Rick Astley scores first number one in 29 years with new album 50

Chart-topper: Rick Astley has bagged his first number one in 29 years
OfficialChart
Jennifer Ruby17 June 2016
The Weekender

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Rick Astley has scored his first number one album in nearly three decades.

The British pop star, who was big in the 1980s, has gone straight in a number one on this week’s official chart.

New record 50 is Astley’s first studio album in 11 years and battled it out this week with Tom Odell’s Wrong Crowd, which is now sitting at number two.

Speaking to OfficalChart.com, Astley said: “It’s amazing, it’s incredible, it’s been a very, very, very long time since this happened before, I’m ecstatic, I couldn’t be happier.”

Discussing his competition, he added: “I like Tom Odell, I bought his last album, and I’m going buy this one as well, but I’ve held off from buying it this week.

“It’s amazing to be mentioned in the same breath as him, he’s one of the big breakthrough artists of the last few years so it’s amazing to be put in that kind of category.”

Astley has had support this week from friend Elton John, who he has been in contact with.

“Elton John’s sent a few texts over the last couple of days and just called me now to celebrate and said ‘just make sure you enjoy it,’” he said.

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“He’s one of those people I’ve always respected, he has always, and still does, love music.

“Guys like that have been making great music for so long, and still out there doing it, so it was a nice moment to get that congratulations.”

Paul McCartney’s new album Pure PcCartney is in at number three this week, followed by Elo’s All Over The World and Drake’s Views.

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