Wham! – Make It Big (White Vinyl)

Wham!'s Make It Big arrived in 1984 as the duo's second album and the record that turned George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley from British chart stars into genuine international pop heavyweights. With four huge singles - "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go," "Everything She Wants," "Freedom," and "Careless Whisper" - it captured the moment when Wham! broke America and fixed their place in 80s pop history.

What still makes the album work is how sharply it balances pure pop exuberance with a more polished, soulful streak. The big hooks are obvious, but Make It Big also shows George Michael growing quickly as a writer and producer, moving beyond the bright bounce of the debut into something sleeker and more confident. Even with only eight tracks, it covers a lot of ground, from the cheerfully over-the-top rush of "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" to the cooler, more mature pull of "Everything She Wants" and the slow-burn drama of "Careless Whisper."

This 2024 vinyl return matters because the album had been absent from the format for more than 30 years. For collectors and casual fans alike, it brings back one of Wham!'s defining records in a way that suits its scale: direct, catchy, and still very good at sounding like pop music aiming squarely for the top.

Features

• 1xLP, White Vinyl, Limited Edition
• Standard sleeve with printed inner bag and insert
• First vinyl reissue in over 30 years

Reviews

• It was an instant classic, and it was the first indication of George Michael's strengths as a pop craftsman - AllMusic.com