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In the '80s and '90s, England's dance music team Stock, Aitken & Waterman was often accused of being too slick for its own good, and favoring style over substance. But the producers/songwriters (also known for their work with Dead or Alive and Samantha Fox) should definitely be proud of their work on fellow Briton Rick Astley's often captivating debut album, Whenever You Need Somebody. While the high-tech production is very '80s, Astley's soul/pop/dance music approach is very much a production of the '70s — sort of the Average White Band meets Philly soul/disco meets Tom Jones. The best dance music works both on and off the dancefloor, and this certainly holds true on such slick yet gritty fare as "Together Forever," "Never Gonna Give You Up," and "Don't Say Goodbye." There are a few weak moments — the lackluster "No More Looking for Love" being a glaring example — but overall, this CD proved Astley to be a welcome addition to the British R&B scene.

Genres: Pop, Music, Electronic, Soft Rock, Dance, Adult Contemporary

Released: 1987

℗ 1987 Pete Waterman Ltd

Tracklist:

01 Never Gonna Give You Up

02 Whenever You Need Somebody

03 Together Forever (Lover's Leap Remix)

04 It Would Take a Strong Strong Man

05 The Love Has Gone

06 Don't Say Goodbye

07 Slipping Away

08 No More Looking for Love

09 You Move Me

10 When I Fall In Love