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"Soul Free"
Artwork for the Australian CD release
Single by George Michael
from the album Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
B-side
WrittenJune 1990[1]
ReleasedApril 1991 (1991-04)
Genre
Length
  • 5:30 (album version)
  • 4:19 (special radio edit)
Label
SongwriterGeorge Michael
ProducerGeorge Michael
George Michael singles chronology
"Cowboys and Angels"
(1991)		 "Soul Free"
(1991)		 "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"
(1991)
Licensed audio
"Soul Free" on YouTube

"Soul Free" is a song by English singer-songwriter George Michael, released in 1991 in various territories as the final single from his second solo studio album, Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (1990).

Release

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In April 1991, "Soul Free" was released as a cassette single in North America by Columbia Records under the catalogue number 38T 73799,[2] featuring an edited version of "Cowboys and Angels" as the B-side. In Japan, the single was released in the mini CD format by Epic Records on 1 June. In Australia, "Soul Free" was issued as a CD and cassette single on 8 July, featuring "Praying for Time" and "Freedom! '90" as the B-sides.

"Soul Free" reached number 95 on the ARIA singles chart.[3]

Critical reception

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In a review for the Gavin Report, critic Dave Sholin wrote, "Whether it's stirring, introspective pieces or light hearted, upbeat creations such as this Reggae-tinged track, it's always a musical adventure when it comes to the genius of George Michael."[4]

"Soul Free" received positive commentary in retrospective reviews. In its 2003 reappraisal of Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, Slant Magazine noted the song as "the only bona fide uptempo tune besides 'Freedom! '90'," and praised its hip-hop rhythm, "reggae-inflected" melody and Michael's "signature bouncy keyboards and falsetto."[5] In a 2020 review for BBC Online, Nick Levine wrote that "the house-flecked 'Soul Free' [...] shimmered with the possibility of a semi-illicit thrill as Michael sang in an ecstatic falsetto: 'When you touch me baby, I don't have no choice, oh that sweet temptation in your voice!'"[6]

Track listings

[edit]

All tracks are written by George Michael.

North American cassette single[7][8]
No.TitleLength
1."Soul Free"5:24
2."Cowboys and Angels" (radio edit)4:34
US promotional CD single[9]
No.TitleLength
1."Soul Free" (special radio edit)4:19
2."Cowboys and Angels" (radio edit)4:34
Japanese mini CD single[10]
No.TitleLength
1."Soul Free"5:26
2."Cowboys and Angels" (radio edit)4:35
Australian CD and cassette single[11][12]
No.TitleLength
1."Soul Free"5:30
2."Freedom! '90"6:30
3."Praying for Time"4:40

Personnel

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Credits adapted from the Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 album liner notes.[1]

  • George Michael – vocals, bass, keyboards
  • Tony Patler – keyboards
  • Danny Cummings – percussion

Charts

[edit]
Weekly chart performance for "Soul Free"
Chart (1991) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[3] 95

Release history

[edit]
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States April 1991 Cassette Columbia [2]
Canada
Japan 1 June 1991 Mini CD Epic [13]
Australia 8 July 1991
  • CD
  • cassette
 [14]

References

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  1. 1 2 Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (liner notes). George Michael. Epic Records. 3 September 1990. p. 12. 467295 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) CS1 maint: year (link)
  2. 1 2 "Hot New Releases" (PDF). Hits. 15 April 1991. p. 1. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  3. 1 2 "ARIA Top 100 Singles". The ARIA Report. No. 80. 4 August 1991. p. 4.
  4. ↑ Sholin, Dave (12 April 1991). "Personal Picks: Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. p. 60. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  5. ↑ Cinquemani, Sal (20 September 2003). "Review: George Michael, 'Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1'". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  6. ↑ Levine, Nick (8 September 2020). "How George Michael transformed pop". BBC Online. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  7. ↑ Soul Free (cassette single). George Michael. United States: Columbia Records. 1991. 38T 73799.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ↑ Soul Free (cassette single). George Michael. Canada: Columbia Records. 1991. 38T 73799.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ↑ Soul Free / Cowboys and Angels (promotional CD single). George Michael. United States: Columbia Records. 1991. CSK 4059.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ↑ Soul Free (mini CD single). George Michael. Japan: Epic Records. 1991. ESDA 7071.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ↑ Soul Free (CD single). George Michael. Australia: Epic Records. 1991. 657295 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ↑ Soul Free (cassette single). George Michael. Australia: Epic Records. 1991. 657295 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ↑ "ソウル・フリー | ジョージ・マイケル" [George Michael | Soul Free] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  14. ↑ "New Release Summary – Product Available from : 8/07/91: Singles". The ARIA Report. No. 76. 7 July 1991. p. 19.
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