"It Would Take a Strong Strong Man" is a 1987 song by

Rick Astley Richard Paul Astley (born 6 February 1966) is an English singer, songwriter and radio personality, who has been active in music for several decades. He gained worldwide fame in the 1980s, having multiple hits including his signature song "Ne ...

. Written by

Stock Aitken Waterman Stock Aitken Waterman (abbreviated as SAW) are an English songwriting and record production trio consisting of Mike Stock, Matt Aitken, and Pete Waterman. The trio had great success from the mid-1980s through the early 1990s. SAW is considered ...

, tt was released as the fifth single from Astley's debut album ''

Whenever You Need Somebody ''Whenever You Need Somebody'' is the debut studio album by English singer Rick Astley, released on 16 November 1987 by RCA Records. It is his best-selling album and, according to his own official website, has sold 15.2 million copies worldwi ...

''. It was mainly intended for the American market where it was a top ten hit, and was not released in the United Kingdom and most of Europe.

Background and release

The B-side "You Move Me" written by Rick Astley was featured in the movie ''Cocktail''. Producer

Pete Waterman Peter Alan Waterman, (born 15 January 1947) is an English record producer, songwriter, radio and club DJ, television presenter, president of Coventry Bears rugby league club and a keen railway enthusiast. As a member of the Stock Aitken Waterm ...

excitedly dragged Rick Astley into his office and played Astley a VHS of the trailer of the movie and Astley was stunned that his song was played all the way through it. Waterman neglected to tell Astley that it was only in the trailer and not the movie.

Chart performance

"It Would Take a Strong Strong Man" reached number one in Canada, number ten on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and number one for one week on the

Hot Adult Contemporary Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul, R&B, quiet ...

chart.

Track listing

*7" and cassette single # "It Would Take a Strong Strong Man" – 3:39 # "You Move Me" – 3:40 *12" single # "It Would Take a Strong Strong Man (Matt's Jazzy Guitar Mix)" – 7:46 # "It Would Take a Strong Strong Man (Instrumental)" – 3:39 # "It Would Take a Strong Strong Man" – 3:39 # "You Move Me" – 3:40

Charts

Personnel

* Rick Astley: lead vocals * Matt Aitken: guitars & keyboards * Mike Stock: keyboards * "A. Linn":

LinnDrum The LinnDrum, also referred to as the LM-2, is a drum machine manufactured by Linn Electronics between 1982 and 1985. About 5,000 units were sold. Its high-quality samples, flexibility and affordability made the LinnDrum popular; it sold far mo ...

programming * Ian Curnow: Fairlight programming * Dee Lewis, Shirley Lewis, Mae McKenna & Suzanne Rhatigan: backing vocals

References

External links

* 1987 songs 1988 singles Rick Astley songs Song recordings produced by Stock Aitken Waterman Songs written by Pete Waterman Songs written by Matt Aitken Songs written by Mike Stock (musician) RPM Top Singles number-one singles RCA Records singles {{1980s-single-stub