BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1984
“Freedom” is a song by British pop duo Wham! released in 1984, becoming the group’s second UK #1 hit. It was written and produced by George Michael, one half of the duo.
Wham! had already enjoyed a successful 1984 by the time “Freedom” was released in August of that year. “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” had given them their first UK #1 and had then reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in the USA. George had then gone to #1 with a solo single, “Careless Whisper”.
“Freedom” was #1 in the UK for three weeks and featured on the album Make It Big, which was issued at the same time. “Freedom” was the 10th biggest selling single of 1984. This song also reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US the following year. The music video, coinciding with the 1985 US release, features the band touring around Beijing, China. Wham! were the first western pop group to tour that country.
The melody of the song was used by George Michael as an introduction to his song, “Faith”, played on a church organ.
Included as a bonus is the single remix of “Freedom” which was taken from the US 12″ promo. This version contains an alternate ending.
SIDE A:
Freedom (Long Version) 7:05
SIDE B:
Freedom (Instrumental) 5:04
BONUS TRACK:
Freedom (Single Remix) 5:19
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Freedom | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #3 |
| 1984 | Freedom | U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | #4 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Epic – 12•3P- 573
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: Japan
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
Credits: Photography By – Chris Craymer
Written-By, Arranged By, Producer – George Michael
NOTES:
Taken from the LP: “MAKE IT BIG”
Find The 12″ On DISCOGS
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Speed Control: Pro-Ject Speed Box S
Phono Pre-amp: Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube: Tung-Sol 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner
SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removeal: ClickRepair (DeClick Level 3)
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
There is a site that still has several 24bit RIPs taken from here. At least it is an option for those who cannot download,
After 3 #1s for George Michael from Make It Big (I think they were the first act to do it in the 80s), I was so rooting for Freedom to follow suit and make it four in a row.
Ooooo…so close but no cigar…
Still lovin’ this Wham!burger treat you’ve served us, Paul.
Yum Yum!
Thank you Paul!!!
keep them coming good stuff
Ooh Paul, any chance you’ve got a scan of that US 12″ Promo too? (I prefer to keep the tracks with correct artwork if poss.)
Can I entertain everyone for the umpteenth time with the Japanese Maxell commercial where Wham re-recorded Freedom but with stupid lyrics (for a laugh, thinking Japanese people wouldn’t understand):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y73zwZodQW8
The little tinkers.
Just thinking… someone’s *got* to be holding those alternate recordings in a vault somewhere???!
I’m truly amazed by this mega-post session at seeing how much Wham stuff hasn’t been re-released to death – record companies usually can’t help themselves. I wonder if George is stopping it himeself?
It might be he does not fit the moneytrain stereotype? (Throw ‘m of when they are more worth dead then alive..) So some work keeps hidden until a refreshed market opens. Or he pushed the right buttons and he does indeed have gained control over his own work. Really don’t know. Hope so, enough money to live, and still make music because it is what you do best.
Guess Andrew doesn’t have any say or control over it.
George could be stopping it himself, as he wasn’t happy with the contract he had with Epic. That’s why he released only charity records post Listen Without Prejudice before he got out of that company and released Older in 1996.
That’s the confusing part of it. Trust me I know.. And don’t even get started on the Wham! Rap releases… But The US Long version is far better than one on the UK and Japan.. It has a horn intro… By far funkier than this one … And is one minute shorter in RT. That’s the only difference of course…
it is very confusing when the labels make these mess ups.
Can you please please do the US one aswell..
Thank you
Sorry Hugh I have posted all of the ‘Freedom” mixes that I own when donations pick up I will get a copy of the US 12″ however my UK copy says it is the “Long Mix” but it plays the “Long Version”.
Thanks DJPaulT for sharing all these Hi-Q vinyl rips with us, and once again thanks for the time invested!!!
You’re welcome Partytimeboy 🙂
Another great post. Nice to have the single remix included here instead in a separate post.
Did I already tell you I’m absolutely thrilled about this series???
Yeah you told me Stefano 🙂
Gonna be the best Wham! collection anywhere on the net before long if not already!
Thank you NKelly 🙂
Thanks Paul.
You’re welcome Omar 🙂
One of my all time favourite Wham! tracks. Thanks for including the Single Remix – didn’t know that existed, look forward to hearing it.
You’re welcome Todd I think you will like the single remix. I love the added horns at the end.
These expertly ripped tracks are a sonic love letter to Wham! and to all of your fans Paul. Thank you for this gorgeously put together series.
Have a wonderful day!
Jeff
Thanks so much Jeff it has been a fun ride 🙂