Free is the third studio album by English singer Rick Astley, released on 18 February 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 hit 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.
Track listing Original release
Note † Not on LP PL74896
2010 reissue 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.
2024 remaster A remastered edition of the album was released on 30 August 2024, including a double CD album with a reimagined version of "Cry for Help" on the CD1 from his compilation album The Best of Me, also included with B-sides, instrumentals, and remixes for the CD2 and an LP vinyl.
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) Peakposition Italian Albums (Musica e dischi) Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Titolo" field, search "Hold me in your arms". 18
Year-end charts +Year-end chart performance for Free Chart (1991) Position German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) 71
Certifications and sales
References