On this day in music history: December 12, 1987 - āFaithā by George Michael hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 4 weeks. Written and produced by George Michael, it is the second solo chart topper for British born singer, songwriter and producer. The initial idea for what becomes the title track for George Michaelās first solo album comes from the singerās music publisher Dick Leahy. Leahy suggests to Michael to write a song with a rock & roll feel. Taking the suggestion to heart, Michael writes the song quickly, utilizing the classic āBo Diddley beatā as the template. āFaithā is recorded at PUK Studios in Copenhagen, Denmark using the Synclavier 9600 Tapeless Studio, making it one of the first major hit singles to be recorded on a computer hard disk system rather than on analog or digital tape. The track features Michael and Chris Cameron on keyboards and drum programming, Hugh Burns on guitars, and Deon Estus on bass. Burns records his acoustic guitar part using an old aluminum bodied resophonic guitar found lying around the studio. Initially, George wants to wait until another guitar is delivered to the studio to cut the part, but when it doesnāt arrive in time, the other guitar is used instead. For the songās intro, Michael adds a cathedral organ (actually a Yamaha DX-7 synthesizer, using the pipe organ preset) playing the chorus section of Whamās song āFreedomā, both as an in joke and a play on āreligious faithā. The lyrics for āFaithā are written as George meticulously records his lead vocal on the track, line by line and in some instances punched in word by word until it is complete. The single is accompanied by a simple but memorable music video, directed by long time Wham collaborator Andy Morahan. Most of the clothing worn by the singer are his own personal items, with the BSA leather motorcycle jacket being purchased at a shop called Leathers And Treasures in the Melrose district in Los Angeles, just prior to the video shoot. The Gretsch G400 Synchromatic Arch Top guitar played by Michael in the video, is found at a pawn shop near where the jacket is purchased. The clip becomes instantly iconic, cementing the visuals in the publicās mind. Something that proves to be a double edged sword for the musician, who symbolically destroys props from the video in the clip for āFreedom ā90ā in an effort break free from that image. Issued two and a half weeks before the album on October 12, 1987, āFaithā is an immediate smash. Entering the Hot 100 at #54 on October 24, 1987, it climbs to the top of the chart seven weeks later. The single is Michaelās fifth number one single in the US overall (including three with Wham!), and is ranked the top selling single of 1988 by Billboard Magazine. āFaithā is certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.
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