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
"Whenever You Need Somebody"
Single by O'Chi Brown
from the album O'Chi
ReleasedNovember 1985
Recorded1985
GenreDance-pop
Length3:26
LabelMagnetic
Songwriter(s)Stock Aitken Waterman
Producer(s)Stock Aitken Waterman
O'Chi Brown singles chronology
"Why Can't We Be Friends"
(1985)		 "Whenever You Need Somebody"
(1985)		 "100% Pure Pain"
(1986)

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 (1985) Peak
position
UK Singles (Official Charts Company) 97
Chart (1986) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play 1
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs 88

Rick Astley version
"Whenever You Need Somebody"
Single by Rick Astley
from the album Whenever You Need Somebody
Released31 October 1987 (UK)
Recorded1987
GenreDance-pop
Length3:26
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)Stock Aitken Waterman
Producer(s)Stock Aitken Waterman
Rick Astley singles chronology
"Learning to Live (Without Your Love)"
(1987)		 "Whenever You Need Somebody"
(1987)		 "When I Fall in Love/My Arms Keep Missing You"
(1987)
Audio sample
  • file
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Music video
"Whenever You Need Somebody" on YouTube

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" (lonely hearts mix) — 7:34
  2. "Whenever You Need Somebody" (instrumental) — 3:50
  3. "Just Good Friends" — 3:45
12" and cassette single
  1. "Whenever You Need Somebody" – 7:52
  2. "Whenever You Need Somebody" (Instrumental) – 4:38
  3. "Just Good Friends" – 3:40
12" promo
  1. "Whenever You Need Somebody" (Lonely Hearts Mix) – 7:34
  2. "Whenever You Need Somebody" (7" version) – 3:27
  3. "Whenever You Need Somebody" (Remix) – 7:57
  4. "Whenever You Need Somebody" (Remix Dub) – 4:39

Weekly charts
Chart (1987–88) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[1] 3
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[2] 4
Denmark (IFPI)[3] 2
France (SNEP)[2] 11
Germany (Media Control Charts)[4] 1
Iceland (RÚV)[5] 17
Ireland (IRMA)[6] 3
Norway (VG-lista)[2] 2
Spain (AFYVE)[7] 2
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[2] 1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[2] 1
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[8] 3

Year-end charts
Chart (1987) Position
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[9] 46
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[10] 26
Chart (1988) Position
Australia (ARIA)[11] 12
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[12] 69
Germany (Media Control Charts) 28

References
  1. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). Sydney: Australian Chart Book. p. 20. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  2. "Whenever You Need Somebody", in various singles charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved 14 February 2008)
  3. Danish Singles Chart 27 November 1987
  4. German Singles Chart Charts-surfer.de (Retrieved 10 April 2008)
  5. "Rick Astley Chart History". RÚV. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  6. Irish Singles Chart Irishcharts.ie (Retrieved 14 February 2008)
  7. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  8. UK Singles Chart Official Charts Company (Retrieved 8 August 2008)
  9. "Single top 100 over 1987" (PDF) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  10. The Complete Book Of British Charts by Warwick/Kutner/Brown
  11. "Top 50 Singles 1988". Retrieved 1 September 2008.
  12. "1988 Year End Eurocharts" (PDF). Music & Media. 1 January 1988. p. 30. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
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