Previously unseen studio footage offers a rare insight into George Michael's ambitious but ultimately unreleased album, 'Trojan Souls'. The 90 minutes of unedited video, released by his childhood friend and informal adviser Andros Georgiou, captures Michael in his creative prime during 1992, working on tracks intended for a host of musical icons including Aretha Franklin, Janet Jackson, and Sade Adu.
The project was conceived during a period of intense conflict between Michael and his record label, Sony Records. Frustrated with his image as a sex symbol and feeling that his previous album, 'Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1', had been underpromoted, Michael sought to assert his artistic independence. He embarked on 'Trojan Souls' as an alias project, inviting artists he admired to sing songs he had written, with only David Bowie reportedly declining the invitation.
Georgiou, who co-founded Aegean Records with Michael in 1996 and collaborated on the 1987 Top 10 hit 'Jive Talkin'' as Boogie Box High, was present throughout the sessions. He explains that the album's title, 'The Voice of Reason by the Trojan Souls', symbolised Michael's rebellious spirit, akin to the Trojan Horse. Despite the strained relationship with Sony, the project was initially offered to them before Warner Records swiftly agreed to fund it.
Work on 'Trojan Souls' was tragically cut short in March 1993 following the death of Michael's Brazilian boyfriend, Anselmo Feleppa, from Aids. The personal loss led Michael to lose interest in music for a period, and the album was never revived. Georgiou, who filmed much of the footage using a Hi8 camera provided by Sony during Michael's 'Faith' tour, describes the period as one of immense happiness for the singer, despite the underlying legal battles.
Georgiou's decision to release the footage comes after years of battling unauthorised clips appearing online. He hopes this official release will provide fans with an unfiltered view of Michael's genius and offer a glimpse into what he hyperbolically, yet perhaps accurately, calls 'the greatest album never made'. While tracks from the sessions have leaked over the years, this unedited video provides a comprehensive look at the creative process behind this legendary unreleased work.