Free (Rick Astley album)

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Free
Free (Rick Astley album).jpg
Studio album by
Rick Astley
Released12 March 1991
Recorded1990–1991
GenreDance-pop
Length51:33
LabelRCA Records
ProducerGary Stevenson, Rick Astley
Rick Astley chronology
Dance Mixes
(1990) 		Free
(1991) 		Body & Soul
(1993)
Singles from Free
  1. "Cry for Help"
    Released: 20 January 1991
  2. "Move Right Out"
    Released: 24 March 1991
  3. "Never Knew Love"
    Released: 23 June 1991

Free is Rick Astley's third studio album, released on 12 March 1991 by RCA Records. 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. Free reached the UK Top 10 and the US Top 40 and marked the end of a successful four-year period for Astley.

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic1.5/5 stars link
Rolling Stone2/5 stars link
MSN Music1/5 stars link

Track listing[]

  1. "In the Name of Love" - 4:27 (Michael McDonald)
  2. "Cry for Help" - 4:54 (Rick Astley, Rob Fisher)
  3. "Move Right Out" - 3:50 (Rick Astley, Rob Fisher)
  4. "Be with You" - 4:07 (Rick Astley, Mark King)
  5. "Really Got a Problem" - 4:15 (Rick Astley, Mark King)
  6. "Is This Really Love"† - 3:26 (Rick Astley)
  7. "This Must Be Heaven" - 4:42 (Nicky Brown, Jeffrey Cohen, Jon Lind)
  8. "Never Knew Love" - 3:07 (Derek Bordeaux, John Paul)
  9. "The Bottom Line" - 5:13 (Rick Astley)
  10. "Some Kinda Love" (Japan bonus track) - 4:30 (Rick Astley)
  11. "Wonderful You" - 5:08 (Rick Astley)
  12. "Behind the Smile" - 4:33 (Rick Astley)

Note

  • † Not on LP PL74896

2010 re-issue[]

On 3 May 2010 an expanded edition of Free was released in a package containing both newly expanded and remastered editions of Free and Body and Soul.[1]

  1. "In the Name of Love" – 4:27
  2. "Cry for Help" – 4:54
  3. "Move Right Out" – 3:50
  4. "Be With You" – 4:07
  5. "Really Got a Problem" – 4:15
  6. "Is This Really Love" – 3:26
  7. "This Must Be Heaven" – 4:42
  8. "Never Knew Love" – 3:07
  9. "The Bottom Line" – 5:13
  10. "Wonderful You" – 5:08
  11. "Behind the Smile" – 4:33
  12. "Some Kinda Love" – 4:26
  13. "So Glad" – 3:23
  14. "Cry for Help" (Single Edit) – 4:19
  15. "Move Right Out" (7" Version) – 3:53
  16. "Never Knew Love" (7" Remix) – 3:08
  17. "Cry for Help" (12" Version) – 6:27
  18. "Move Right Out" (Vox/Strings/Piano Version) – 3:35

Personnel[]

Musicians[]

  • Rick Astley – lead and backing vocals
  • Dave West – synthesizers (1-8), drum programming (1, 4, 5, 7, 8), acoustic piano (2, 5, 6, 8), organ (2, 3, 7), Fender Rhodes (2, 8, 9)
  • Rob Fisher – acoustic piano (3)
  • Nichlas Medin – acoustic piano (4, 7, 9)
  • Henrik Nilson – organ (4, 9)
  • Elton John – acoustic piano (10, 11)
  • Paul Halberg – guitars (1)
  • Hywell Maggs – guitars (2-5, 7, 8)
  • Robert Ahwai – guitars (3, 9, 10)
  • Gene Black – guitars (6)
  • Lars Danielsson – bass guitar (3, 8)
  • Mark King – bass guitar (4)
  • Neil Stubenhaus – bass guitar (5)
  • Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen – double bass (9, 10)
  • Jacob Andersen – Latin percussion (1-3, 5-8)
  • Vinnie Colaiuta – drums (2, 6)
  • Per Lindval – drums (3, 9, 10), drum overdubs (4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
  • Anne Dudley – string arrangements and conductor (1-3, 8, 10, 11)
  • Jerry Hey – brass arrangements (3, 4, 6, 8, 9)
  • Larry Williams – saxophone (3, 4, 6, 8, 9)
  • Dan Higgins – saxophone solo (5, 8, 10)
  • Bill Reichenbach, Jr. – trombone (3, 4, 6, 8, 9)
  • Larry Hall – trumpet (3, 4, 6, 8, 9)
  • Kevin Dorsey – backing vocals (1, 8, 10)
  • Michael McDonald – backing vocals (1)
  • Phil Perry – backing vocals (1, 8, 10)
  • The Andraé Crouch Choir – backing vocals (2)
  • Carol Kenyon – backing vocals (3, 6-9)
  • Dee Lewis – backing vocals (3, 5-9)


Production[]

  • Producers – Rick Astley and Gary Stevenson
  • Engineers – Gary Stevenson and Henrik Nilson
  • Assistant Engineers – Andy Baker, Allan Krohn and Craig Portells.
  • Mixing – Ren Swan
  • Art Direction – Rick Astlwy
  • Sleeve Design – Mike Orr and the Broughton Design Group.
  • Photography – Paul Cox
  • Management – Tony Henderson

Charts[]

Certifications and sales[]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[11] Gold 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[12] Gold 100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References[]

  1. ^ O'Brien, Neil. "Free…plus + Body & Soul plus". Rickastley.co.uk. Archived from the original on 15 July 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  2. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Rick Astley – Free". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  3. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Rick Astley – Free" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  4. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Rick Astley – Free" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  5. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Rick Astley – Free" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  6. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Rick Astley – Free". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  7. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Rick Astley – Free". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Rick Astley | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Rick Astley Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  10. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  11. ^ "Solo Exitos 1959–2002 Ano A Ano: Certificados 1991–1995". Solo Exitos 1959–2002 Ano A Ano.
  12. ^ "British album certifications – Rick Astley – Free". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 25 July 2012.Select albums in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Free in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
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