Whenever You Need Somebody

by Rick Astley

Overview

In the '80s and '90s, England's dance music team Stock, Aitken & Waterman was often accused of being too slick for its own good, and favoring style over substance. But the producers/songwriters (also known for their work with Dead or Alive and Samantha Fox) should definitely be proud of their work on fellow Briton Rick Astley's often captivating debut album, Whenever You Need Somebody. While the high-tech production is very '80s, Astley's soul/pop/dance music approach is very much a production of the '70s -- sort of the Average White Band meets Philly soul/disco meets Tom Jones. The best dance music works both on and off the dancefloor, and this certainly holds true on such slick yet gritty fare as "Together Forever," "Never Gonna Give You Up," and "Don't Say Goodbye." There are a few weak moments -- the lackluster "No More Looking for Love" being a glaring example -- but overall, this CD proved Astley to be a welcome addition to the British R&B scene. ~ Alex Henderson

Product Details

Release Date:	05/20/2022
Label:	Bmg Rights Management
UPC:	4050538793819
Rank:	47625

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Never Gonna Give You Up
2. Whenever You Need Somebody
3. Together Forever
4. It Would Take a Strong Strong Man
5. The Love Has Gone
6. Don't Say Goodbye
7. Slipping Away
8. No More Looking for Love
9. You Move Me
10. When I Fall in Love
11. My Arms Keep Missing You
12. I'll Never Set You Free [7¿ Mix]
13. Just Good Friends
14. Never Gonna Give You Up [Pianoforte]
15. Together Forever [Reimagined]
16. Whenever You Need Somebody [Reimagined]
17. When I Fall in Love [Reimagined]

Disc 2

18. Never Gonna Give You Up [Phil Harding 12'' Mix]
19. Together Forever [Lover's Leap Remix]
20. My Arms Keep Missing You [The ''Where's The Harry'' Remix]
21. Whenever You Need Somebody [XK 150 Mix]
22. My Arms Keep Missing You [Bruno's Remix]
23. Never Gonna Give You Up [Cake Mix]
24. Whenever You Need Somebody [Lonely Hearts Mix]
25. My Arms Keep Missing You [No L Mix]
26. Never Gonna Give You Up [Escape From Newton Mix]
27. Together Forever [House of Love Mix]
28. Whenever You Need Somebody [Rick Sets It Off Mix]
29. Never Gonna Give You Up [Instrumental]
30. It Would Take a Strong Strong Man [Instrumental]
31. Whenever You Need Somebody [Instrumental]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Rick Astley   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Robert Taggart   Piano,Keyboards
Matt Aitken   Guitar,Keyboards
Mike Stock   Keyboards
Gary Barnacle   Saxophone
Suzanne Rhatigan   Vocals (Background)
Ian Curnow   Fairlight,Keyboards
Daize Washbourn   Drums,Keyboards
A. Linn   Drums
Julian Cox   Guitar (Bass)
Simon Merry   Drums
Rob Taggart   Keyboards
Daize Washburn   Drums,Keyboards
Robert Taggert   Piano,Keyboards
Shirley Lewis   Vocals (Background)
Dee Lewis   Vocals (Background)
Mae McKenna   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Rick Astley   Composer,Engineer,Producer
The Extra Beat Boys   Mixing
Matt Aitken   Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Mike Stock   Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Harry Pratt   Composer
Daniel Frampton   Engineer
Edward Heyman   Composer,Lyricist
Karen Hewitt   Engineer
Theodore Wiggs   Composer
Gordon Jenkins   Arranger
Victor Young   Composer
Dick Beetham   Engineer
Ian Curnow   Producer,Programming
Peter Hammond   Mixing,Remixing
Rob Macfarlane   Engineer
Daize Washbourn   Producer
Peter Day   Assistant
Mike Duffy   Engineer
Funky Sisters   Mixing
Randy Merrill   Engineer
Gordon Dennis   Assistant
Theodore Wang   Composer
Peter Waterman   Composer,Lyricist
Jamie Bromfield   Engineer
Pete Hammond   Mixing,Remix Engineer
Daize Washburn   Producer
Dick Spatsley   Composer
Mark McGuine   Engineer
Scott "Top Ten" Kempner   Composer
Jonathan King   Assistant
Mark McGuire   Mixing,Engineer,Recording
Pete Waterman   Composer,Producer
Phil Harding   Mixing,Engineer,Producer