Presumably this was timed to coincide with the upcoming 'Here & Now' tour, though the fact its release will come so soon after the Rick-Rolling phenomenon will surely be a happy boost for SonyBMG. Yes, the major label will release a Rick Astley best of on 28 Apr, ahead of his appearance on the eighties nostalgia tour. The hits collection is set to include all of the following...
Never Gonna Give You Up
Together Forever
My Arms Keep Missing You
Whenever You Need Somebody
She Wants To Dance With Me
When I Fall In Love
Cry For Help
Take Me To Your Heart
It Would Take A Strong Strong Man
Hold Me In Your Arms
Hopelessly
Move Right Out
The Ones You Love
Never Knew Love
Body And Soul
Vincent
Full Of You
The 'Here & Now' dates are as follows...
9 May: Nottingham Arena
10 May: Glasgow SECC
13 May: Manchester Evening News Arena
14 May: Liverpool Echo Arena
15 May: Brighton Centre
16 May: London Wembley Arena
17 May: Birmingham Nec
18 May: Newcastle Metro Radio Arena
As previously reported, Astley has come back to global attention in the last few weeks because of the Rick-Rolling phenomena, where internet pranksters post what seem to be intriguing or news-worthy videos, all of which link to the pop promo for Astley's 1987 hit 'Never Gonna Give You Up'. The prank led to the video getting 21 million views and, at one point last week, filling the entire YouTube 'most watched' home page. A cynic might say the whole thing was a set up by SonyBMG to pre-promote the hits album, though I'm not sure the average viral marketer is that clever.