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 2023
Studio albums9
Compilation albums12
Singles24
Remix albums2

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.

His most recent studio album Are We There Yet? was released in 2023.

Albums

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Studio albums

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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
  • Release date: 26 November 1988
  • Label: RCA
  • Formats: Cassette, CD, LP
8 19 30 3 3 42 28 7 11 19
Free
  • Release date: 12 March 1991
  • Label: RCA
  • Formats: Cassette, CD, LP
9 20 24 17 8 23 16 26 31
Body & Soul
  • Release date: 28 September 1993
  • Label: RCA
  • Formats: Cassette, CD
185
Keep It Turned On
  • Release date: 3 December 2001
  • Label: Cruz Music/Polydor
  • Formats: CD, LP
56
Portrait 26
50
  • Release date: 10 June 2016[16]
  • Label: BMG
  • Formats: CD, digital download, LP
1 41 21 65 44
Beautiful Life
  • Release date: 13 July 2018
  • Label: BMG
  • Formats: CD, digital download, LP, cassette
6 70 40 44
Are We There Yet?
  • Release date: 13 October 2023[17]
  • Label: BMG
  • Formats: CD, digital download, LP, cassette
2 29
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

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Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales threshold)
UK
[1]
AUS
[2]
GER
[5]
SPA
[18]
Together Forever – Greatest Hits and More...
  • Release date: 2000 (Taiwan)
  • Label: RCA
Greatest Hits
  • Release date: 19 March 2002 (US)
    28 August 2002 (EU)
  • Label: BMG
16
The Best of Rick Astley – Never Gonna Give You Up
  • Release date: 11 March 2003
  • Label: BMG
Love Songs
  • Release date: February 2004
  • Label: BMG
The Platinum and Gold Collection – Rick Astley
  • Release date: 9 March 2004
  • Label: Arista
Artist Collection: Rick Astley
  • Release date: 12 October 2004
  • Label: BMG
Collections
Together Forever – The Best of Rick Astley
  • Release date: 16 July 2007 (UK)
  • Label: Music Club
Ultimate Collection
  • Release date: 28 April 2008 (EU)
  • Label: Sony BMG
17
Playlist: The Very Best of Rick Astley
  • Release date: 17 June 2008 (US)
  • Label: Sony BMG
The Best Of
  • Release date: 6 October 2014
  • Label: Camden, Sony Music
Greatest Hits
  • Release date: 5 November 2014 (Japan)
  • Label: RCA
The Best of Me
  • Release date: 25 October 2019
  • Label: BMG
4 175 76 25
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Remix albums

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Title Details
Dance Mixes
  • Release date: 1990
  • Re-release: July 2007
  • Label: RCA
12" Collection
  • Release date: 1999
  • Re-release: 2006
  • Label: BMG

Unreleased albums

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Title Details
My Red Book[19]
  • Release date: 2013 (promo only)
  • Label: Cruz Music
  • Formats: CD

Singles

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As lead artist

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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
"Lights Out"[D] 2010 97 My Red Book
(unreleased)
"Superman" 2012
"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
"Love This Christmas" 2020 Non-album singles
"Unwanted" 2021
"Dippin My Feet" 2023 Are We There Yet?
"Never Gonna Stop"
"Forever and More"
"Driving Me Crazy" 2024
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
edit
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
UK
[1]
AUS
[2]
BEL
[20]
GER
[5]
IRE
[22]
NL
[6]
NZ
[7]
SWE
[8]
SWI
[9]
"When You Gonna"
(with Lisa Carter)
1987 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
"Winter Wonderland"
(with Kim Wilde)
2013 Wilde Winter Songbook
"Will o' the Wisp ft. Rick Astley" [3-track EP]
(with Will o' the Wisp)
2021 Non-album singles
"Bring Back the Time"
(with New Kids on the Block, Salt-N-Pepa, and En Vogue)
2022
"Owner of a Lonely Heart"
(with Trevor Horn)
2023 Echoes: Ancient & Modern
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Promotional singles

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Title Year Album
"Wonderful You" 1991 Free
"Keep It Turned On"[C] 2002 Keep It Turned On
"Vincent" 2005 Portrait
"Pray with Me" 2016 50

Notes

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  • A ^ Not released in North America.
  • B ^ Not released in the United Kingdom and most of Europe.
  • C ^ Released in Germany and Switzerland only.
  • D ^ Promoted in the United Kingdom only.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d 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/.
  2. ^ a b c d Peak positions in Australia:
  3. ^ "Discographie Rick Astley". Austrian Charts Portal. Hung Medien.
  4. ^ "Rick Astley – Chart History: Canadian Albums". Billboard.
  5. ^ a b c d Peak positions in Germany:
  6. ^ a b c Peak positions in the Netherlands:
  7. ^ a b c Peak positions in New Zealand:
  8. ^ a b c Peak positions in Sweden:
  9. ^ a b c Peak positions in Switzerland:
  10. ^ "Rick Astley – Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard.
  11. ^ a b "Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA): Gold & Platinum". Canadian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 11 May 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g "BPI Searchable Database". British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 24 September 2009. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  13. ^ a b "RIAA – Recording Industry Association of America – Searchable Database". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  14. ^ "1988 ARIA Albums Chart". Australian Record Industry Association. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  15. ^ "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.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ Benitez-Eves, Tina (20 June 2023). "Rick Astley Reveals Upcoming Album Are We There Yet?". American Songwriter. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  18. ^ "Discography Rick Astley (Albums)". Spanish Charts Portal. Hung Medien.
  19. ^ "Rick Astley on Facebook". Facebook. Archived from the original on 30 April 2022.[user-generated source]
  20. ^ a b Peak positions in Belgium:
  21. ^ Peak positions for songs in Canada:
  22. ^ a b Peak positions in Ireland:
  23. ^ Peak positions for songs in the United States:
  24. ^ a b ""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.
  25. ^ "1988 ARIA Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association.
  26. ^ a b "Canada Certifications". Music Canada.
  27. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Rick Astley)" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  28. ^ "Swedish Certifications" (PDF). Swedish Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 May 2012.
  29. ^ "riaa.com Certifications". Recording Industry Association of America.