Complete List Of Rick Astley Songs From A to Z

Feature Photo: Andrew Hurley from Wallasey, England, United Kingdom, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Richard Paul Astley stormed into the music scene from Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire, where he was born on February 6, 1966. His journey to stardom began when record producer Pete Waterman discovered him performing as the lead vocalist for the soul band FBI at a Warrington nightclub. Though initially reluctant, Astley eventually accepted Waterman’s offer and moved to London, where he spent two years learning the recording process under the tutelage of the production team Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW), starting as a studio “tea boy” to overcome his natural shyness.

Astley’s breakthrough came in 1987 with his debut single “Never Gonna Give You Up,” which dominated the charts, spending five weeks at number one in the UK and becoming the highest-selling single of that year. The song conquered charts in 24 other countries, including the United States, Australia, and West Germany. This phenomenal success launched Astley into the global spotlight, culminating in him winning the Best British Single at the 1988 BPI Awards (now the BRIT Awards) and performing before an audience of 100 million viewers worldwide.

Following his initial success, Astley continued his chart dominance with singles like “Whenever You Need Somebody,” “Take Me to Your Heart,” and “Together Forever,” the latter becoming his second number one hit in the United States. His debut album “Whenever You Need Somebody” (1987) was an international sensation, selling over 15.2 million copies worldwide, reaching number one in Britain and Australia, and achieving multiple platinum certifications across the globe. The album made Astley the top-selling British act of the year and solidified his status as a pop superstar.

Astley’s second album, “Hold Me in Your Arms” (1989), reached number 8 in the UK and number 19 in the US, achieving platinum and gold certifications worldwide. The album’s first single, “She Wants to Dance with Me,” written by Astley himself, became another international top 10 hit. By this point in his career, Astley had achieved the remarkable feat of being in the UK Top 40 every week for the first six months of his career, and during the period between his debut release and fifth single, he outsold every other artist in the world.

In 1991, Astley made a significant artistic shift, leaving Stock Aitken Waterman to explore soul music with his third album, “Free.” The album reached number 9 in the UK and number 31 in the US, featuring collaborations with Elton John. His single “Cry for Help” from this album became his last major hit, reaching number 7 on both the UK Singles Chart and the US Billboard Hot 100. Astley followed this with his fourth album, “Body and Soul” (1993), after which he made the surprising decision to retire from the music industry at just 27 years old to focus on family life.

After a seven-year hiatus, Astley returned to the music scene in 2000, releasing the album “Keep It Turned On” in 2001, though it was only available in Continental Europe. His 2002 compilation album “Greatest Hits” reached number 16 on the UK Albums Chart and was certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry despite receiving no promotion from Astley himself. In 2005, he released “Portrait,” an album of classic standard covers, which reached number 26 on the UK Albums Chart.

Astley experienced an unexpected career revival in 2007 when he became the subject of the internet meme “Rickrolling,” which utilized his “Never Gonna Give You Up” music video. This digital phenomenon thrust him back into the spotlight, leading to him winning the “Best Act Ever” award at the 2008 MTV Europe Music Awards. Building on this renewed popularity, Astley released the album “50” in 2016 to celebrate his 50th birthday, which topped the UK Album Sales charts and was later certified Platinum. He followed this with “Beautiful Life” in 2018, which peaked at number 6 on the UK Albums Chart.

Most recently, Astley released “Are We There Yet?” in October 2023, his first album of new music since 2018’s “Beautiful Life.” Inspired by soul music, it debuted at number 2 on the UK Albums Chart. Throughout his career, Astley has sold approximately 40 million records worldwide and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1989. His 2019 greatest hits album “The Best of Me” reached number 4 on the UK Albums Chart and topped the UK Independent Albums chart.

Beyond his recording career, Astley has shown remarkable versatility as a performer, collaborating with diverse artists including the Foo Fighters, with whom he’s performed his signature hit reimagined in the style of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” In 2021, he partnered with the band Blossoms to perform covers of The Smiths, performances that received positive reviews despite some controversy. Astley made his first appearance at the Glastonbury Festival in 2023, where he performed both a solo set and his Smiths tribute with Blossoms.

Outside of music, Astley has expanded his interests into the business world, partnering with Danish brewery Mikkeller in 2017 to open two pubs in London. He has also worked as a radio DJ for London’s Magic FM and appeared on shows like CBeebies Bedtime Stories. Throughout his professional journey, Astley has maintained his authenticity and passion for music, earning the respect of both fans and peers alike. His career represents a remarkable story of initial success, thoughtful retirement, and triumphant return, all characterized by his distinctive voice and genuine approach to his craft.