“The drums were triggering random sounds on the Juno and DX7, making what you now hear as the intro: a squelching, pulsing bass sound”: How a happy accident helped George Michael have a huge hit with the banned song he thought sounded too much like Prince

English singer, songwriter and musician, George Michael (1963-2016) performs live on stage at an Aids awareness charity concert at Wembley Arena in London in April 1987. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images).

It might have gone on to sell 25 million copies, but George Michael’s 1987 debut album, Faith, didn’t exactly start on the firmest footing.

Released in May of that same year as part of the soundtrack to Beverly Hills Cop II, first single I Want Your Sex might sound relatively tame by today’s standards, but 40 years ago, it caused quite the commotion, facing radio airplay bans and censorship.