Whenever You Need Somebody (song)

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"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 Magnet 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
Released19 October 1987 (1987-10-19)
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

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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.
  32. ↑ "Eurochartbusters: The Hot 100 Singles Compiled from Music & Media's Five Year Chart Archives" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 6, no. 11 (5 Years ed.). 18 March 1989. pp. 32–33. OCLC   29800226 . Retrieved 9 July 2024– via World Radio History.
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