The discography of English singer and songwriter Rick Astley consists of nine studio albums, five compilation albums, two remix albums, twenty-four singles, two video albums and 36 music videos. Astley attained five Top-10 US hits and eight Top-10 UK hits.
His debut studio album, Whenever You Need Somebody, was released in November 1987. It peaked at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 10 on the US Billboard 200. Astley became a pop sensation in 1987 with his debut single "Never Gonna Give You Up" written by the trio Stock Aitken Waterman. The song was at No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart for five weeks, becoming the year's highest-selling single. The song was also a worldwide hit, hitting number one in twenty-four other countries, including the US, Australia, and Germany, and the top ten in several other countries. "Whenever You Need Somebody" was released as the second single (although not released in North America) from the album in October 1987. The single was a recycled Stock, Aitken, Waterman song, originally recorded by O'Chi Brown in 1985. It reached number one in seven countries, including Germany and Sweden. It also reached No. 3 in the UK. In December 1987, Astley's record label released a cover version of the Nat King Cole classic "When I Fall in Love" as the third single. This single was also not released in North America. The song reached the top ten or top twenty in various European countries single. Astley's fourth single release (and second North American single) would be "Together Forever" in 1988, reaching No. 2 in the UK. It was denied the top spot by Kylie Minogue's debut "I Should Be So Lucky". The song was also successful in the US, reaching number 1, making it his second US chart topper. The next single, "It Would Take a Strong Strong Man", would have a North American release but not a European release. The song reached No. 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 in Canada. The album has been certified 2× platinum in the US and 4× platinum in the UK.
Astley's second studio album, Hold Me in Your Arms, was modesty successful when compared to its predecessor. Released in November 1988, it has since been certified gold in the US and platinum in the UK. The album peaked at No. 8 on the UK Albums Chart (scoring three top ten singles there) and No. 19 on the US Billboard 200 (scoring one top ten single). The lead single, "She Wants to Dance with Me" became a hit, reaching the top ten or top twenty in various countries worldwide. In Europe, "Take Me to Your Heart" and "Hold Me in Your Arms" were released as the second and third singles, respectively. "Giving Up on Love" was released as the second single in the US, reaching No. 38. It was later released in some countries in Europe as the fourth and final single off. A cover of The Temptations' "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" was released as the third and last single in the US and Japan, becoming a minor US hit, peaking at #89.
Astley's third studio album, Free, was released in March 1991. It peaked at No. 9 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 31 on the US Billboard 200. It was his first album not to be produced by the noted production team of Stock Aitken Waterman. The album featured one single that became a top-ten hit in the US and the UK, "Cry for Help". Two additional singles, "Move Right Out" and "Never Knew Love" were less successful.
Astley's fourth studio album, Body & Soul, was released in September 1993. It peaked at No. 185 on the US Billboard 200 but failed to chart in the UK. Two singles were released from the album, "The Ones You Love" and "Hopelessly", however, both singles failed to reach the top-twenty in the US or UK. After this album, Astley left the music business for several years and released no new material until 2001.
His fifth studio album, Keep It Turned On, was released in December 2001. The album did not chart on most major music charts internationally, but peaked at No. 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.
Astley's sixth studio album, Portrait, was released in October 2005. The album peaked at No. 26 on the UK Albums Chart, becoming his first album to chart in the UK since Free in 1991. Another album, My Red Book, was planned to be released in January 2013. This unreleased album contains songs 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 No. 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 No. 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 No. 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 Studio albums Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications(sales threshold) UKPeak positions in the United Kingdom: For all except noted: For "Can You Feel the Love Tonight": For "Keep Singing": AUSPeak positions in Australia: Top 100 (Australian Music Report) peaks to 12 June 1988: N.B. The Kent/Australian Music Report was licensed by ARIA between mid-1983 and 12 June 1988. "Let It Be" (Kent Music Report) peak: "Never Gonna Give You Up" (Australian Music Report) peak: "Whenever You Need Somebody" (single) (Australian Music Report) peak: "When I Fall in Love"/"My Arms Keep Missing You" (Australian Music Report) peak: Top 50 (ARIA) peaks from 13 June 1988: "Hold Me in Your Arms" (single) (ARIA) peak: Top 100 (ARIA) peaks from January 1990 to December 2010: "Move Right Out" and "The Ones You Love" (ARIA) peaks: All ARIA-era (13 June 1988 onwards) solo peaks to 13 October 2020: N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column indicates the release's peak on the national chart. "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" (ARIA) peak: AUT CAN GERPeak positions in Germany: For all except noted: For "Let It Be": For "Can You Feel the Love Tonight": NLPeak positions in the Netherlands: For all except noted: For "Let It Be": For "Can You Feel the Love Tonight": NZPeak positions in New Zealand: For all except noted: For "Let It Be": For "Can You Feel the Love Tonight": SWEPeak positions in Sweden: For all except noted: For "Let It Be": For "Can You Feel the Love Tonight": SWIPeak positions in Switzerland: For all except noted: For "Let It Be": For "Can You Feel the Love Tonight": US Whenever You Need Somebody Release date: 16 November 1987 Label: RCA Formats: Cassette, CD, LP 1 1 3 2 1 2 3 2 2 10 UK: 4× Platinum AUS: 3× Platinum CAN: 4× Platinum US: 2× Platinum 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 UK: Platinum AUS: Platinum CAN: 2× Platinum US: Gold Free Release date: 12 March 1991 Label: RCA Formats: Cassette, CD, LP 9 20 24 17 8 23 — 16 26 31 UK: Gold 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 Release date: 17 October 2005 Label: RCA Formats: CD, digital download 26 — — — — — — — — — 50 Release date: 10 June 2016 Label: BMG Formats: CD, LP, digital download 1 — 41 — 21 65 — — 44 — UK: Platinum Beautiful Life Release date: 13 July 2018 Label: BMG Formats: Cassette, CD, LP, digital download 6 — 70 — 40 — — — 44 — UK: Silver Are We There Yet? Release date: 13 October 2023 Label: BMG Formats: Cassette, CD, LP, digital download 2 — — — 29 — — — — — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Compilation albums Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications(sales threshold) UK AUS GER SPA 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 — — — UK: Gold 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 Release date: 2006 Label: Sony BMG — — — — 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 UK: Gold "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Remix albums 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 Title Details My Red Book Release date: 2013 Label: Cruz Music Formats: CD
Singles As lead artist Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album UK AUS BELPeak positions in Belgium: For all except noted: For "Let It Be": For "Can You Feel the Love Tonight": CANPeak positions for songs in Canada: For all except noted: For "Can You Feel the Love Tonight": GER IREPeak positions in Ireland: For all except noted: For "Let It Be": For "Can You Feel the Love Tonight": NL NZ SWE SWI USPeak positions for songs in the United States: For all except noted: For "Can You Feel the Love Tonight": "Never Gonna Give You Up" 1987 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 UK: Platinum"". 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. AUS: Gold CAN: Gold GER: Gold NZ: 3× Platinum SWE: Gold