Iconic singer-songwriter and national treasure Rick Astley revisits his rich back catalogue with the news that he will release a Remastered Deluxe Edition of his third album ‘Free’ on August 30th.
Originally released in 1991, ‘Free’ represented a brave evolution in Rick’s style as he stepped away from working with Stock, Aitken and Waterman. His artistry moved towards a more organic live sound, his songs leaning into ‘70s R&B Motown, all complemented by the richer, mature tone that had infused into his already remarkable voice. His lyrics went deeper, too, with introspective confessional themes from Rick Astley who had experienced so much at the age of just 25. It was also an album which saw his talents embraced by a range of top tier musicians, with collaborators including famous names such as Elton John, Michael McDonald and Mark King of Level 42.
The album is best represented by the powerful, gospel-tinged ballad ‘Cry For Help’, which became a Top 10 smash in both the UK and the US. All these years later, it remains one of Rick’s most popular moments. Not only is it still a staple of his live show, but it’s his third most streamed song after the mega hits ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ and ‘Together Forever’. ‘Free’ itself debuted in the UK Top 10 and achieved an array of strong international chart positions, later reaching Gold certification in the UK.
The 2CD set expands upon Rick’s original vision for the album, with a wealth of rare material. A highlight of the bonus tracks is ‘Call Me’, a previously unreleased song from the original sessions, and one of seven tracks being debuted on this release. Other previously unreleased tracks include remixes and instrumentals, while the package is completed with various single edits, alternate versions and ‘Some Kinda Love’, which was added to the album’s Japanese release.
Packaged in a striking gold mirrorboard sleeve, the ‘Free’ vinyl format is the album’s first pressing since its original release. It’s also notable as the first time that the full album tracklist has appeared on vinyl, as the initial version omitted ‘Is This Really Love’.
Also set to be released digitally, the ‘Free’ Remastered Deluxe Edition is available to pre-order / pre-save HERE.
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