George Michael’s Listen Without Prejudice Volume 1 came out 30 years ago today. It was released in the US a week later, on September 11. I have always been glad that admist all the horrible memories that are associated with that day, I have two very good ones. First, of course, is that it’s my sister’s birthday. The second is that on September 11, 1990 I was having dinner with my dad at the California Pizza Kitchen at the Beverly Center in Beverly Hills after auditioning for the latest version of To Tell The Truth. (And I was on! It’s on YouTube.) While waiting for our food, I looked across La Cienega and saw all the advertising for George’s new record in all the windows at the Wherehouse across the street. I couldn’t finish my pizza fast enough. I listened all the way home to Irvine, devouring the lyrics, and trying to figure out the title, because 15-year-old me didn’t understand the whole pigeon-holed artist thing quite yet. I knew it was different. I knew that there were songs I loved immediately like “Heal The Pain.” What I didn’t know was that I would grow into this album as I got older, understanding it better and loving it more. Happy 30th to an all-time favorite! I wish we had gotten a Volume 2.