Rick Astley discography
The discography of English singer and songwriter Rick Astley consists of nine studio albums, five compilation albums, two remix albums, and twenty-four singles.
| Rick Astley discography | |
|---|---|
 Astley performing in Santiago de Chile in 2009 | |
| Studio albums | 9 |
| Compilation albums | 12 |
| Singles | 24 |
| Remix albums | 2 |
His debut studio album, Whenever You Need Somebody, was released in November 1987. It peaked at number 1 on the UK Albums Chart and number 10 on the US Billboard 200. Astley became a global pop sensation in 1987 with his debut single "Never Gonna Give You Up" written by the trio Stock Aitken Waterman. The song was at number one on the UK Singles Chart for five weeks, becoming the year's highest-selling single. The song was also a worldwide number one hit, topping the charts in 24 other countries, including the US, Australia, and Germany. "Whenever You Need Somebody" was released as the second single from the album in October 1987. The single was a recycled Stock, Aitken, Waterman song, originally recorded by O'Chi Brown in 1985. It became a successful European hit, reaching number 1 in seven countries, including Germany and Sweden, following up the success of his debut single. It also reached Number 3 in the UK. In December 1987, Astley released a cover version of the Nat King Cole classic "When I Fall in Love". This single is mainly remembered for a closely fought contest for UK Christmas Number 1. Astley's fourth single release would be "Together Forever" in 1988, reaching Number 2 in the UK. It was denied the top spot by Kylie Minogue's debut "I Should Be So Lucky". The song was more successful in the US, reaching number 1, making it his second US chart topper. His fifth and final release from his debut album was "It Would Take a Strong Strong Man". It was a more soulful song when compared to his other releases and was mainly intended for the North American market. It was another hit for Astley reaching Number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Number 1 in Canada.
His second studio album, Hold Me in Your Arms, was released in November 1988. It peaked at number 8 on the UK Albums Chart and number 19 on the US Billboard 200. The lead single, "She Wants to Dance with Me" was Astley's first single which he wrote himself and became a worldwide top 10 hit. In Europe, "Take Me to Your Heart" and "Hold Me in Your Arms" were released as the next singles. "Giving Up on Love" was released as the second single off the album in the US and Canada and was later released in some countries of continental Europe as the fourth and last single off the album and a cover of The Temptations' "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" was released as the third and last single in the US and Japan.
His third studio album, Free, was released in March 1991. It peaked at number 9 on the UK Albums Chart and number 31 on the US Billboard 200. It was his first album not to be produced by the noted production team of Stock Aitken Waterman. It gave Astley another hit single in the ballad "Cry for Help" which became a Top 10 in both the UK and US. Further singles "Move Right Out" and "Never Knew Love" were less successful.
His fourth studio album, Body & Soul, was released in September 1993. It peaked at number 185 on the US Billboard 200. Two singles were released from the album "The Ones You Love" and "Hopelessly". After this album, Astley left the music business behind for several years and released no new material until 2001. It is estimated that by retirement at the end of 1993 Rick Astley had sold approximately 40 million records.
His fifth studio album, Keep It Turned On, was released in December 2001. The album peaked at number 56 on the German Albums Chart. Two singles were released from the album "Sleeping" and "Keep It Turned On". "Sleeping" peaked at No. 60 in Germany and No. 69 in Switzerland.
His sixth studio album, Portrait, was released in October 2005. The album peaked at number 26 on the UK Albums Chart. His first album to chart in the UK since Free in 1991. My Red Book, was planned to be released in January 2013. This unreleased album contains tracks such as "Lights Out", "Superman" and "Goodbye But Not the End". "Let It Rain" and "I Like the Sun" appear on his album 50. "Lights Out" was released in 2010, his first single released in the UK for almost 17 years.
His seventh studio album, 50, was released in June 2016. The album peaked at number 1 on the UK Albums Chart, becoming Astley's first number-one album since his 1987 debut album, Whenever You Need Somebody. "Keep Singing" was released as the lead single from the album on 6 April 2016, peaking to number 127 on the UK Singles Chart. "Angels on My Side" was released as the second single from the album on 13 May 2016.
His eighth studio album, Beautiful Life, was released in July 2018. The album peaked at number 6 on the UK Albums Chart, becoming Astley's fifth top ten album in the United Kingdom. The album includes the singles "Beautiful Life" and "Empty Heart".
His greatest hits album, The Best of Me, was released in October 2019. The first compilation to be compiled by Astley, it features hit singles and album tracks throughout Astley's career. The deluxe version of the album includes a second disc which features several pianoforte versions of the singles featured on the first disc. A pianoforte version of "Never Gonna Give You Up" is included on the first disc.
Albums
Studio albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales threshold) | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [1] |
AUS [2] |
AUT [3] |
CAN [4] |
GER [5] |
NL [6] |
NZ [7] |
SWE [8] |
SWI [9] |
US [10] | ||||||||||
| Whenever You Need Somebody | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 10 | |||||||||
| Hold Me in Your Arms |
|
8 | 19 | 30 | 3 | 3 | 42 | 28 | 7 | 11 | 19 | ||||||||
| Free |
|
9 | 20 | 24 | 17 | 8 | 23 | — | 16 | 26 | 31 |
| |||||||
| Body & Soul |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 185 | ||||||||
| Keep It Turned On[C] |
|
— | — | — | — | 56 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Portrait |
|
26 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| 50[16] |
|
1 | — | 41 | — | 21 | 65 | — | — | 44 | — |
| |||||||
| Beautiful Life |
|
6 | — | 70 | — | 40 | — | — | — | 44 | — |
| |||||||
| Are We There Yet?[17] |
|
2 | 25 | — | — | 29 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| "—" denotes an album that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||||||||
Compilation albums
| Title | Details | Peak position | Certifications (sales threshold) | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [1] |
AUS [2] |
GER [5] |
SPA [18] | ||||||||||||||||
| Together Forever – Greatest Hits and More... |
|
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Greatest Hits |
|
16 | — | — | — |
| |||||||||||||
| The Best of Rick Astley – Never Gonna Give You Up |
|
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Love Songs |
|
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| The Platinum and Gold Collection – Rick Astley |
|
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Artist Collection: Rick Astley |
|
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Collections |
|
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Together Forever – The Best of Rick Astley |
|
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Ultimate Collection |
|
17 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Playlist: The Very Best of Rick Astley |
|
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| The Best Of |
|
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Greatest Hits |
|
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| The Best of Me |
|
4 | 175 | 76 | 25 | ||||||||||||||
| "—" denotes an album that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||||||||
Remix albums
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Dance Mixes |
|
| 12" Collection |
|
Unreleased albums
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| My Red Book[19] |
|
Singles
As lead artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [1] |
AUS [2] |
BEL [20] |
CAN [21] |
GER [5] |
IRE [22] |
NL [6] |
NZ [7] |
SWE [8] |
SWI [9] |
US [23] | |||||||||
| "Never Gonna Give You Up" | 1987 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | Whenever You Need Somebody | ||||||
| "Whenever You Need Somebody" [A] | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | 1 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 1 | — | ||||||||
| "When I Fall in Love" "My Arms Keep Missing You" [A] |
2 | 5 | 1 | — | 6 | 2 | 3 | 25 | 12 | 14 | — |
| |||||||
| "Together Forever" | 1988 | 2 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 12 | 10 | — | 14 | 1 |
| ||||||
| "It Would Take a Strong Strong Man" [B] | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | ||||||||
| "She Wants to Dance with Me" | 6 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 6 | Hold Me in Your Arms | |||||||
| "Take Me to Your Heart" [A] | 8 | 41 | 11 | — | 10 | 5 | 11 | 43 | 10 | 16 | — | ||||||||
| "Hold Me in Your Arms" [A] | 1989 | 10 | 77 | 25 | — | 32 | 7 | 35 | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| "Giving Up on Love" [B] | — | — | — | 45 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 38 | ||||||||
| "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" [B] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 89 | ||||||||
| "Cry for Help" | 1991 | 7 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 9 | 11 | — | 17 | — | 7 | Free | ||||||
| "Move Right Out" | 58 | 110 | — | 36 | 52 | — | 66 | — | — | — | 81 | ||||||||
| "Never Knew Love" | 70 | — | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| "The Ones You Love" | 1993 | 48 | 132 | — | 54 | 54 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Body & Soul | ||||||
| "Hopelessly" | 33 | — | — | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 28 | ||||||||
| "Sleeping" [C] | 2001 | — | — | — | — | 60 | — | — | — | — | 69 | — | Keep It Turned On | ||||||
| "Keep It Turned On" [C] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| "Lights Out" [D] | 2010 | 97 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | My Red Book (Unreleased) | ||||||
| "Goodbye But Not the End" [D] | 2013 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| "Keep Singing" [D] | 2016 | 127 | — | 75 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 50 | ||||||
| "Angels on My Side" [D] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| "Dance" [D] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| "Beautiful Life" | 2018 | — | — | 69 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Beautiful Life | ||||||
| "Empty Heart" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| "Try" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| "She Makes Me" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| "Giant" | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | ||||||
| "Every One of Us" | — | — | 77 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | The Best of Me | |||||||
| "Unwanted" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | |||||||
| "Love This Christmas" | 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | ||||||
| "Dippin My Feet" | 2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Are We There Yet? | ||||||
| "Never Gonna Stop" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| "—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||||||||
As featured artist
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [1] |
AUS [2] |
BEL [20] |
GER [5] |
IRE [22] |
NL [6] |
NZ [7] |
SWE [8] |
SWI [9] | |||||||||||
| 1987 | "When You Gonna" (with Lisa Carter) |
— | — | 20 | — | — | 17 | — | — | — | Greatest Hits | ||||||||
| "Let It Be" (as part of charity group Ferry Aid) |
1 | 28 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 1 | Charity single | |||||||||
| "Learning to Live (Without Your Love)" (with O'chi Brown) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | O'chi | |||||||||
| 2013 | "Winter Wonderland" (with Kim Wilde) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Wilde Winter Songbook | ||||||||
| 2021 | "Will o' the Wisp ft. Rick Astley" [3-track EP] (with Will o' the Wisp) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | ||||||||
| 2022 | "Bring Back the Time" (with New Kids on the Block, Salt-N-Pepa, and En Vogue) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | ||||||||
| "—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||||||||
Notes
References
- Peak positions in the United Kingdom:
- For all except noted: "Rick Astley". Official Charts Company.
- For "Can You Feel the Love Tonight": "Chart Archive > 17 July 1994 – 23 July 1994". Official Charts Company.
- For "Keep Singing": "CHART: CLUK Update 16.04.2016 (wk15)". zobbel.de/.
- Peak positions in Australia:
- Top 100 (Australian Music Report) peaks to 12 June 1988: Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. pp. 20–21. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent/Australian Music Report was licensed by ARIA between mid-1983 and 12 June 1988.
- "Let It Be" (Kent Music Report) peak: "Australian ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart – Week Ending 14th June 1987". ARIA. Retrieved 13 October 2020 – via Imgur.com.
- "Never Gonna Give You Up" (Australian Music Report) peak: "Australian ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart – Week Ending 13th December 1987". ARIA. Retrieved 13 October 2020 – via Imgur.com.
- "Whenever You Need Somebody" (single) (Australian Music Report) peak: "Australian ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart – Week Ending 27th March 1988". ARIA. Retrieved 13 October 2020 – via Imgur.com.
- "When I Fall in Love"/"My Arms Keep Missing You" (Australian Music Report) peak: "Australian ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart – Week Ending 29th May 1988". ARIA. Retrieved 13 October 2020 – via Imgur.com.
- Top 50 (ARIA) peaks from 13 June 1988: "Discography Rick Astley". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
- "Hold Me in Your Arms" (single) (ARIA) peak: "Chartifacts – Week Ending: 10 February 1991 (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 55)". ARIA. Retrieved 21 April 2016 – via Imgur.com.
- Top 100 (ARIA) peaks from January 1990 to December 2010: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 19.
- "Move Right Out" and "The Ones You Love" (ARIA) peaks: "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 15 July 2015". Imgur.com. Archived from the original on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
- All ARIA-era (13 June 1988 onwards) solo peaks to 13 October 2020: "Rick Astley ARIA chart history, received from ARIA on 13 October 2020". ARIA. Retrieved 13 October 2020 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column indicates the release's peak on the national chart.
- "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" (ARIA) peak: "australian-charts.com – Elton John – Can You Feel The Love Tonight".
- "Discographie Rick Astley". Austrian Charts Portal. Hung Medien.
- "Rick Astley – Chart History: Canadian Albums". Billboard.
- Peak positions in Germany:
- For all except noted: "Discographie Rick Astley". German Charts Portal. Hung Medien.
- For "Let It Be": "Ferry Aid – Let It Be". offiziellecharts.de.
- For "Can You Feel the Love Tonight": "Elton John – Can You Feel The Love Tonight". offiziellecharts.de.
- Peak positions in the Netherlands:
- For all except noted: "Discografie Rick Astley". Dutch Charts Portal. Hung Medien.
- For "Let It Be": "Ferry Aid – Let It Be – dutchcharts.nl".
- For "Can You Feel the Love Tonight": "Elton John – Can You Feel The Love Tonight – dutchcharts.nl".
- Peak positions in New Zealand:
- For all except noted: "Discography Rick Astley". New Zealand Charts Portal. Hung Medien.
- For "Let It Be": "charts.nz – Ferry Aid – Let It Be".
- For "Can You Feel the Love Tonight": "charts.nz – Elton John – Can You Feel The Love Tonight".
- Peak positions in Sweden:
- For all except noted: "Discography Rick Astley". Swedish Charts Portal. Hung Medien.
- For "Let It Be": "swedishcharts.com – Ferry Aid – Let It Be".
- For "Can You Feel the Love Tonight": "swedishcharts.com – Elton John – Can You Feel The Love Tonight".
- Peak positions in Switzerland:
- For all except noted: "Discographie Rick Astley". Swiss Charts Portal. Hung Medien.
- For "Let It Be": "Ferry Aid – Let It Be – hitparade.ch".
- For "Can You Feel the Love Tonight": "Elton John – Can You Feel The Love Tonight – hitparade.ch".
- "Rick Astley – Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard.
- "Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA): Gold & Platinum". Canadian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 11 May 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
- "BPI Searchable Database". British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 17 January 2010. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
- "RIAA – Recording Industry Association of America – Searchable Database". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
- "1988 ARIA Albums Chart". Australian Record Industry Association. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
- "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Albums Chart – 1989 (61–100) (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 1)". ARIA. Retrieved 15 December 2016 – via Imgur.com.
- Fitzpatrick, Katie (31 May 2016). "Rick Astley will perform and sign copies of his new album at HMV Manchester". men. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
- Benitez-Eves, Tina (20 June 2023). "Rick Astley Reveals Upcoming Album Are We There Yet?". American Songwriter. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
- "Discography Rick Astley (Albums)". Spanish Charts Portal. Hung Medien.
- "Rick Astley on Facebook". Facebook. Archived from the original on 30 April 2022.
- Peak positions in Belgium:
- For all except noted: "Discografie Rick Astley". Ultratop.
- For "Let It Be": "ultratop.be – Ferry Aid – Let It Be". Ultratop.
- For "Can You Feel the Love Tonight": "ultratop.be – Elton John – Can You Feel The Love Tonight". Ultratop.
- Peak positions for songs in Canada:
- For all except noted: "Rick Astley – Chart history – Billboard Canadian Hot 100". Billboard.
- For "Can You Feel the Love Tonight": "Elton John – Chart history – Billboard Canadian Hot 100". Billboard.
- Peak positions in Ireland:
- For all except noted: "Discography Rick Astley". Irish Charts Portal. Hung Medien.
- For "Let It Be": "Ferry Aid – Let It Be – dutchcharts.nl".
- For "Can You Feel the Love Tonight": "irishcharts.com – Elton John – Can You Feel The Love Tonight".
- CANSongs">Peak positions for songs in the United States:
- For all except noted: "Rick Astley – Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard.
- For "Can You Feel the Love Tonight": "Elton John – Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard.
- ""Certified Awards". Archived from the original on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2014.". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved on 9 November 2014. Note: User needs to enter "Rick Astley" in the "Search" field, "Artist" in the "Search by" field and click the "Go" button. Select "More info" next to the relevant entry to see full certification history.
- "1988 ARIA Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association.
- "Canada Certifications". Music Canada.
- "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Rick Astley)" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
- "Swedish Certifications" (PDF). Swedish Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 May 2012.
- "riaa.com Certifications". Recording Industry Association of America.
| Studio albums | |
|---|---|
| Compilations | |
| Remix albums | |
| Singles |
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| Related articles | |
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