Whenever You Need Somebody (song)


"Whenever You Need Somebody" is a song written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman, which became successful for two of their artists.

O'Chi Brown version

The song was originally written for English singer O'Chi Brown, and released in November 1985 on Magnetic Records. It became a minor hit for Brown in the UK Singles Chart, peaking at No. 97 there.
The single was later released in 1986 in the US, where it became a #1 hit on the dance charts. It failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, however. The song was later included in Brown's studio album O'Chi, released in 1986.
When the song was covered by Rick Astley in 1987, Magnet reissued the single in 12" format with new mixes in late 1987.
Chart Peak
position
UK Singles 97
Chart Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play1
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs88

Rick Astley version

In 1987, Rick Astley covered the song, and it would become the title track and second single from Astley's multi-million selling debut album Whenever You Need Somebody, also written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman. It was a successful European hit for Astley, reaching No. 1 in seven countries, continuing the success of his previous smash single "Never Gonna Give You Up". Though not released as a single in the U.S., it was released as the 4th single in Canada. The music video was shot at Las Canteras beach and at the adjacent Hotel Reina Isabel, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. It managed to claim the #3 position on 1 November being kept from #2 and #1 by George Michael's Faith and Bee Gees' You Win Again. It dropped to #4 the following week, but it climbed back to #3 for 2 weeks from 15 November, then being blocked from #2 by George Harrison's major hit Got My Mind Set On You and T'Pau's #1 hit China In Your Hand.

Track listing

; 7" single
  1. "Whenever You Need Somebody" — 3:26
  2. "Just Good Friends" — 3:45
; 7" single - Picture-disc
  1. "Whenever You Need Somebody" — 3:26
  2. "Just Good Friends" — 3:45

; 12" maxi
  1. "Whenever You Need Somebody" — 7:34
  2. "Whenever You Need Somebody" — 3:50
  3. "Just Good Friends" — 3:45

    Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts