Rick Astley celebrates first UK N°1 in 29 Years

Rick Astley is celebrating his first UK Number One Album in 29 years. The Grammy-nominated star pulled off one of pop’s most remarkable comebacks, as his first album in over a decade “50” held off stiff competition from Tom Odell’s “Wrong Crowd” to top the Official Album Chart.

The lead changed hands several times over the course of the week, as Astley and Odell tussled for top spot in one of the tightest chart battles of recent times. Performing particularly strongly across physical formats, “50” raced ahead on the final day of competition, eventually securing Number One with an extraordinary 23,691 sales.

One of the greatest achievements of Astley’s career; the feat marks the iconic singer, songwriter, producer and performer’s first UK Number One Album since seminal 1987 debut “Whenever You Need Somebody”. Rick Astley said: “It’s amazing! It’s incredible! It’s been a very, very, very long time since this happened before. I’m ecstatic. I couldn’t be happier. “

Released by BMG; “50” has been warmly received by fans and critics alike, with singles “Keep Singing” and “Angels on My Side” dominating the airwaves, and the album recognized as the BBC Radio 2 Album of the Week. Finding inspiration in Astley’s musical roots; the passion project marries his inimitable, soulful vocals with Gospel influences in an entirely self-penned album that also sees the star demonstrate his virtuoso musicianship by playing each and every instrument heard throughout.

With over 40 million records sold, and a vast collection of hits on both sides of the Atlantic to his name, this latest success confirms Astley’s status as one of the most successful solo artists to have ever emerged from Britain. His three decades in the spotlight have seen the music legend enter the record books for his early groundbreaking chart success; garner rapturous critical acclaim; and sell-out arenas on almost every continent, as he continues to leave an indelible mark on pop-culture.

'50' the new album from Rick Astley is available now.