And just like that, it was over. After five years as one of the world's premier pop acts, Wham! announced that they were breaking up in the spring of 1986. Releasing a farewell single, "Edge of Heaven," George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley held one last concert, appropriately dubbed "The Final," on June 28, 1986, at London's Wembley Stadium, for 72,000 rabid fans. The show, which was opened by Gary Glitter and Nick Heyward of Haircut 100, featured appearances from the likes of Elton John and Duran Duran's Simon Le Bon.
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Just a few days later on July 1, 1986, Wham! released the band's final album in North America and Japan, Music from the Edge of Heaven. The ambitious collection of singles ranged from Motown-styled hits to covers of obscure Detroit new wave band, Was (Not Was). Another hit in the Wham! discography, the record peaked at #10 on the Billboard 200 for the week of August 23, 1986. The #1 album in America that week: Madonna's True Blue.
The album kicked off with "Edge of Heaven," the UK #1 that peaked at #10 in America.
Among the album's highlights was the Motown-worthy "I'm Your Man," the #1 UK single from September 1985 that climbed as high as #3 in America.
The album also included George Michael solo tune, "A Different Corner," a #7 hit that convinced Epic Records that Michael was ready to conquer pop music on his own, green-lighting the Faith project.
The aforementioned Was (Not Was) cover, "Where Did Your Heart Go?," would serve as the final Wham! single in America. It peaked at #50 on the Hot 100.
Music from the Edge of Heaven ends with the previously stand-alone single "Last Christmas," giving fans yet another reason to snap up the collection.
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