Older and wiser.

Ladies & Gentleman ... The Best of George Michael * George Michael * Epic

It's expected for superstars to release greatest hits packages at Christmastime. It's also expected that record companies will try to capitalize on the misfortunes of their artists if it can possibly result in higher numbers at the cash register. Of course, those little exploitative tributes tend to follow sympathy-inducing death, not the circumstances under which George Michael was arrested in April. But the wheels were already in motion for a contract-fulfilling retrospective when the pop star made headlines earlier this year. And although his situation was far from ideal, this veteran singer has managed to maintain his dignity. The long overdue coming out following his arrest was one of the classiest, most levelheaded elements of a career that has been plagued by ugly court cases and lengthy silences.

Although he began as a teeny-bop god and was loved for his twinkly smile, not to mention his professional partnership with fellow Wham!-ster Andrew Ridgeley, Michael would like to be remembered not for scandal, but for music. The '80s icon has remained an expressive singer-songwriter, whose trend-shunning catalog remains nearly timeless.

The first disc of his new greatest hits collection features one big, beautiful ballad after the other. It's hard to fault his soaring tenor or emotive melodies. Yet not even the welcome inclusion of live B sides (his perfectly pained rendition of Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me") and benefit-album cuts (a duet with Brazilian chanteuse Astrud Gilberto on "Desafinado") can compensate for the fact that Michael's moodier, echodrenched moments tend to closely resemble each other. There's more variation here than in an uninterrupted hour of Celine chest-thumpers, but not enough to keep one engaged by this melodramatic side of Michael's personality.

The second, up-tempo disc is much more varied, even earthy. While his ballads tend to be overplayed, Michael's dance numbers haven't always found a deserved audience: Few Americans have heard the funkified single reworkings of "Star People 97" and "Spinning the Wheel." And older gems like his teaming with Aretha Franklin on "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" sound better than you might remember.

Since the U.S. edition of Best of leaves off a duet with Mary J. Blige, the only new tracks among the set's 28 cuts are the jazzy "A Moment With You" and "Outside," a spirited disco romp complete with veiled allusions to his arrest. This edgier material proves there are enough reasons to maintain your faith in Michael.

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Here are a few interesting things George Michael wants you to know about three new songs he recorded for Ladies & Gentlemen ... The Best of George Michael:

To begin, let's address the cut you will not hear at all: "As"--an old Stevie Wonder song. Michael recorded the song with R&B artist Mary J. Blige. Everyone was happy with the project. Blige and Michael sound sensational together. Unfortunately, Michael was still in the process of making the song when he was arrested in April. He resumed putting the final touches on the cut in October and was about to release the CD when, according to Michael, "[Blige's record label, MCA/Universal] said, `No, you can't use it at all. We don't want her on it with George Michael.'"

Michael insists that Blige would like the track kept on the album. In fact, it will be on the international version of the CD and the second single released in Europe.

The current single, "Outside," is, according to its creator, "about the joys of outdoor public sex." The song and video are clearly a catharsis for the man who found himself in that Beverly Hills rest room. At the end of the video, Michael makes "a personal dedication to the officer that arrested me. He's going to be very embarrassed by the video."

And, finally, take note of the third new song in the Best collection, "A Moment With You." If you have not heard it yet, stop reading this column. Go listen to it.

Now that you've heard this easy-groovin' love song, it will probably take on a whole new meaning when you know it was written for the man who, Michael says, participated in the bathroom sex act that led to Michael's arrest. With lyrics like, "Hey, this won't take much time/We won't touch .../ And nothing was further from my mind than this moment with you," Michael is clearly still "working out" his past traumatic year.

--Judy Weider

Walters is a pop-music critic for The Advocate.