Wham!, Love Machine | COVERS

In the 14^th edition of COVERS (2025), Wham! delivers a compelling rendition of “Love Machine,” originally performed by The Miracles.   

Ah, it’s time to get cozy and cover up! In COVERS, we highlight a musician or band covering songs by another musician (likely a popular musician). COVERS focuses solely on the musician who covers.  It is open to established musicians and musicians who may not be as well-known. In the 14^th edition of COVERS (2025), Wham! delivers a compelling rendition of “Love Machine”, originally performed by The Miracles.

“I’m just a love machine / And I won’t work for nobody but you (Yeah, baby) / I’m just a love machine / A hugging, kissing fiend.” “Love Machine” is a good look for Wham! comprised of two incredibly handsome dudes: Andrew Ridgeley (1963 – ) and the late, great George Michael (1963 – 2016) 😍.  Both were beginning adulthood when they released “Love Machine,” the third track from their 1983 debut album, Fantastic.  Their bigger, more renowned album arrived in 1984 (Make It Big) with many hits. “Love Machine” was originally released in 1975 by an iconic Motown group, The Miracles, led by Billy Griffin (1950 – ).  Post-Smokey Robinson (1940 – ), who left the group in 1972, The Miracles earned their final number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100.  The point is, Wham! had big shoes to fill given the success of “Love Machine.”

Could two English white guys match the energy and infectiousness of The Miracles? Can you say, “Hoo-hoo-hoo, yeah!” Even though it’s a big ask and a tall task, George Michael excels channeling his inner Billy Griffin as the lead vocalist on “Love Machine” (Ridgeley plays guitar). Michael gets assistance from background vocalists George Chandler, Jimmy Chambers, and Tony Jackson. It makes sense – this was a male group song originally. Groovy from the jump, it maintains the soulful, sexy, and carefree vibes of the original. Fittingly, the growled vocals, originally sung by Bobby Rogers (1940 – 2013), are firmly in play. Solid production (Michael and Steve Brown) captures the sounds of the original with some tasteful tweaks (Ah, the power of keyboards). Considering the original arrived in the mid-1970s, few changes were necessary to make “Love Machine” fit the early 1980s aesthetic. Ultimately, Wham! makes their rendition of “Love Machine” fun, fun, fun! They don’t necessarily usurp The Miracles, but to quote Ashford & Simpson, this cover is “Solid, solid as a rock”!

Wham! // Fantastic // Innervision // 1983

Wham!, Love Machine: Covers No. 14 (2025) [📷: Brent Faulkner /The Musical Hype; Innervision; Alan Cordero, Wolf Art from Pexels; AcatXIo, Enrique, OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay]