Boy George was one of my childhood musical heroes. Well, “hero” might be overstating it a bit, but as a kid I definitely took a keen interest in all things Culture Club. When the band came on the scene circa 1982, I ravenously devoured all the press about Boy George’s gender-bending antics and the resulting “Is he or isn’t he?” conjecture left in the singer’s long-coated wake.

If Culture Club’s music hadn’t been just as captivating, George’s outré image might not have mattered much, but as it was, I just couldn’t get enough of either. I faithfully followed Culture Club for years, through the band’s commercial highs, lows, and regular rumors of infighting, until the band’s ultimate demise in 1986. I then turned my attention to Boy George’s solo career, but it too was plagued with extreme swings, the result of the singer’s continuing struggle with addiction and other personal dramas.

Still, George could be counted upon to deliver the occasional brilliant moment, like his 1992 comeback single, “The Crying Game,” produced by Pet Shop Boys. Cheapness and Beauty, his 1995 foray into rock and country music (“Same Thing In Reverse” was a fave), gave me the opportunity to finally meet the man behind the Boy. Promoting the album at the radio station where I was an intern, George graciously chatted with me and gave me an autograph; though my article-clipping years were well behind me, I was still absolutely star-struck. A few years later Culture Club reunited and recorded 1999’s Don’t Mind If I Do, but the true highlight was a genius B-side with Dolly Parton, a re-do of one of the album’s tracks. All good musical things, even if they all didn’t quite catch on the way I would have liked.

Now back on his feet after enduring some legal troubles in the past couple of years, Boy George is focusing his energies once more on making music. He’s still dabbling in the dance scene rather than returning to straight-up pop, but a new guest shot on Mark Ronson & The Business Intl‘s Record Collection (just out today) serves as a fantastic toe-dip back into more mainstream waters; it’s high time the whole world heard George’s unmistakable voice again.

As with DJ/music producer Ronson’s 2007 release, Version, some all-star talent pitches in on Record Collection, though this time around the tunes are totally new and Ronson even grabs the mic for a track or two. So far “Bang Bang Bang” and “The Bike Song” have been released as singles, but those tunes sound more like novelties to me. It’s the Boy George-featuring “Somebody To Love Me,” with additional vocals by Andrew Wyatt of Miike Snow, that’s really worth a listen. (It should be, since seven writers are credited with crafting the song, including Cathy Dennis.) After so many years, it’s so good to welcome back the Boy that once was tops in my eyes:

Purchase Mark Ronson & The Business Intl feat. Boy George – “Somebody To Love Me” via iTunes, Amazon MP3.