New York, NY (Top40 Charts) At the age of 21,
Rick Astley emerged from the shadows of the Stock, Aitken and Waterman production house to become one of the biggest stars on the planet. His era-defining classic 'Never Gonna Give You Up' topped charts the world over and catapulted him on a journey that would encompass 8 consecutive UK Top 10 hits and 40 million sales. And after stepping aside to focus on his family, he shot back to #1 almost 30 years later with his hit Platinum-selling album '50'.
Now Rick celebrates his extraordinary story with the release of the new career-spanning compilation 'The Best of Me'. It charts that initial run of hits ('Whenever You Need Somebody', 'Together Forever'and many more) alongside recent fan favourites such as 'Keep Singing', 'Angels On My Side' and 'Beautiful Life'. It also digs into some deep cuts too, such as 'Lights Out' from 2010.
The set is bookended with a step into the past and an eye to the future. Having written and produced the song as well as playing all of the instruments himself, opening track and lead single 'Every One of Us' is a brand new song that shows that the power of
Rick Astley 2.0 is undiminished. And it closes with a new 'Pianoforte' take on 'Never Gonna Give You Up'. Dropping the peppy '80s beats for an intimate piano arrangement captures it in a new light, its inner heartbreak becoming all the more apparent.
"It's been an amazing experience to rework 'Never Gonna Give You Up'," says Rick. "That song is part of my DNA and it means a lot to me. I hope people like what I've done with it as much as I do. And 'Every One of Us' is about the fire in all of us. We all have something to give, even if it doesn't always feel like we do. I'm so lucky to feel that fire every time I'm on stage, and that helps me feel it in my everyday life too."
Continuing that spirit of reinvention, Rick independently recorded a set of 'Reimagined' interpretations of his songs, old and new, for the second disc of 'The Best of Me'. While Rick's musical style has evolved over the years, the 'Reimagined' recordings show that quality songwriting has always been an essential hallmark of his work.
'The Best of Me' is now available to pre-order here. The album will be released as a 2CD digipak; deluxe casebound 2CD; 2LP coloured vinyl, and via streaming services. Amazon UK will stock a limited signed quantity of the 2CD digipak while limited signed editions of the special formats plus a cassette and a highly limited quantity of signed test pressings will be available exclusively from Rick Astley'sofficial store.
Earlier this year, Rick completed a gargantuan 38-date stadium tour as special guest to Take That, during which he played to over 500,000 people. He also recently played the Isle of Wight Festival, Pub in the Park and Chris Evans' Carfest. Having sold over 100,000 tickets to his UK headline shows since releasing '50', Rick Astley's forthcoming tour dates includes gigs in Australia and Japan as well as his first ever show in New Zealand. Please see https://www.rickastley.co.uk/ for a list of dates and ticket information.
'The Best of Me' tracklist:
CD1:
'Every One Of Us'
'Never Gonna Give You Up'
'When I Fall In Love'
'Whenever You Need Somebody'
'When I Fall In Love'
'Together Forever'
'(It Would Take A) Strong Man'
'She Wants To Dance With Me'
'Take Me To Your Heart'
'Hold Me In Your Arms'
'Cry For Help'
'Sleeping'
'Lights Out'
'Keep Singing'
'Angels On My Side'
Dance'
'This Old House'
'Beautiful Life'
'Try'
'She Make Me'
'Never Gonna Give You Up' (Pianoforte)
CD2:
'Together Forever (Reimagined)'
'Whenever You Need Somebody (Reimagined)'
'When I Fall In Love (Reimagined)'
'Beautiful Life (Reimagined)'
'She Wants To Dance With Me (Reimagined)'
'Hold Me In Your Arms (Reimagined)'
'Cry For Help (Reimagined)'
'Keep Singing (Reimagined)'
'Angels On My Side (Reimagined)'
'Try (Reimagined)'
