Free (Rick Astley album)

Free
Free
Studio album by Rick Astley
Released	12 March 1991
Length	51:33
Label	RCA
Producer	Gary Stevenson; Rick Astley;
Rick Astley chronology
Singles from Free
	"Cry for Help"; Released: 20 January 1991; "Move Right Out"; Released: 24 March 1991; "Never Knew Love"; Released: 23 June 1991;

Free is the third studio album by English singer Rick Astley, 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
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music	^[2]
MSN Music	^[3]
NME	3/10^[4]
Rolling Stone	^[5]
The Vancouver Sun	^[6]

Track listing

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

"In the Name of Love" – 4:27
"Cry for Help" – 4:54
"Move Right Out" – 3:50
"Be With You" – 4:07
"Really Got a Problem" – 4:15
"Is This Really Love" – 3:26
"This Must Be Heaven" – 4:42
"Never Knew Love" – 3:07
"The Bottom Line" – 5:13
"Wonderful You" – 5:08
"Behind the Smile" – 4:33
"Some Kinda Love" – 4:26
"So Glad" – 3:23
"Cry for Help" (single edit) – 4:19
"Move Right Out" (7" version) – 3:53
"Never Knew Love" (7" remix) – 3:08
"Cry for Help" (12" version) – 6:27
"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)
Hywel 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 (4–8)
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 Astley
Sleeve design – Mike Orr and the Broughton Design Group
Photography – Paul Cox
Management – Tony Henderson

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for *Free*
Chart (1991)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[8]	20
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)^[9]	24
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[10]	23
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[11]	8
Italian Albums (Musica e dischi)^[12]	18
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)^[13]	16
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[14]	26
UK Albums (OCC)^[15]	9
US Billboard 200^[16]	31

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for *Free*
Chart (1991)	Position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[17]	71

Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for *Free*
Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Spain (PROMUSICAE)^[18]	Gold	50,000^{^}
United Kingdom (BPI)^[19]	Gold	100,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

^ Henderson, Alex. "Free – Rick Astley". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
^ Larkin, Colin (2007). Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0857125958.
^ "Free by Rick Astley on Msn Music". MSN Music. Archived from the original on 23 May 2006. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
^ Maconie, Stuart (2 March 1991). "Long Play". NME. p. 35. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
^ Bloom, Steve (30 May 1991). "Rick Astley: Free : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 30 June 2008. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
^ Mackie, John (9 May 1991). "Pop". The Vancouver Sun.
^ O'Brien, Neil. "Free…plus + Body & Soul plus". Rickastley.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 August 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
^ "Australiancharts.com – Rick Astley – Free". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
^ "Austriancharts.at – Rick Astley – Free" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Rick Astley – Free" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Rick Astley – Free" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
^ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 3 June 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Titolo" field, search "Hold me in your arms".
^ "Swedishcharts.com – Rick Astley – Free". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
^ "Swisscharts.com – Rick Astley – Free". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
^ "Rick Astley | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
^ "Rick Astley Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
^ "Solo Exitos 1959–2002 Ano A Ano: Certificados 1991–1995". Solo Exitos 1959–2002 Ano A Ano.
^ "British album certifications – Rick Astley – Free". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 25 July 2012.

[1] Henderson, Alex. "Free – Rick Astley". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.

[2] Larkin, Colin (2007). Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0857125958.

[3] "Free by Rick Astley on Msn Music". MSN Music. Archived from the original on 23 May 2006. Retrieved 13 September 2023.

[4] Maconie, Stuart (2 March 1991). "Long Play". NME. p. 35. Retrieved 3 April 2023.

[5] Bloom, Steve (30 May 1991). "Rick Astley: Free : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 30 June 2008. Retrieved 13 September 2023.

[6] Mackie, John (9 May 1991). "Pop". The Vancouver Sun.

[7] O'Brien, Neil. "Free…plus + Body & Soul plus". Rickastley.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 August 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2013.

[ac_Australia_Rick_Astley-8] "Australiancharts.com – Rick Astley – Free". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 April 2021.

[ac_Austria_Rick_Astley-9] "Austriancharts.at – Rick Astley – Free" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 April 2021.

[ac_Netherlands_Rick_Astley-10] "Dutchcharts.nl – Rick Astley – Free" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 April 2021.

[ac_Germany4_Rick_Astley-11] "Offiziellecharts.de – Rick Astley – Free" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 30 April 2021.

[12] "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 3 June 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Titolo" field, search "Hold me in your arms".

[ac_Sweden_Rick_Astley-13] "Swedishcharts.com – Rick Astley – Free". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 April 2021.

[ac_Switzerland_Rick_Astley-14] "Swisscharts.com – Rick Astley – Free". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 April 2021.

[ac_UK_Rick_Astley-15] "Rick Astley | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 30 April 2021.

[ac_Billboard200_Rick_Astley-16] "Rick Astley Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 April 2021.

[17] "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 30 April 2021.

[Spanish_certifications_1991-1995-18] "Solo Exitos 1959–2002 Ano A Ano: Certificados 1991–1995". Solo Exitos 1959–2002 Ano A Ano.

[United_KingdomRick_AstleyFreealbumCertRef-19] "British album certifications – Rick Astley – Free". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 25 July 2012.

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v t e Rick Astley
Discography
Studio albums	Whenever You Need Somebody Hold Me in Your Arms Free Body & Soul Keep It Turned On Portrait My Red Book 50 Beautiful Life Are We There Yet?
Compilations	Greatest Hits Ultimate Collection The Best of Me
Singles	"Never Gonna Give You Up" "Whenever You Need Somebody" "When I Fall in Love" "My Arms Keep Missing You" "Together Forever" "It Would Take a Strong Strong Man" "She Wants to Dance with Me" "Take Me to Your Heart" "Hold Me in Your Arms" "Giving Up on Love" "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" "Cry for Help" "Move Right Out" "Never Knew Love" "Hopelessly" "The Ones You Love" "Sleeping" "Lights Out" "Keep Singing" "Angels on My Side" "Beautiful Life" "Every One of Us" "Never Gonna Stop"
Featured singles	"Learning to Live (Without Your Love)"
Related articles	Rickrolling
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