Tuesday marks the 40th anniversary of the iconic release of “Careless Whisper” by Wham! featuring George Michael, which debuted on July 23, 1984. To celebrate this milestone, a special EP dedicated to the song will be released on October 18.
The EP will include a previously unreleased live recording of “Careless Whisper,” captured during a George Michael concert at New York’s Madison Square Garden on July 23, 2008. Additionally, it will feature a newly mastered version of the original song, an extended mix, and an instrumental version. The EP will be available in both digital and physical formats, with a ruby marble vinyl available for preorder now.
“Careless Whisper” has achieved significant success, being RIAA-certified seven-times Platinum in the U.S. Released as a “solo” single due to its distinct style from Wham!’s usual music, it helped George Michael become the youngest recipient of the U.K.’s prestigious Ivor Novello Award for songwriting at age 21.
The song has also amassed more than 1 billion streams on both YouTube and Spotify.