Make It Big: Difference between revisions

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==Background and production==
==Background and production==
The album was mostly written and recorded at [[Miraval Studios|Studio Miraval]] in [[Southern France]] over a course of six weeks,<ref name="soundonsound.com"/> beginning in early July 1984.<ref>{{cite AV media |author=WhamBamGM |date=4 November 2011 |title=Wham South Of France Make It Big |url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pH2Fe-Y67MY |publisher=[[YouTube]] |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/pH2Fe-Y67MY |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref> This allowed Michael to escape press attention and work peacefully. According to [[Andrew Ridgeley]], the decision to record in the south of France was made largely due to tax reasons, as well as it being the ideal place for them to spend the summer due to the hot weather.<ref name=RecordMirror>{{cite web |date=19 December 2018 |title=Think Big: Wham! Interview in Record Mirror (1984) |url=https://gmforever.com/think-big-wham-interview-in-record-mirror-1984/ |website=GMForever.com |access-date=12 January 2021}}</ref> Plus, it was one and a half hours away from London, and Michael "had to keep going back to do things for [[Careless Whisper]]".<ref name=RecordMirror/> Like "Careless Whisper" and "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go", most of the songs were recorded with a live rhythm section.<ref name="soundonsound.com"/>
''Make It Big'' was mostly written and recorded at [[Miraval Studios|Studio Miraval]] in [[Southern France]] over a course of six weeks,<ref name="soundonsound.com"/> beginning in early July 1984.<ref>{{cite AV media |author=WhamBamGM |date=4 November 2011 |title=Wham South Of France Make It Big |url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pH2Fe-Y67MY |publisher=[[YouTube]] |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/pH2Fe-Y67MY |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref> This allowed [[George Michael]] to escape press attention and work peacefully. According to [[Andrew Ridgeley]], the decision to record in the south of France was made largely due to tax reasons, as well as it being the ideal place for them to spend the summer due to the hot weather.<ref name=RecordMirror>{{cite web |date=19 December 2018 |title=Think Big: Wham! Interview in Record Mirror (1984) |url=https://gmforever.com/think-big-wham-interview-in-record-mirror-1984/ |website=GMForever.com |access-date=12 January 2021}}</ref> Plus, it was one and a half hours away from [[London]], and Michael "had to keep going back to do things for '[[Careless Whisper]]'".<ref name=RecordMirror/> Like "Careless Whisper" and "[[Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go]]", most of the songs were recorded with a live rhythm section.<ref name="soundonsound.com"/>


The main album credits attribute it as having been mixed at [[Good Earth Studios]] in [[London]] and Marcadet Studios in [[Paris]].<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Make It Big |type=liner notes |others=[[Wham!]] |publisher=[[Epic Records]] |year=1984 |id=86311}}</ref> However, it turns out to be neither, as engineer Porter revealed: most of the album was mixed at [[Sarm Studios|Sarm West]]'s Studio 2 (where "Careless Whisper" and "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" were recorded), with some mixing already completed at Studio Miraval.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://80salbumgearlists.blogspot.com/2021/01/last-christmas.html|title=George Michael Wham/solo songs comments & research|date=12 January 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210125222114/https://80salbumgearlists.blogspot.com/2021/01/last-christmas.html|archive-date=25 January 2021}}</ref>
The main album credits attribute it as having been mixed at [[Good Earth Studios]] in London and Marcadet Studios in [[Paris]].<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Make It Big |type=liner notes |others=[[Wham!]] |publisher=[[Epic Records]] |year=1984 |id=86311}}</ref> However, it turns out to be neither, as engineer [[Chris Porter (producer)|Chris Porter]] revealed: most of the album was mixed at [[Sarm Studios|Sarm West]]'s Studio 2 (where "Careless Whisper" and "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" were recorded), with some mixing already completed at Studio Miraval.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://80salbumgearlists.blogspot.com/2021/01/last-christmas.html|title=George Michael Wham/solo songs comments & research|date=12 January 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210125222114/https://80salbumgearlists.blogspot.com/2021/01/last-christmas.html|archive-date=25 January 2021}}</ref>


==Critical reception==
==Critical reception==
{{Music ratings
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |title=Make It Big – Wham! |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/make-it-big-mw0000192387 |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=8 May 2025}}</ref>
| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |title=Make It Big – Wham! |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/make-it-big-mw0000192387 |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=8 May 2025}}</ref>
| rev2 = [[Robert Christgau]]
| rev2 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev2score = B<ref>{{cite web |title=Robert Christgau: CG: Wham! |url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=4059&name=Wham! |access-date=26 June 2011}}</ref>
| rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Maconie |first=Stuart |author-link=Stuart Maconie |title=Wham!: Fantastic / Make It Big |magazine=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] |issue=150 |date=March 1999}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev3 = ''[[Record Mirror]]''
| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="RS">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/wham/albums/album/260656/review/5944500/make_it_big |title=Wham!: Make It Big |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=20 February 2009 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220012912/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/wham/albums/album/260656/review/5944500/make_it_big |archivedate=20 February 2009 }}</ref>
| rev3score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Cordery |first=Mark |title=Careless misters |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/80s/84/Record-Mirror-1984-11-10-OCR.pdf |magazine=[[Record Mirror]] |page=17 |date=10 November 1984 |access-date=6 April 2025}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Record Mirror]]''
| rev4 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev4score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref name="NRM">{{Cite magazine |last1=Cordery |first1=Mark |date=November 10, 1984 |title=Album: Careless misters |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/80s/84/Record-Mirror-1984-11-10-OCR.pdf |access-date=April 6, 2025 |magazine=[[Record Mirror]] |page=17 |issue=}}</ref>
| rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="RS">{{cite magazine |last=Connelly |first=Christopher |author-link=Chris Connelly (journalist) |title=Wham!: Make It Big |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/wham/albums/album/260656/review/5944500/make_it_big |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=17 January 1985 |access-date=29 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220012912/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/wham/albums/album/260656/review/5944500/make_it_big |archive-date=20 February 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]''
| rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Booth |first=Daniel |title=Wham!: Fantastic / Make It Big |magazine=[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]] |issue=21 |page=91 |date=February 1999}}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[The Village Voice]]''
| rev6score = B<ref>{{cite news |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |title=Christgau's Consumer Guide |url=https://robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv8-85.php |newspaper=[[The Village Voice]] |date=27 August 1985 |access-date=29 June 2025}}</ref>
}}
}}
''Make It Big'', Wham's second album, would see the duo score hit singles in the United States. Their first album ''Fantastic'' was a hit in the UK but failed to make an impact in the US. ''Make It Big'' received some positive reviews. Christopher Connelly from ''Rolling Stone'' wrote that the "music is an unabashed rehash of [[Motown]]", adding "''Make It Big'' is an almost flawless pop record, a record that does exactly what it wants to and has a great deal of fun doing it."<ref name="RS"/> In a retrospective review, [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] from [[AllMusic]] writes, "They succeeded on a grander scale than they ever could have imagined, conquering the world and elsewhere with this effervescent set of giddy [[New wave music|new wave]] [[pop-soul]]."<ref name="allmusic"/> ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' magazine described the album as "a one-two punch",<ref name=":0">{{cite magazine |date=November 10, 1984 |title=Albums Pop Picks Review: Make It Big |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1984/BB-1984-11-10.pdf |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |page=87 |volume=96 |issue=45 |editor=}}</ref> while ''[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box]]'' described its sound as "less tense, more tuneful".<ref name=":132">{{Cite magazine |date=November 3, 1984 |title=Album Popular New & Developing Pick Reviews: Make It Big |url=https://archive.org/details/cashbox47unse_20/page/9/mode/2up |magazine=[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box]] |pages=9 |volume=47 |issue=20}}</ref>
 
''Make It Big'', Wham!'s second album, would see the duo score hit singles in the United States. Their first album ''[[Fantastic (Wham! album)|Fantastic]]'' was a hit in the UK but failed to make an impact in the US. ''Make It Big'' received some positive reviews. [[Chris Connelly (journalist)|Christopher Connelly]] from ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' wrote that the "music is an unabashed rehash of [[Motown]]", adding, "''Make It Big'' is an almost flawless pop record, a record that does exactly what it wants to and has a great deal of fun doing it."<ref name="RS"/> ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' magazine described the album as "a one-two punch",<ref name=":0">{{cite magazine |date=November 10, 1984 |title=Albums Pop Picks Review: Make It Big |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1984/BB-1984-11-10.pdf |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |page=87 |volume=96 |issue=45 |editor=}}</ref> while ''[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box]]'' described its sound as "less tense, more tuneful".<ref name=":132">{{Cite magazine |date=November 3, 1984 |title=Album Popular New & Developing Pick Reviews: Make It Big |url=https://archive.org/details/cashbox47unse_20/page/9/mode/2up |magazine=[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box]] |pages=9 |volume=47 |issue=20}}</ref> In a retrospective review, [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] from [[AllMusic]] writes, "They succeeded on a grander scale than they ever could have imagined, conquering the world and elsewhere with this effervescent set of giddy [[New wave music|new wave]] [[pop-soul]]."<ref name="AllMusic"/>


==Track listing==
==Track listing==
Line 132: Line 137:
== Production ==
== Production ==
* George Michael – producer, arrangements  
* George Michael – producer, arrangements  
* Chris Porter – engineer  
* [[Chris Porter (producer)|Chris Porter]] – engineer  
* Paul Gomersall – assistant engineer  
* Paul Gomersall – assistant engineer  
* P/S/A – design  
* P/S/A – design  

Latest revision as of 15:42, 29 June 2025

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Make It Big is the second studio album by English pop duo Wham!, released in 1984. In comparison to their earlier work, Wham! (George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley) had more control over the album's production and Michael would also be credited as a producer. The album was a commercial success, hitting number one in both the US and the UK and spawning four singles, all reaching the top three in the US and the UK. Make It Big was certified 4× platinum in the US during the time of its release, and has since been certified 6× platinum in the US.[1] In March 2024, Make It Big was reissued on vinyl for the first time in 30 years.[2]

The music video for single "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" had the duo in shirts that read Choose Life. It would be the first of several hits from the album. The second single "Careless Whisper" is technically a Wham! song as it appears on the Wham! album Make It Big. However, when released as a single, it was credited either to Wham! featuring George Michael (in North America and several other countries) or solely to George Michael (in the United Kingdom and some European countries) as it became apparent, that at some point in the near future, Michael would be embarking on a solo career. The music video for third single "Freedom" featured the duo while performing a concert in China; incidentally Wham! would become the first Western popular music act to tour China. The fourth single "Everything She Wants" was released as a double A-side with "Last Christmas"; "Last Christmas" would later appear on Music from the Edge of Heaven, an album released only in North America and Japan.

Background and production

Make It Big was mostly written and recorded at Studio Miraval in Southern France over a course of six weeks,[3] beginning in early July 1984.[4] This allowed George Michael to escape press attention and work peacefully. According to Andrew Ridgeley, the decision to record in the south of France was made largely due to tax reasons, as well as it being the ideal place for them to spend the summer due to the hot weather.[5] Plus, it was one and a half hours away from London, and Michael "had to keep going back to do things for 'Careless Whisper'".[5] Like "Careless Whisper" and "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go", most of the songs were recorded with a live rhythm section.[3]

The main album credits attribute it as having been mixed at Good Earth Studios in London and Marcadet Studios in Paris.[6] However, it turns out to be neither, as engineer Chris Porter revealed: most of the album was mixed at Sarm West's Studio 2 (where "Careless Whisper" and "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" were recorded), with some mixing already completed at Studio Miraval.[7]

Critical reception

Template:Music ratings

Make It Big, Wham!'s second album, would see the duo score hit singles in the United States. Their first album Fantastic was a hit in the UK but failed to make an impact in the US. Make It Big received some positive reviews. Christopher Connelly from Rolling Stone wrote that the "music is an unabashed rehash of Motown", adding, "Make It Big is an almost flawless pop record, a record that does exactly what it wants to and has a great deal of fun doing it."[8] Billboard magazine described the album as "a one-two punch",[9] while Cash Box described its sound as "less tense, more tuneful".[10] In a retrospective review, Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic writes, "They succeeded on a grander scale than they ever could have imagined, conquering the world and elsewhere with this effervescent set of giddy new wave pop-soul."[11]

Track listing

Template:Track listing

Template:Track listing

Personnel

Wham!

Additional musicians

Production

  • George Michael – producer, arrangements
  • Chris Porter – engineer
  • Paul Gomersall – assistant engineer
  • P/S/A – design
  • Tony McGee – photography

Charts

<templatestyles src="Col-begin/styles.css"/>

Certifications and sales

Template:Certification Table Top Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Summary Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Bottom

Tour

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Wham! embarked on a world tour to promote the album in December 1984, opening at Whitley Bay's Ice Rink, before going on to dates in Japan, Australia, United States, United Kingdom, Hong Kong and China, ending in April 1985 at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in Canton.

References

Template:Reflist

Template:Wham!

Template:Authority control

  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named RIAA
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ a b Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named soundonsound.com
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Template:Cbignore
  5. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named RS
  9. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  10. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  11. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named AllMusic
  12. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Library and Archives Canada. Template:Webarchive Retrieved 26 February 2012
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Wham!".
  19. ↑ a b Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named JPCB
  20. ↑ Billboard. 8 December 1984, p 59.
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  38. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  39. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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