It’s been forty-years since George Michael unleashed Careless Whisper into the world with its iconic sax solo and instant confessional chorus, but it took several years of uncompromising dedication to create the chart-topping hit we know and love. We’re taking a look at the story behind this treasured track. 

Originally released in the UK as George Michael’s debut solo single on July 23rd 1984, Careless Whisper was included in the final tracklisting for WHAM!’s second album Make It Big. Although the track was co-written with his bandmate Andrew Ridgley, the pair decided it should belong to George. In the 2023 Netflix documentary WHAM!, George said, “We always understood that there would be a point where there was a crossover between WHAM! and the start of my solo career.”

In the US, where the band were still working their way towards superstardom, the track was credited as WHAM! featuring George Michael. Both George and Andrew felt it was the best approach to help continue elevating the group ahead of the release of their second record. 

The song was originally written in 1981 by George while he was on a bus, en route to a DJ gig in North-West London. Based on a teenage experience of two-timing two different girls, he imagined the consequences if one had found out about the other. 

Co-written with Andrew, who came up with the chord sequence, it was one of the first tracks the duo worked on together. George composed the now renown sax solo and had a friend who played for fun in the local pub record it on the demo.

George and Andrew demoed the track for a second time in 1982, complete with a full band. Although it was committed to tape at the same time as early singles Club Tropicana and Wham! Rap, Careless Whisper but didn’t make it onto their debut album, Fantastic. 

Instead, George flew to Alabama in 1983 to work with esteemed producer Jerry Wexler, who famously coined the term “rhythm and blues” and had worked with the likes of Aretha Franklin and Dusty Springfield. They recorded the track with the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. George was in awe of Wexler, and unusually nervous in the studio. 

A world class saxophonist was flown in from LA to tackle the solo, but couldn’t get the exact intonation of the demo recording, and left both George and Jerry unhappy. Returning with the final mix, George’s publisher, Dick Leahy, stood in the way of the song’s release as he didn’t think enough of George’s genuine character could be heard in the recording. 

It was re-recorded at Sarm Studios in Notting Hill just a month before its release with British jazz musician Steve Gregory performing the notorious sax line. He was the 9th player to attempt it. His actual take was played a semitone lower due to his tenor sax missing the top key needed for the riff.  

The video was filmed in Miami, but a second version was edited after the re-record to work with the new track. Additional footage of George was shot on-stage at London’s Lyceum Theatre.

Careless Whisper entered UK charts at number twelve on release in 1984, before climbing to the top spot where it stayed for three weeks. It topped the US Billboard Hot 100 in February 1985 where it also stayed for three weeks, becoming the number-one song of the year. 

It was a platinum hit in multiple countries around the world, including twice over in the UK. However, George often put the song down in interviews. He found it disillusioning that something he’d written so fast and flippantly could connect with so many people. 

Despite George’s despondency, it’s not only one of his biggest hits, but one of the most enduring pop songs of all time, enjoying a deserved legacy for its image-rich lyricism, smooth musicianship and immediate melody. Guilty feet may have no rhythm, but this track proves that George had the moves.