Free (Rick Astley album)

Untitled

Free is Rick Astley's third album, released in 1991. 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	link
Rolling Stone	link
MSN Music	link

Track listing

1. "In the Name of Love" - 4:27 (Michael McDonald)
2. "Cry for Help" - 4:54 (Rick Astley/Rob Fisher)
3. "Move Right Out" - 3:50 (Rick Astley/Rob Fisher)
4. "Be With You" - 4:07 (Rick Astley/Mark King)
5. "Really Got a Problem" - 4:15 (Rick Astley/Mark King)
6. "Is This Really Love"† - 3:26 (Rick Astley)
7. "This Must Be Heaven" - 4:42 (Nicky Brown/Jeffrey Cohen/Jon Lind)
8. "Never Knew Love" - 3:07 (Derek Bordeaux/John Paul)
9. "The Bottom Line" - 5:13 (Rick Astley)
10. "Wonderful You" - 5:08 (Rick Astley)
11. "Behind the Smile" - 4:33 (Rick Astley)

†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.

Tracklist

1. "In the Name of Love" - 4:27
2. "Cry for Help" - 4:54
3. "Move Right Out" - 3:50
4. "Be With You" - 4:07
5. "Really Got a Problem" - 4:15
6. "Is This Really Love" - 3:26
7. "This Must Be Heaven" - 4:42
8. "Never Knew Love" - 3:07
9. "The Bottom Line" - 5:13
10. "Wonderful You" - 5:08
11. "Behind the Smile" - 4:33
12. "Some Kind Love" - 4:26
13. "So Glad" - 3:23
14. "Cry for Help" (Single Edit) - 4:19
15. "Move Right Out" (Seven-Inch Version) - 3:53
16. "Never Knew Love" (Seven-Inch Remix) - 3:08
17. "Cry for Help" (Twelve-Inch Version) - 6:27
18. "Move Right Out" (Vox/Strings/Piano Version) - 3:35

Credits

Musicians

• Rick Astley - lead and backing vocals
• Dave West - synthesizers, piano, organ, drum programming, Rhodes (tracks 1-9)
• Rob Fisher - piano (track 3)
• Nichlas Medin - piano (tracks 4, 7, 9)
• Elton John - piano (tracks 10, 11)
• Henrik Nilson - organ (tracks 4, 9)
• Paul Halberg - guitars (track 1)
• Hywell Maggs - guitars (tracks 2-5, 7-8)
• Mark King - Bass (Tracks 4.5)
• Robert Ahwai - guitars (tracks 3, 9, 10)
• Gene Black - guitars (track 6)
• Lars Danielsson - bass guitar (tracks 3, 8)
• Neil Stubenhaus - bass guitar (track 5)
• Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen - double bass (tracks 9, 10)
• Jacob Andersen - Latin percussion (tracks 1-3, 5-8)
• Vinnie Colaiuta - drums (tracks 2, 6)
• Per Lindval - drums, drum overdubs (tracks 3-5, 7-10)
• Anne Dudley - string arrangements (tracks 1-3, 8, 10, 11)
• Jerry Hey - brass arrangements (tracks 3, 4, 6, 8, 9)
• Bill Reichenbach - trombone (tracks 3, 4, 6, 8, 9)
• Larry Hall - trumpet (tracks 3, 4, 6, 8, 9)
• Larry Williams - saxophone (tracks 3, 4, 6, 8, 9)
• Dan Higgins - saxophone solo (tracks 5, 8, 10)
• Kevin Dorsey - backing vocals (tracks 1, 8, 10)
• Phil Perry - backing vocals (tracks 1, 8, 10)
• The Andraé Crouch Choir - backing vocals (track 2)
• Carol Kenyon - backing vocals (tracks 3, 6-9)
• Dee Lewis - backing vocals (tracks 3, 5-9)

Production

• Anne Dudley - orchestra arranger, orchestra conductor
• Gary Stevenson - engineer
• Henrik Nilson - engineer
• Allan Krohn - assistant engineer
• Andy Baker - assistant engineer
• Craig Portells - assistant engineer
• Ren Swan - mixing
• Rick Astley - art direction
• Mike Orr and the Broughton Design Group - sleeve design
• Paul Cox - photography
• Tony Henderson - management