It Would Take a Strong Strong Man

"It Would Take a Strong Strong Man" is a 1987 song by English singer-songwriter Rick Astley. Written by Stock Aitken Waterman, it was released as the fifth single from Astley's debut album Whenever You Need Somebody. 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.

"It Would Take a Strong Strong Man"
Single by Rick Astley
from the album Whenever You Need Somebody
B-side	"You Move Me"
Released	5 April 1988 (1988-04-05)
Genre	Pop
Length	3:39
Label	RCA
Songwriter(s)	Mike Stock Matt Aitken Pete Waterman
Producer(s)	Stock Aitken Waterman
Rick Astley singles chronology
"Together Forever" (1988) "It Would Take a Strong Strong Man" (1988) "She Wants to Dance with Me" (1988)
Music video
"It Would Take a Strong Strong Man" on YouTube

Background and release

The B-side "You Move Me" written by Rick Astley was featured in the movie Cocktail. Producer Pete Waterman excitedly dragged 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.^[1]

Chart performance

"It Would Take a Strong Strong Man" reached number one in Canada, number ten on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one for one week on the Hot Adult Contemporary chart.^[2]

Track listing

• 7" and cassette single

1. "It Would Take a Strong Strong Man" – 3:39
2. "You Move Me" – 3:40

• 12" single

1. "It Would Take a Strong Strong Man" (Matt's Jazzy Guitar mix) – 7:46
2. "It Would Take a Strong Strong Man" (instrumental) – 3:39
3. "It Would Take a Strong Strong Man" – 3:39
4. "You Move Me" – 3:40

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "It Would Take a Strong Strong Man"

Chart (1988–1989)	Peak position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[3]	1
US Billboard Hot 100^[4]	10
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[5]	1
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)^[6]	8

Personnel

• Rick Astley – lead vocals
• Matt Aitken – guitars, keyboards
• Mike Stock – keyboards
• "A. Linn" – LinnDrum programming
• Ian Curnow – Fairlight programming
• Dee Lewis, Shirley Lewis, Mae McKenna, Suzanne Rhatigan – backing vocals

References

1. Tim's Twitter Listening Party
2. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–2001. Record Research. p. 24.
3. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 8734." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
4. "Rick Astley Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
5. "Rick Astley Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
6. "Rick Astley Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 March 2024.