Hold Me in Your Arms is the second studio album by English singer Rick Astley, released on 26 November 1988 by RCA Records. It is the follow-up to his successful debut album Whenever You Need Somebody, and was his last album produced and written with the Stock Aitken Waterman team.
Hold Me In Your Arms | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 26 November 1988 | |||
Recorded | 1988 | |||
Studio | PWL (London) | |||
Genre |
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Length | 38:20 | |||
Label | RCA | |||
Producer |
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Rick Astley chronology | ||||
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Singles from Hold Me in Your Arms | ||||
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Half of the tracks on Hold Me in Your Arms were written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman and the other half were Astley's own compositions, produced by PWL associates Phil Harding, Ian Curnow and Daize Washbourn. The release of the album was delayed a few months due to a fire at PWL Studios which destroyed some of Astley's recorded material. This would be Astley's last album with Stock Aitken Waterman, due to Astley wanting to leave behind the dance-pop sound of the producers and wanting to shed his boy next door image. Astley wanted to focus on his original compositions for future albums, reappearing in 1991 with the soul album Free.
A remastered version of Hold Me in Your Arms, containing some remixes, was released on 12 April 2010.[1]
The album spawned five singles. Unlike his previous album, where all the singles were Stock Aitken Waterman compositions and productions, Astley's compositions were also released as singles. The lead single, "She Wants to Dance with Me", was Astley's first single that he wrote himself, and became a worldwide top 10 hit. In Europe, "Take Me to Your Heart" and "Hold Me in Your Arms" were released as the next singles. "Giving Up on Love" was released as the second single from the album in the US and Canada, and was later released in some countries of continental Europe as the fourth and last single from the album, and a cover of The Temptations' "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" was released as the third and last single in the US and Japan.
Hold Me in Your Arms continued Astley's success, with the three UK singles from the album becoming top 10 hits. While it did not achieve the same level of sales as his debut album, it sold well all around the world, achieving Platinum and Gold certifications worldwide.
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Number One | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
All tracks written by Rick Astley, except where noted.
2010 bonus tracks
Disc two (remixes and instrumentals)
Adapted from AllMusic.[4]
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA)[21] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
Canada (Music Canada)[26] | 2× Platinum | 200,000^ |
Germany (BVMI)[27] | Gold | 250,000^ |
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[28] | Gold | 10,000* |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[29] | 2× Platinum | 200,000^ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[30] | Gold | 25,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[31] | Platinum | 300,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[32] | Gold | 500,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
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Studio albums | |
Compilations | |
Remix albums |
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Singles |
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Related articles |
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