Wham Best Remixes CD

THE BEST REMIXES, the six track EP from Wham!, first appeared in 1989.

In the aftermath of the magnificent success of 1987's Faith LP, but with a new George Michael solo project nowhere in sight, it was up to Wham! to fill any gaps in the early '90s, a void that was well-filled by two remix albums, both largely populated by the same material, but each packing enough difference to ensure Wham!-ers would be salivating for both of them. Best Remixes, originally released in 1990 (Epic would issue the disc stateside in 1998), was the first off the blocks. Just six tracks long, it stuck to the classic club cuts, and thankfully ignored most of the duo's lite horrors, favoring instead the more esoteric songs the group had to offer. The early hits "Young Guns (Go for It)" and "Wham Rap! Social Mix" (both of which received a full U.S. reissue on the 1992 12" Mixes collection) are joined by "Bad Boys" and two tracks designed to reel in the more mainstream aficionados who were either too young, or too out of step, to hit the clubs at the time. The mawkishly effervescent "Last Christmas," then, becomes ever more jolly in its nearly seven-minute "Pudding Remix" form, while "Careless Whisper," a massive hit on both sides of the ocean, is included here as an extended mix -- but oddly clocks in at the same length as the Make It Big album cut. If there's any big disappointment, it's that the compilation barely reaches a measly 35 minutes. But, while it would have been nice to fatten up the batch, at the end of the day it's still enough to satisfy. ~ Amy Hanson

Japanese exclusive reissue of 1990 compilation featuring rare tracks, 'Young Guns (Go For It)', 'Bad Boys', 'Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do)' (Social Mix), 'Everything She Wants' (Remix), 'Careless Whisper' (Extended Mix), & 'Last Christmas' (Pudding Mix). Sony. 2004.