Faith cover art

  Studio Album · No. 1

Faith Songwriting Credits by George Michael

1987 Columbia/Epic Records 9 tracks 58 min

Produced by George Michael  ·  Engineered by Chris Porter, Paul Gomersall, Paul Wright

Columbia/Epic Records PopR&BFunkSoulRock
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 9 of 9 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 9 / 9 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 9 tracks with documented writers, by whether George Michael carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
9 trackswritten by George Michael 0 tracksoutside writers
George Michael's roles on this album

Share of the 9 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

9
Tracks
2
Lyricists
1
Producers
4
No.1 Singles
25 million
Worldwide Copies Sold
1987
Released

Awards & Recognition 1

Album of the Year (1989)
Data Insight

Faith was George Michael's first solo album after Wham!, and he wrote, arranged, and produced almost all of it himself. He is credited as sole writer and sole producer on the bulk of the record, with the title track, 'Father Figure,' 'One More Try,' and 'Monkey' all his own compositions. The album established him as a rare pop auteur who controlled his material end to end rather than relying on outside writers or production teams. Only 'Kissing a Fool' and the remix work on 'Monkey' involved any significant outside hands.

Faith is George Michael's debut solo studio album, released October 30, 1987 on Columbia (US) and Epic (UK). Produced and almost entirely written by Michael himself, it became one of the best-selling albums of all time and won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1989. All nine standard tracks are written by Michael alone or with David Austin ('Look at Your Hands').

Track Listing & Credits 9 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Faith #1
George Michael George Michael George Michael George Michael (Vocals)
2
Father Figure #1
George Michael George Michael George Michael George Michael (Vocals)
3
I Want Your Sex (Parts 1 & 2)
George Michael George Michael George Michael George Michael (Vocals)
4
One More Try #1
George Michael George Michael George Michael George Michael (Vocals)
5
Hard Day
George Michael George Michael George Michael George Michael (Vocals)
6
Hand to Mouth
George Michael George Michael George Michael George Michael (Vocals)
7
Look at Your Hands
George MichaelDavid Austin George MichaelDavid Austin George Michael George Michael (Vocals)
8
Monkey #1
George Michael George Michael George Michael George Michael (Vocals)
9
Kissing a Fool #5
George Michael George Michael George Michael George Michael (Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 2 contributors

More from George Michael

Frequently Asked Questions Faith

Did George Michael write Faith himself?
Yes. George Michael wrote and produced nearly the entire album on his own, including the title track, 'Father Figure,' 'One More Try,' and 'Monkey.' He is credited as sole writer and sole producer across most of the record. This made Faith one of the clearest statements of his standing as a self-contained pop auteur.
How many number-one singles did George Michael's Faith produce?
Faith produced four US Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles: 'Faith,' 'Father Figure,' 'One More Try,' and 'Monkey.' Two further singles, 'I Want Your Sex' and 'Kissing a Fool,' reached the top five. The run made Faith one of the most commercially dominant pop albums of the late 1980s.
Did Faith win the Grammy Award for Album of the Year?
Yes. Faith won Album of the Year at the 31st Annual Grammy Awards, held on February 22, 1989. George Michael accepted the award for the 1988 eligibility year. It remains his most significant career honor.
What is the song Father Figure by George Michael about?
'Father Figure' is a slow, atmospheric ballad written and produced by George Michael about a protective, possessive love. It topped the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1988. The track is built around a hushed vocal and a drum-machine groove that Michael assembled in the studio himself.
What genre is George Michael's Faith?
Faith blends pop with R&B, funk, soul, and rock. The title track leans on a rockabilly guitar figure while 'Monkey' and 'I Want Your Sex' are funk- and dance-driven. This range across styles helped the album cross between pop and R&B audiences.
How many copies has Faith sold?
Faith has sold over 25 million copies worldwide. In the United States it is certified Diamond by the RIAA for shipments of 10 million units. It was the best-selling album of 1988 in the US.

Sources