Whenever You Need Somebody (song)

Last updated

"Whenever You Need Somebody" is a song written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman, which became successful for two of their artists, namely O'Chi Brown and Rick Astley.

Contents

O'Chi Brown version

"Whenever You Need Somebody"
Whenever you need somebody.jpg
Single by O'Chi Brown
from the album O'Chi
ReleasedNovember 1985
Recorded1985
Genre Dance-pop
Length3:26
Label Magnetic
Songwriter(s) Stock Aitken Waterman
Producer(s) Stock Aitken Waterman
O'Chi Brown singles chronology
"Why Can't We Be Friends"
(1985)		"Whenever You Need Somebody"
(1985)		"100% Pure Pain"
(1986)

"Whenever You Need Somebody" was originally written for British singer O'Chi Brown, and released in November 1985 on Magnetic Records. It became a minor hit for Brown in the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 97 there. [1] According to Brown, the popularity of the track "caught people [in the industry] by surprise", with producer Pete Waterman left "on the warpath" over the lack of support for the track. [2]

The single was later released in 1986 in the US, where it became a number one hit on the dance charts. It failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, however, due to a lack of available stock in record stores. [2] According to Brown, "They didn't have the physical disc, they'd run out of the physical discs." [2]

The song was later included in Brown's studio album O'Chi, released in 1986. When the song was covered by Rick Astley in 1987, Magnet reissued the single in 12" format with new mixes in late 1987.

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Whenever You Need Somebody"
Chart (1985–1986)Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)97
US Hot Dance Club Play ( Billboard )1
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard )88

Rick Astley version

"Whenever You Need Somebody"
Wheneveryouneedsomebodycover.jpg
Single by Rick Astley
from the album Whenever You Need Somebody
Released26 October 1987 (1987-10-26) (UK)
Recorded1987
Genre Dance-pop
Length3:26 (radio edit)
Label RCA
Songwriter(s) Stock Aitken Waterman
Producer(s) Stock Aitken Waterman
Rick Astley singles chronology
"Learning to Live (Without Your Love)"
(1987)		"Whenever You Need Somebody"
(1987)		"When I Fall in Love" / "My Arms Keep Missing You"
(1987)
Audio sample

Related Research Articles

Desiree Heslop, best known as Princess, is a British singer who found chart success in the mid-1980s. In the early 1980s, she worked with the group Osibisa. She is best known for her hit single "Say I'm Your Number One" which made the UK Top Ten in 1985.

Stock Aitken Waterman are an English songwriting and record production trio consisting of Mike Stock, Matt Aitken, and Pete Waterman. The trio had great success from the mid-1980s through to the early 1990s. SAW is considered one of the most successful songwriting and producing partnerships of all time, scoring more than 100 UK top-40 hits, selling over 150 million records and earning an estimated £60 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rick Astley</span> British singer (born 1966)

Richard Paul Astley is an English singer. He gained fame through his association with the production trio Stock Aitken Waterman, releasing the 1987 album Whenever You Need Somebody, which sold 15 million copies worldwide. His debut single "Never Gonna Give You Up" was a No. 1 hit in 25 countries, winning the 1988 Brit Award for Best British Single. His 1988 single "Together Forever" became his second song to top the US Billboard Hot 100 and was one of his eight songs to reach the Top 10 on the UK Singles Chart. The title track, "Whenever You Need Somebody", was also a No. 1 hit.

Mel and Kim were an English pop duo, consisting of sisters Melanie and Kim Appleby. Originally managed by Alan Whitehead, they achieved success between 1986 and 1988, before Melanie died of cancer in January 1990 at the age of 23.

O'Chi Brown is an English singer and songwriter born in Tottenham, London, England. She scored two hits on the Dance Club Songs, the most successful being "Whenever You Need Somebody," which hit number one in 1986. Despite strong demand, the song's further progress on the US charts was thwarted when stocks of the record ran out.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Je ne sais pas pourquoi</span> 1988 single by Kylie Minogue

"Je ne sais pas pourquoi" (English: "I Do Not Know Why"), also known as "I Still Love You (Je ne sais pas pourquoi)" in Australia and New Zealand, is a song by Australian recording artist and songwriter Kylie Minogue from her debut studio album Kylie (1988). Released as a single on 10 October 1988 by PWL, the song has subsequently appeared on most of Minogue's hits compilations including Greatest Hits (1992), Ultimate Kylie (2004) and, most recently, Step Back in Time: The Definitive Collection, released in 2019. Like most of Minogue's material between 1988 and 1992, it was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman.

Brilliant were a British pop/rock group active in the 1980s. Although not commercially successful and mauled by the critics, they remain notable because of the personnel involved – Martin Glover a.k.a. Youth of Killing Joke and subsequently a top producer/remixer; Jimmy Cauty, later to find fame and fortune as one half of The KLF; and Ben Watkins a.k.a. Juno Reactor. Equally notable was their management, their record company A&R manager, and songwriting and production team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Never Gonna Give You Up</span> 1987 single by Rick Astley

"Never Gonna Give You Up" is a song by English singer Rick Astley, released on 27 July 1987. Written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman, it was released by RCA Records as the first single from Astley's debut studio album, Whenever You Need Somebody (1987). The song became a worldwide hit, initially in the United Kingdom in 1987, where it stayed at the top of the chart for five weeks and was the best-selling single of that year. It eventually topped charts in 25 different countries, including the United States and West Germany, and winning Best British Single at the 1988 Brit Awards. The song is widely regarded as Astley's most popular, as well as his signature song, and it is often played at the end of his live concerts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Together Forever (Rick Astley song)</span> 1988 single by Rick Astley

"Together Forever" is a song recorded by English singer-songwriter Rick Astley and released by RCA and BMG as the fourth single from his debut album, Whenever You Need Somebody (1987). The song reached number two in the United Kingdom, behind Neighbours star and fellow Stock Aitken Waterman artist Kylie Minogue's debut single "I Should Be So Lucky". The single was a worldwide hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on 18 June 1988, becoming Astley's second US chart-topper. It also topped the charts in Canada, Ireland and Spain, and was a top ten hits in many European countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love in the First Degree (Bananarama song)</span> 1987 single by Bananarama

"Love in the First Degree" is a song by English girl group Bananarama from their fourth studio album, Wow! (1987). It was released on 28 September 1987 as the album's second single, except in the United States, where it was released in 1988 as the third single. The track was co-written and produced by the Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) trio. It achieved major success in the UK and Australia, and also peaked within the top 20 in many European countries, but, unlike "I Heard a Rumour", it reached only the lower end of the top 50 in the US.

<i>Whenever You Need Somebody</i> 1987 studio album by Rick Astley

Whenever You Need Somebody is the debut studio album by English singer Rick Astley released on 16 November 1987 by RCA Records. It is his best-selling album, which, according to his own official website, has sold 15.2 million copies worldwide. The album is listed as the 136th best-selling album in Spain and was the seventh best-selling album of 1987 in the United Kingdom. A remastered version, containing rare remixes and extended versions, was released on 12 April 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Just Don't Have the Heart</span> 1989 single by Cliff Richard

"I Just Don't Have the Heart" is a song by British singer Cliff Richard, released as the second single from his 1989 album Stronger. It was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) and became another UK top ten hit for him, peaking at number three.

<i>Hold Me in Your Arms</i> (album) 1988 studio album by Rick Astley

Hold Me in Your Arms is the second studio album by English singer Rick Astley, released on 26 November 1988 by RCA Records. It is the follow-up to his successful debut album Whenever You Need Somebody, and was his last album produced and written with the Stock Aitken Waterman team. It continued Astley's success, with the three UK singles from the album becoming top ten hits, and it achieving Platinum and Gold certifications worldwide.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (Rick Astley album) 2002 greatest hits album by Rick Astley

Greatest Hits is a compilation by English singer Rick Astley released in the UK in 2002 and in the US a year later. While the American version features alternate mixes focused between 1987 and 1991, the European version features hits up to his 2002 album Keep It Turned On. It sold over 100,000 copies in the UK and was certified gold by the BPI.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rick Astley discography</span>

The discography of English singer and songwriter Rick Astley consists of nine studio albums, five compilation albums, two remix albums, and twenty-four singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It Would Take a Strong Strong Man</span> 1988 single by Rick Astley

"It Would Take a Strong Strong Man" is a 1987 song by English singer-songwriter Rick Astley. Written by Stock Aitken Waterman, it was released as the fifth single from Astley's debut album Whenever You Need Somebody. It was mainly intended for the American market where it was a top ten hit, and was not released in the United Kingdom and most of Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take Me to Your Heart (Rick Astley song)</span> 1988 single by Rick Astley

"Take Me to Your Heart" is a 1988 song recorded by English singer-songwriter Rick Astley. Written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman, the song was released the same year as the second single from the album, Hold Me in Your Arms. Not released in North America, it was a success on the UK Singles Chart where it peaked at number 8 and was also a top ten and a top 20 in many European other countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shattered Glass (song)</span> 1987 single by Laura Branigan

"Shattered Glass" is a song written by Bob Mitchell and Steve Coe which was originally recorded in 1980 by Scottish singer Ellie Warren. The song was recorded in 1987 by American singer Laura Branigan with the Stock Aitken Waterman production team to serve as the lead single from Branigan's fifth studio album, Touch (1987).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nothing's Gonna Stop Me Now (Samantha Fox song)</span> 1987 single by Samantha Fox

"Nothing's Gonna Stop Me Now" is a song performed by British singer Samantha Fox and written and produced by Mike Stock, Matt Aitken, and Pete Waterman (SAW). It was released as the first single from Samantha’s eponymous second album, Samantha Fox, in the spring of 1987. The single became Fox's third and final top ten single in the United Kingdom, peaking at number eight in June. In the United States, the single was released in the fall of 1987 and reached only number 80 that October. It was a top 10 hit in continental Europe and also reached number 22 in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">She Wants to Dance with Me</span> 1988 single by Rick Astley

"She Wants to Dance with Me" is a song written and recorded by English singer-songwriter Rick Astley, released as the lead single from his second studio album, Hold Me in Your Arms (1988). The song was released in United Kingdom on September 12, 1988 by RCA, and became an international success, peaking in the top ten in many countries, including Canada, where it topped the chart, and the US and the UK, where it reached number six.

References

  1. ↑ "A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 8: It's A Man's Man's Man's World to Whenever You Need Somebody on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 12: Tell Me Tomorrow to New York Afternoon on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  3. ↑ "A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 29: Learning To Live (Without Your Love) to Turn It Up on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  4. ↑ Brungardt, Leah (12 November 2019). "An Interview with 'Never Gonna Give You Up' Singer Rick Astley on His Iconic Hit Song, His Newest Album and Much More!". All Access Music. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  5. 1 2 James, Richard; Jay, Jenny (31 October 1987). "Single of the Week: Rick Astley — "Whenever You Need Somebody" (RCA)". Number One . No. 228. London: IPC Magazines Ltd. p. 50. ISSN   0266-5328 . Retrieved 18 November 2022– via Flickr.
  6. ↑ Smith, Jerry (31 October 1987). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week . p. 23. Retrieved 11 September 2023– via World Radio History.
  7. ↑ Smith, Robert (21 October – 3 November 1987). "Singles reviewed by Robert Smith of the Cure" (PDF). Smash Hits . Vol. 9, no. 18. p. 83. ISSN   0260-3004 . Retrieved 21 November 2023– via World Radio History.
  8. 1 2 "Rick Astley: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Top 3 in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 4, no. 49. Amsterdam. 12 December 1987. p. 16. Retrieved 4 September 2023– via worldradiohistory.com.
  10. 1 2 "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 29 May 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Rick Astley".
  11. 1 2 "Rick Astley – Whenever You Need Somebody". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  12. 1 2 "Rick Astley – Whenever You Need Somebody". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  13. 1 2 "Offiziellecharts.de – Rick Astley – Whenever You Need Somebody" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  14. 1 2 "Rick Astley – Whenever You Need Somebody" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  15. 1 2 "Rick Astley – Whenever You Need Somebody" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  16. 1 2 "Rick Astley – Whenever You Need Somebody". VG-lista. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  17. 1 2 Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN   84-8048-639-2.
  18. 1 2 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). Sydney: Australian Chart Book. p. 20. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  19. 1 2 "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Whenever You Need Somebody". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  20. 1 2 "Rick Astley – Whenever You Need Somebody" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  21. 1 2 "Rick Astley – Whenever You Need Somebody". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  22. 1 2 "Rick Astley – Whenever You Need Somebody" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  23. 1 2 "Rick Astley Chart History". RÚV . Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  24. 1 2 "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 4, no. 48. 5 December 1987. p. 14-15. OCLC   29800226 . Retrieved 4 September 2023– via World Radio History.
  25. 1 2 "European Airplay Top 50" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 4, no. 49. 12 December 1987. p. 6. OCLC   29800226 . Retrieved 4 September 2023– via World Radio History.
  26. ↑ "Top Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week . 7 November 1987. p. 30. Retrieved 11 September 2023– via World Radio History.
  27. ↑ "Single top 100 over 1987" (PDF) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  28. ↑ The Complete Book Of British Charts by Warwick/Kutner/Brown
  29. ↑ "Top 50 Singles 1988" . Retrieved 1 September 2008.
  30. ↑ "1988 Year End Eurocharts" (PDF). Music & Media. 1 January 1988. p. 30. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  31. ↑ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1988" (in German). GfK Entertainment . Retrieved 24 November 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.