1987 'Masterpiece' Ranked Among the Greatest Albums Ever Is Getting New Recognition 39 Years Later
In 1987, George Michael set out to prove he was more than a former boy-band star.
The result was Faith, a blockbuster solo debut that transformed him into one of the biggest artists in the world. Now, nearly four decades later, the album is receiving new recognition after being selected as one of Barnes & Noble's Albums of the Month for June 2026.
The retailer's vinyl spotlight highlights a handful of notable releases each month, and among June's selections, Faith stands as the classic pick. The June vinyl edition is a February 2026 reissue of the album that helped establish Michael as a solo superstar following the breakup of Wham!
Barnes & Noble praised the record in its selection notes, writing that Faith is a "superbly crafted pop masterpiece" that "captures George Michael's full arrival as a solo superstar after his Wham! era, blending infectious hooks with sleek production, wrapped up in his signature swagger."
The acclaim is hardly new.
Released in late 1987, Faith became one of the defining albums of the decade. The record spent 12 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and remained in the chart's Top 10 for an astonishing 51 non-consecutive weeks. It also made history as the first album by a white solo artist to reach No. 1 on Billboard's Top R&B Albums chart.
The album produced an extraordinary run of hit singles. "Faith," "Father Figure," "One More Try" and "Monkey" all reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making Michael the only British male solo artist to score four Hot 100 chart-toppers from a single album.
Commercially, the album was a phenomenon. Faith has sold more than 25 million copies worldwide and earned Diamond certification in the United States. At the 1989 Grammy Awards, it won Album of the Year, cementing Michael's status as one of pop music's most important artists.
What made Faith especially remarkable was Michael's creative control. He wrote and produced every track on the album except one, blending pop, R&B, soul, funk, rock and jazz influences into a collection that felt both ambitious and accessible.
The album's reputation has only grown over time. In Rolling Stone's 2023 edition of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, Faith ranked at No. 151. The publication praised Michael for successfully integrating R&B into his songwriting, highlighting everything from the soul ballads "Father Figure" and "One More Try" to the Prince-inspired funk of "I Want Your Sex" and "Hard Day."
Rolling Stone also noted the significance of Michael's transition from Wham! frontman to serious solo artist, writing that "when Michael went solo to prove what he could do, he nailed it on the first try."
Barnes & Noble's June selections also include releases from artists such as Cocteau Twins, the Notorious B.I.G., RAYE, t.A.T.u. and Holly Humberstone. But among the month's featured albums, Faith remains the clear legacy heavyweight.
Nearly 40 years after its release, the album still represents one of pop music's most successful reinventions. Michael set out to prove he belonged in the same conversation as artists like Michael Jackson and Prince.
With Faith, he made his case.
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This story was originally published June 2, 2026 at 9:57 AM.