One record at a time: 501. Rick Astley - Whenever You Need Somebody

Every now and then, I spot a record in a charity shop that looks far too pristine to ignore. That’s exactly how I ended up walking out with Rick Astley’s "Whenever You Need Somebody" tucked under my arm. In a moment of impulsive optimism, I forgot one tiny detail: I didn’t like Stock Aitken Waterman in the 80s, and nothing in my life since has suggested my opinion should change.

But here’s the thing. Despite the manufactured pop beginnings, I’ve got a real soft spot for Rick himself. He’s a genuinely talented multi‑instrumentalist and songwriter (you might guffaw but have you listened to songs like "Angels By My Side"? - I'll take your apology when you come back). The poor bloke just fell in with the wrong crowd that's all.

Naturally, "Never Gonna Give You Up" kicks off the album. If you don’t know this track, you’re probably legally classified as deceased, so I won’t insult either of us by describing it. It's pop perfection whether we like to admit it or not, and SAW knew it.

The title track was also a hit, though it has that unmistakable SAW "we made this in an afternoon" energy. It’s catchy enough, but let’s not pretend it has the sheer gravitational pull of Rick’s signature hit. It’s fine — which is exactly the problem. Fine is rarely memorable, and SAW had a habit of aiming squarely for "good enough to sell, not good enough to last".

A few cuts were produced by Phil Harding, which lifts things slightly, and there’s one track handled by Daize Washbourn, but it is all fairly standard eighties pop fare. The back cover proudly reels out the classic SAW gag “Drums by A Linn” and Fairlight programming is credited to Ian Curnow.

There’s a rumour that EMI deliberately sabotaged Rick Astley’s chances of hitting number one with his version of "When I Fall in Love" by sneakily reissuing the original Nat King Cole recording to dilute his sales. According to the theory, this cleared the path for EMI act Pet Shop Boys to glide straight into the top spot instead.

Of course, this overlooks a couple of awkward details — namely that "When I Fall in Love" had already stalled at number two for weeks, and the Pet Shop Boys were actually battling "Fairytale of New York". Still, why let facts spoil a perfectly good conspiracy theory? Besides, Rick’s version of "When I Fall in Love" is pretty dire, so perhaps everyone involved was simply doing a public service.

This record is an oddly charming time capsule. Yes, the production occasionally sounds like it was knocked together with one eye on the clock, but there’s something undeniably likeable here — not just because the songs are catchy, but because Rick Astley is clearly capable of far more than the tightly controlled pop machine allowed him to show. It’s the sound of an artist who hadn’t yet escaped the conveyor belt.

As far as charity‑shop gambles go, this one’s a mild win. Maybe not a jackpot, but definitely better than multiple copies of "The Best of James Last" that were lurking beside it. 2/5