This is one of the saddest, most depressing cds you'll ever listen to. There's definitely a haunting undertone here, but the songs are very good and they showcase Michael's tremendous singing ability. If you are looking for happy music, keep right on going, because this isn't for you. If you like a little piano, acoustic guitar, and a wide variety of song styles, then you should like this. It's George Michael in a way he was never seen before. I've always enjoyed this cd more than his candy-pop music, and I'll never part with it.

Throughout his entire career, his songwriting has always been unique, the haunting qualities of his voice have always been at the forefront of his melodies. Yet, he has only ever produced 3 albums, and his last real album was over 7 years ago. Where others of less talent, would produce new albums every 6 months or yearly, George evidentely can only release material when he has 'something to say'.

For many, George is the aspirational singer, songwriter. No one has ever combined such unique songwriting skills with such an emotive and addictive voice.

In many ways, this album contains tracks that are as good (Emotionally, Spiritually,) as can ever be produced, by anyone, anywhere.

Consider this, George was only 17 when he wrote 'careless whisper', seems incredible how someone so young had the maturity and talent to write / compose such a timeless and effortless ballad.

There seems to be 2 types of people in life, those that will look at a product, and appreciate its qualities, regardless of fashion or what mass popularity dictates. Or those that can only follow the mainstream, and go along with whatever is popular, good or, more usually, the very bad indeed.

So, the title of this album is perfect, for me and many others, its without doubt one of the very, very finest peices of music ever recorded. For others, it contains G.Michael who was ultra popular with girls when in Wham! so they can never get seen even holding the cd.

What does it take to change the essence of a man ?

After years of owning this album and never taking the time to really listen to it (due in no doubt to the stupid media problems and George's absense from the vids and the vids absense from Mtv) I rebought this on cd and after a listen straight through I came to several conclusions. A. YES, this cd needs desperately to be remastered as it sounds so sonically dead and harmonically hollow. B. This has without a doubt got to be one of the most underrated albums of the past 20 years. and C. George Michael is also one of our generation's most talented, honest and gifted singer/songwriter/producers in the history of modern pop music. Whereas we've all heard Freedom 90' and Praying for time (pure brilliance) it's the little gems on this disc that blow your socks off. "Heal the pain" is a gorgeous acoustic guitar driven song with a chorus that sticks in your head like peanut butter, "Soul Free" and "Mother's pride" are beautiful in execution and production. BUT the truest gem on this disc is the last track "Waiting (Reprise)". Two minutes and twenty seconds of pure, unguarded emotion. If this song doesn't give you goosebumps your emotionally dead. The vocals, lyrics and sparse arrangement make this tiny, short song HUGE and powerful. This little slice of musical heaven was just a precursor to the forthcoming honesty and emotional depths George was on his way to mining on all his subsequent material. Less is more, and in this case..... less was more than plenty. This song will go down in my books as one of the greatest, PUREST songs ever committed to vinyl. No wonder he opens all his shows with it. When he sings "HERE I AM!" you can't help but think "YES! And thank god for that!".

I seldom listen to pop, but this album grabbed me rightaway. For a start, this man can really SING. No off-key whining from him, no need for special effects to enhance a puny voice. Michael has plenty of power, great breath control and a sense of phrasing that is all his own. Listen Without Prejudice is virtuoso stuff.

The album is plainly Michael's cri de coeur. Take me seriously, he is saying. And we do. From start to finish, his combination of plaintive, heart-felt vocals and simple but hard-hitting lyrics are a joy, and this is an album that just gets better and better with repeated listenings.

Autobiography seems to run a strong theme throughout several of the songs, notably Something To Save, Waiting For That Day and the reprise that concludes the album. Michael is in pain, and he doesn't care who knows it. I've heard Michael's voice described as "plain" but there is nothing ordinary about these haunting performances.

Equally good is the moving Mother's Pride, an angry but sweetly sung condemnation of war. The song changes key two thirds of the way through, grabbing the heartstrings along the way.

A must-have for anyone who admires pop singing with a soul.

George Michael really showed that he had true talent with this album, beyond the hits enjoyed as part of the Wham! duo and his "Faith" album. Musically, lyrically, and vocally, each and every track here still stands the test of time and has yet to sound dated (with the exception of Soul Free, which contains many gimmicks that clearly identify the time period...but it's still good).

No matter what kind of drama George Michael went through with his record label...no matter what unfortunate choices he may have made in his personal life...the man remains one of pop music's greater talents. If he never recorded anything BUT "Listen Without Prejudice Volume I," he would still have earned his place among music's greats.

Like another reviewer, I'm also waiting for Volume 2!