Sold is the debut solo studio album by English singer Boy George, released in 1987 by Virgin Records. The album includes George's cover of "Everything I Own", which reached number one in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Norway, and the top 10 in several other countries.
Background Sold was released following the breakup of George's band Culture Club in 1986 and his subsequent recovery from drug addiction.
Commercial performance The album was successful in Europe, but failed to sell as well in the United States, reaching only No. 145 on the Billboard 200. The album got good reviews.
Singles Following on from the success of "Everything I Own", three further singles were released from the album: "Keep Me in Mind" (UK No. 29), the title track "Sold" (UK No. 24) and "To Be Reborn" (UK No. 13).
Track listing
Singles "Everything I Own"/"Use Me" "Keep Me in Mind"/"State of Love" (+ "I Pray '87" on the 12" maxi single) "Sold"/“Are You Too Afraid?” "To Be Reborn"/"Where Are You Now (When I Need You?)"
B-sides "Use Me" – (O'Dowd, Martin, Stevens) "State of Love" (Edit & Extended Mix) – (O'Dowd, Roy Hay, Phil Pickett) "I Pray '87" – (O'Dowd, Hay, Jon Moss, Mikey Craig, Pickett) "Are You Too Afraid" – (Hay, O'Dowd)
Other songs "Let It Be" (with Ferry Aid) (Lennon/McCartney) – 6:08 "The Wishing Well" (with GOSH!) (Chris Copping) – 5:30 "Live My Life" (from the Hiding Out soundtrack)
Personnel
Musicians Boy George – lead male vocals Helen Terry – female vocals Richie Stevens – drums, percussion Vic Martin – keyboards Glenn Nightingale – guitars and background vocals Ian Maidman – bass Paul "Wix" Wickens – keyboards and rhythm arrangement on tracks 2, 6 & 11 Michael Timothy – keyboards Juliet Roberts – backing vocals Carroll Thompson – backing vocals Captain Crucial (Amos Pizzey) – toastin' Lorenzo Hall – backing vocals Jerry Hey – arranging strings and horns
Production Stewart Levine – production Glenn Skinner – sound engineer; production on track 10 Steve Reece – assistant sound engineer Malcolm Garrett per Assorted iMaGes – sleeve Paul Gobel, Johnny Rozsa, Bill Ling – photography
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts Chart (1987)PeakpositionDutch Albums Chart51Italian Albums Chart4Norwegian Albums Chart15Swedish Albums Chart18Swiss Albums Chart15UK Albums Chart29US Billboard 200145
Certifications
Release history Country Year Label Format Catalogue United Kingdom 1987 Virgin Records CD CDV 2430 MC MCV 2430 LP V 2430
References
External links Lyrically Speaking: Web page including all the lyrics to the Sold album, the lyrics of its singles, B-sides, "The Wishing Well" and "Let It Be", as well as all lyrics to the songs by Culture Club, Boy George, Jesus Loves You and related projects.