribute Concert (1988)|website=gmforever.com|access-date=2020-01-05}}

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite web|last=Huey|first=Steve|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/faith-mw0000193475|title=Faith – George Michael|website=AllMusic|access-date=10 February 2016}}

| rev2 = The Boston Phoenix

| rev2score = {{Rating|4|4}}{{cite news|last=Christopher|first=Michael|url=http://thephoenix.com/Boston/music/114746-george-michael-faith-remastered/|title=Review: George Michael {{!}} Faith: Remastered|newspaper=The Boston Phoenix|date=27 January 2011|access-date=26 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170315112708/http://thephoenix.com/boston/music/114746-george-michael-faith-remastered/|archive-date=15 March 2017|url-status=dead}}

| rev3 = Los Angeles Times

| rev3score = {{Rating|3|4}}{{cite news|last=Johnson|first=Connie|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-11-01-ca-17955-story.html|title=Wham! Man Makes His Big Move|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=1 November 1987|access-date=26 August 2016}}

| rev4 = New Musical Express

| rev4score = 8/10{{cite magazine|title=George, Best |last=Minkoff |first=Myrna |date=7 November 1987 |magazine=New Musical Express|page=29}}

| rev5 = Pitchfork

| rev5score = 8.7/10{{cite web|last=Nelson|first=Brad|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/george-michael-faith/|title=George Michael: Faith|website=Pitchfork|date=5 August 2018|access-date=5 August 2018}}

| rev6 = Record Collector

| rev6score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|last=Staunton|first=Terry|url=https://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/album/faith|title=Faith {{!}} George Michael|magazine=Record Collector|issue=381|date=November 2010|access-date=1 May 2021}}

| rev7 = Rolling Stone

| rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|last=Coleman|first=Mark|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/faith-105014/|title=Faith|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=14 January 1988|access-date=10 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805234113/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/faith-105014/|archive-date=5 August 2018|url-status=live}}

| rev8 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide

| rev8score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite book|last=Berger|first=Arion|editor1-last=Brackett|editor1-first=Nathan|editor1-link=Nathan Brackett|editor2-last=Hoard|editor2-first=Christian|editor2-link=Christian Hoard|chapter=George Michael|title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide|title-link=The Rolling Stone Album Guide|publisher=Simon & Schuster|edition=4th|year=2004|isbn=0-7432-0169-8|pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/539 539–40]}}

| rev9 = The Village Voice

| rev9score = B+{{cite news|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv12b-87.php|title=Christgau's Consumer Guide|newspaper=The Village Voice|date=29 December 1987|access-date=10 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160210022250/http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv12b-87.php|archive-date=10 February 2016|url-status=live}}

}}

Faith was met with widespread acclaim from music critics. Mark Coleman of Rolling Stone praised Michael for emerging as "one of pop music’s leading artisans, a painstaking craftsman who combines a graceful knack for vocal hooks with an uncanny ability to ransack the past for musical ideas and still sound fresh" and dubbed Michael the "Elton John of the 1980s". Coleman also claimed that Faith is "a concept album of sorts" incorporating "disco groove [varying] from urban thump to slow tropical heat wave", praising it for being "grounded in a passion and personal commitment".

Faith earned Michael numerous accolades, including Album of the Year at the 31st Grammy Awards. Michael was awarded three awards at the 1989 American Music Awards: Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist, Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist and Favorite Soul/R&B Album for Faith. He was also honoured with the MTV Video Vanguard Award. Faith was the best-selling album of 1988 in the United States, and eventually reached Diamond certification by the Recording Industry Association of America. According to Nielsen SoundScan, current sales of the album stand at 11 million copies, making it the 52nd bestselling album in the United States. Faith has sold around over 20 million copies worldwide.

In a Billboard review, Faith was considered to have "cemented [Michael] as an MTV icon and a global superstar" and shaping the sound of "late-'80s pop as much as any LP of its time."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/p/george-michael-faith-30-years|title=Keeping the 'Faith': Six Writers Remember the Six Classic Hit Singles From George Michael's 30-Year-Old Debut|magazine=Billboard|access-date=5 January 2020}} Writing for BBC Music, Ian Wade praised Faith for being a "classic of its era" and "one of the more listenable major releases of the 80s." He also regarded the album being responsible for turning Michael into a "proper international superstar, confirming his rightful place at pop's top table."{{cite web|last=Wade|first=Ian|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/3w5c/|title=George Michael Faith Review|website=BBC Music|date=27 January 2011|access-date=5 January 2020}}

Reviewing the reissue of Faith for the Metro in 2011, Arwa Haider claimed: "Faith still bursts with self-belief, designer vanity, classic songs and imagery, right from the opening title track which begins with a funeral church organ rendition of Wham!'s hit, "Freedom", before clicking into jaunty rock 'n' roll. It's easy to hear why Faith achieved multi-million status, although the masterful ballads ("Father Figure", "One More Try") have stood the test of time better than Michael's funk-pop."{{cite news|last=Haider|first=Arwa|title=George Michael: Faith|newspaper=Metro|date=14 January 2011}} Following the 30th anniversary of the release of the single "Faith", Nate Hertweck wrote in a Grammy Awards review that the song "change[d] everything".{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/remember-when-george-michaels-faith-changed-everything|title=Remember When? George Michael's "Faith"|date=6 October 2017|website=GRAMMY.com|language=en|access-date=2020-01-05}}

In 1989, Faith was ranked at number 84 on Rolling Stone{{'}}s list of the Greatest Albums of the 80s."The Top 100 Albums of 1989" by Jancee Dunn, Rolling Stone Magazine, 14–28 December 1989, page 239 In 2003, the album was ranked at number 480 on Rolling Stone{{'}}s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, while in 2012, the album ranked eight places higher at number 472 on an updated list by the magazine.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-156826/george-michael-faith-43886/|title=500 Greatest Albums of All Time|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=31 May 2012|access-date=2 September 2019}} In a 2020 revised list, it moved up to 151.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/george-michael-faith-3-1063082/|title=The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=22 September 2020|access-date=1 May 2021}} Faith was ranked 79th in a 2005 survey held by British television's Channel 4 to determine the 100 Greatest Albums of All Time. In 2006, Q magazine placed the album at number 24 in its list of 40 Best Albums of the '80s.{{cite magazine|title=40 Best Albums of the '80s|magazine=Q|issue=241|date=August 2006}} Slant Magazine listed the album at number 62 on its list of Best Albums of the 1980s.{{Cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/best-albums-of-the-1980s/2/|title=The 100 Best Albums of the 1980s|website=Slant Magazine|date=5 March 2012|access-date=1 May 2021|page=2}}

{{Music ratings

| MC = 90/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/faith-special-edition/george-michael|title=Critic Reviews for Faith: Special Edition |publisher=Metacritic|access-date=1 March 2022}}

| rev1 = BBC Music

| rev1score = 10/10{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/3w5c/|title=George Michael Faith Review|website=BBC Music|access-date=1 March 2022}}

| rev2 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev2score = A{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2011/01/26/faith-special-edition/|title=Faith: Special Edition|magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=30 June 2022}}

| rev3 = Filter

| rev3score = 85%{{cite web |url=http://filtermagazine.com/index.php/reviews/entry/george_michael |title=Faith [reissue] - Epic/Legacy |website=Filter |access-date=1 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110416045515/http://filtermagazine.com/index.php/reviews/entry/george_michael |archive-date=16 April 2011 |url-status=dead}}

| rev4 = Islington Gazette

| rev4score = {{Rating|4|4}}{{cite web|url=https://www.islingtongazette.co.uk/news/album-review-george-michael-faith-remastered-special-edition-3681192|title=Album review: Faith [Remastered Special Edition]|website=Islington Gazette|access-date=2 March 2022}}

| rev5 = Q

| rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|title=George Michael: Faith|magazine=Q|issue=295|date=February 2011|page=126}}

| rev6 = Rolling Stone

| rev6score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/faith-special-edition-128132/|title=Faith: Special Edition|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=1 March 2022}}

| rev7 = Slant Magazine

| rev7score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/george-michael-faith-special-edition/|title=Review: George Michael, Faith (Special Edition)|website=Slant Magazine|access-date=1 March 2022}}

}}

The 2011 re-release received universal acclaim from music critics according to Metacritic. A remastered edition of Faith was released on 31 January 2011 in the UK and on 1 February 2011 in the US. It is available in several formats: Limited Edition Collectors Box Set, Two-CD and DVD Special Edition, Two-CD Edition and iTunes LP. The box set release features: the remastered album on CD, an additional CD of remastered 12" versions and B-sides; a DVD featuring a TV special from 1987, a hardbound book that includes an exclusive interview with George Michael, sleeve notes, rare photos and memorabilia; a vinyl album replica of the original LP; and a memorabilia envelope that includes five art prints, reproduction poster, tickets and tour pass from the Faith tour sourced from Michael's personal archive. All this is housed in a 12 x 12 numbered, black and gold-foiled slipcase with original artwork overlay. The first 2,000 copies were also provided with a hand-numbered lithograph attached (taped) outside the box set.

{{Awards table}}

|-

| 1988 || Faith || Top Pop Albums || {{won}}

{{End}}

{{Awards table}}

|-

| style="width:35px; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|1989 || Faith
(performed and produced by George Michael) || Album of the Year{{cite web|title=GRAMMYs' Best Albums 1980–1989 |url=http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/news/grammys-best-albums-1 |work=grammy.org |date=4 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110830143245/http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/news/grammys-best-albums-1 |archive-date=30 August 2011 }} || {{won}}

|-

| "Father Figure"
(performed by George Michael) ||Best Pop Vocal Performance – Male{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-01-13-ca-306-story.html|title=Chapman, McFerrin Lead Grammy Race : Baker, Sting, Michael, Winwood Also Capture Multiple Nominations|work=Los Angeles Times|date=13 January 1989|last=Hunt|first=Dennis}}|| {{nom}}

|-

{{End}}

{{Awards table}}

|-

| style="width:35px; text-align:center;" rowspan="4"|1989
{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-01-31-mn-1145-story.html|title=Randy Travis and George Michael Score Triple Plays|work=Los Angeles Times|date=31 January 1989|access-date=3 May 2014|last=Marlow|first=Shirley}} || rowspan="2"| Faith || Favorite Soul/R&B Album || {{won}}

|-

| Favorite Pop/Rock Album || {{nom}}

|-

| rowspan="2"| George Michael || Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist || {{won}}

|-

| Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist || {{won}}

|-

{{End}}

{{Awards table}}

|-

| style="width:35px; text-align:center;" rowspan="3"|1988
{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/1988/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080830021749/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/1988/|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 August 2008|title=MTV Video Music Awards: 1988 VMA Winners|website=MTV|access-date=3 May 2014}} || "Father Figure"
(Directors: Andy Morahan and George Michael) || Best Direction in a Video || {{won}}

|-

| "Father Figure"
(Director of Photography: Peter Mackay) || Best Cinematography in a Video || {{nom}}

|-

| "Faith"
(Art Director: Bryan Jones) || Best Art Direction in a Video || {{nom}}

|-

| style="width:35px; text-align:center;"|1989
{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/1989/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828184238/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/1989/|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 August 2008|title=MTV Video Music Awards: 1989 VMA Winners|website=MTV|access-date=3 May 2014}} || George Michael || Video Vanguard Award || {{won}}

|-

{{End}}

{{Awards table}}

|-

| style="width:35px; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|1988
{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314111713/http://www.brits.co.uk/history/shows/1988|url=http://www.brits.co.uk/history/shows/1988|title=The BRITs 1988|publisher=British Phonographic Industry|work=brits.co.uk|archive-date=14 March 2012|access-date=10 October 2013}} || Faith || Best British Album || {{nom}}

|-

| George Michael || Best British Male Artist || {{won}}

|-

{{End}}

{{Awards table}}

|-

| style="width:35px; text-align:center;"|1989 || Faith || International Hit of the Year || {{won}}

|-

{{End}}

{{Awards table}}

|-

| style="width:35px; text-align:center;"| 1988 || Faith || The Best International Pop Solo Album of the Year{{cite web|url=http://www.golddisc.jp/award/02/|title=第2回日本ゴールドディスク大賞 |trans-title= The 2nd Japan Gold Disc Awards|access-date=1 May 2014}} || {{won}}

|-

{{End}}

All tracks are written and produced by George Michael; "Look at Your Hands" co-written with David Austin.

;Standard edition

{{Track listing

| headline = Side one

| title1 = Faith

| length1 = 3:16

| title2 = Father Figure

| length2 = 5:36

| title3 = I Want Your Sex

| note3 = Parts 1 & 2

| length3 = 9:17

| title4 = One More Try

| length4 = 5:50

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Side two

| title5 = Hard Day

| length5 = 4:48

| title6 = Hand to Mouth

| length6 = 4:36

| title7 = Look at Your Hands

| length7 = 4:37

| title8 = Monkey

| length8 = 5:06

| title9 = Kissing a Fool

| length9 = 4:35

}}

{{Track listing

| collapsed =

| headline = CD and cassette bonus tracks

| extra_column =

| total_length =

| title10 = Hard Day

| note10 = Shep Pettibone remix

| length10 = 6:29

| title11 = A Last Request (I Want Your Sex Part 3)

| length11 = 3:48

}}

Note:

• In the liner notes, "I Want Your Sex" is listed as "I Want Your Sex (Monogamy Mix)", with the parts titled "Rhythm One: Lust" and "Rhythm Two: Brass in Love", respectively. However, on the album, the start of "Rhythm One" is slightly different from how the corresponding section starts on the actual "Monogamy Mix" as featured on the previous single release: on the album, the song starts with a synthesized bass and electronic effects, while the drums and programmed percussion come in some seconds later; on the single, the song starts only with drums and percussion.

VHS video compilation

1. "I Want Your Sex" (uncensored version) – music video
2. "Faith" – music video
3. "Father Figure" – music video
4. "One More Try" – music video
5. "Monkey" – music video
6. "Kissing a Fool" – music video

Disc one

The first disc features the remastered version of the original album.{{cite web|title=Faith – Remastered 2CD/DVD Special Edition [CD+DVD, Box Set]|website = Amazon|url=https://www.amazon.com/Faith-DVD-Special-George-Michael/dp/B003W5QJ2S/ref=tmm_acd_title_0|access-date=28 November 2010}}

10. "A Last Request (I Want Your Sex Part 3)" – 3:48

Disc two

1. "Faith" (instrumental) – 3:16
2. "Fantasy" – 5:02
3. "Hard Day" (Shep Pettibone mix) – 9:04
4. "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" (Stevie Wonder, Yvonne Wright) (live) – 7:03
5. "Kissing a Fool" (instrumental) – 4:35
6. "Love's in Need of Love Today" (live at Wembley Arena, 1 Apr '87) (Wonder) – 4:43
7. "Monkey" (7" edit version) – 4:48
8. "Monkey" (a capella & beats) – 7:27
9. "Monkey" (Jam & Lewis remix) – 8:10

Note:

• "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" is a live track although it is not mentioned anywhere on the CD.

2011 remaster DVD

1. George Michael and Jonathan Ross Have Words (1987)
2. Music Money Love Faith (February 1988)
3. "I Want Your Sex" – music video (re-synched with re-mastered audio)
4. "I Want Your Sex" (uncensored version) – music video
5. "Faith" – music video
6. "Father Figure" – music video
7. "One More Try" – music video
8. "Monkey" – music video
9. "Kissing a Fool" – music video

• George Michael – vocals, keyboards (2, 3, 5, 6, 8), bass guitar (6), keyboard bass (9), drums (7), programming, percussion, arranger, producer
• Robert Ahwai – guitar
• J.J. Belle – guitar
• Hugh Burns – guitar
• Roddy Matthews – guitar on "Monkey"
• Chris Cameron – piano, keyboards, organ, backing vocals
• Betsy Cook – keyboards
• Danny Schogger – keyboards
• Deon Estus – bass guitar
• Russell Powell - bass guitar
• Ian Thomas – drums
• Andy Duncan – percussion
• Rick Taylor – trombone
• Steve Sidwell – trumpet
• Malcolm Griffiths – trombone
• Jamie Talbot – alto saxophone
• Paul Spong – trumpet
• John Altman – saxophone
• Mark Chandler – trumpet
• Steve Waterman – trumpet
• Shirley Lewis – backing vocals

;Technical

• Chris Porter – engineer
• Paul Gomersall – assistant engineer
• Paul Wright – assistant engineer
• Shep Pettibone – remix, additional production
• Steve Peck – remix engineer

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{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Argentina|type=album|artist=George Michael|title=Faith|award=Platinum|relyear=1987|certyear=2000|certref={{cite web|url=http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?PerDesde_MM=0&PerDesde_AA=0&PerHasta_MM=0&PerHasta_AA=0&interprete=&album=&LanDesde_MM=1&LanDesde_AA=1980&LanHasta_MM=12&LanHasta_AA=2010&Galardon=O&Tipo=1&ACCION2=+Buscar+&ACCION=Buscar&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP|archive-url=https://archive.today/20110706084844/http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?PerDesde_MM=0&PerDesde_AA=0&PerHasta_MM=0&PerHasta_AA=0&interprete=&album=&LanDesde_MM=1&LanDesde_AA=1980&LanHasta_MM=12&LanHasta_AA=2010&Galardon=O&Tipo=1&ACCION2=+Buscar+&ACCION=Buscar&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP|archive-date = 6 July 2011|title = Discos de oro y platino|access-date=23 June 2013|publisher=Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas|language=es}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=album|artist=George Michael|title=Faith|award=Platinum|number=5|relyear=1987|certyear=2004|access-date=4 May 2011}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|type=album|artist=George Michael|title=Faith|nocert=true|relyear=1987|salesamount=280,000|salesref={{cite journal|last=|first=|date=January 12, 1991|title=As mais variadas tendências no Rock in Rio 2|url=http://memoria.bn.br/DocReader/DocReader.aspx?bib=153931_04&PagFis=37811&Pesq=lisa%20stansfield%20mil%20c%c3%b3pias|journal=A Tribuna|language=pt|access-date=November 29, 2022|archive-date=November 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130001407/http://memoria.bn.br/DocReader/DocReader.aspx?bib=153931_04&PagFis=37811&Pesq=lisa%20stansfield%20mil%20c%c3%b3pias|url-status=live|quote=Transalation: The Faith album ended up selling more than 25 million copies, in Brazil alone more than 280 thousand people bought it.}}|note=as of January 1991|access-date=4 May 2011}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=album|artist=George Michael|title=Faith|award=Diamond|relyear=1987|certyear=1991|access-date=4 May 2011}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=video|artist=George Michael|title=Faith|award=Platinum|relyear=1987|certyear=1990|note=video|access-date=9 July 2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=album|artist=George Michael|title=Faith|award=Platinum|relyear=1987|certyear=2018|id=3783|access-date=14 July 2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|type=album|artist=George Michael|title=Faith|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1987|certyear=1989|source=infodisc}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=album|artist=George Michael|title=Faith|award=Gold|relyear=1987|certyear=1988|access-date=4 May 2011}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Hong Kong|type=album|artist=George Michael|title=Faith|award=Gold|certyear=1988|relyear=1988|access-date=8 January 2016}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=album|artist=George Michael|title=Faith|nocert=true|relyear=1987|salesamount=200,000|salesref={{cite web|url=http://archivio.corriere.it/Archivio/interface/view.shtml#!/NDovZXMvaXQvcmNzZGF0aWRhY3MxL0AxMDE2OA%3D%3D|publisher=Corriere Della Sera|title=George Michael: "Essere bello conta ma non basta"|date=20 October 1987|accessdate=3 September 2023}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|type=album|artist=George Michael|title=Faith|nocert=yes|salesamount=204,000|salesref=}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Netherlands|type=album|artist=George Michael|title=Faith|award=Platinum|relyear=1987|certyear=1988|access-date=4 May 2011}}

{{certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=album|artist=George Michael|title=Faith|award=Platinum|relyear=1987|id=1988-09-23|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|certyear=1988}}

{{Certification Table Entry|artist=George Michael|title=Faith|region=Norway|type=album|relyear=1987|certyear=1987|award=Gold|certref={{cite magazine|title= The European Best Sellers of 1987|magazine=Music & Media|date=26 December 1987|volume=4|issue=51/52|pages=42–46|url= https://www.americanradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1987/M&M-1987-12-26.pdf}}|salesamount=50,000|salesref=}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=album|artist=George Michael|title=Faith|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1987|certyear=1988|certref=}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|type=album|artist=George Michael|title=Faith|award=Gold|relyear=1987|certyear=1988|access-date=23 June 2013}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|type=album|artist=George Michael|title=Faith|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1987|certyear=1992|access-date=4 May 2011}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|artist=George Michael|title=Faith|award=Platinum|number=4|relyear=1987|certyear=1993|salesamount=1,300,000|salesref={{cite web|url=http://www.musicweek.com/analysis/read/george-michael-on-the-charts/067107|title=George Michael on the charts|date=11 January 2017|author=Alan Jones|work=Music Week|access-date=11 January 2017}}|id=2196-3520-2|access-date=3 May 2011}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|artist=George Michael|title=Faith|award=Diamond|relyear=1987|certyear=1996|access-date=3 May 2011}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=video|artist=George Michael|title=Faith|award=Platinum|relyear=1987|certyear=1996|note=video|access-date=9 July 2020}}

{{Certification Table Summary}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Worldwide|salesamount=25,000,000|salesref={{cite magazine| url= https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/magazine-feature/7647467/george-michael-death-new-music | magazine=Billboard| title=George Michael: Why He Turned His Back on Fame, and the 'Faith'-like Songs He Recorded Before His Death |access-date=2 June 2023}}{{cbignore}}|nocert=yes}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}

{{portal|1980s}}

• List of best-selling albums
• List of best-selling albums in the United States
• List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1988
• List of Billboard number-one R&B albums of 1988

{{Reflist}}

{{George Michael}}

{{Grammy Award for Album of the Year 1980s}}

{{Billboard Year-End number one albums 1970–1989}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1987 debut albums

Category:Columbia Records albums

Category:Epic Records albums

Category:George Michael albums

Category:Grammy Award for Album of the Year