Added: 4 years ago
From: memyself2k
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  • The audio in this video doesn't do the song justice. It actually has more "snap" than Astley's version. I like the snap:-)

  • Not a bad song, not as good as Ricks though, has that kind of Princess vibe about it, his is more polished, well it had more money chucked at it, should have at least made the top 75, not No 97, 100% Pure Pain only made 97 as well, Why Can't We Be Friends only made No 88 A Whiter Shade Of Pale only made No 81, all he other singles didn't even register in the top 100, the Re-issue of the album by Cherry Pop is out 28th of November.

  • @freshin888style - They are releasing a reissue later this month or early next month.

  • Her album needs a long overdue reissue on cherry pop records!!!

  • Always preferred O'chi's version to Ricks. Not that I dislike Rick, I just think the production on this version and O'Chi's voice are so much better.

  • It's interesting to read the discussion about this song pertaining to race. I think, however, that this song in particular doesn't quite fit into that "battle," if you will. Stock, Aitken, Waterman (SAW) is a team of three white British guys who wrote and produced the song. They gave it to O'chi first...and she had minor success with it in the UK (#97). In the US, it was #1 on the club charts...but only #88 on R&B. (continued)...

  • (cont'd from above) 2 years later, when SAW started working with Rick, they realized they still had a good song which they tried for a hit with again. I prefer Ochi's version, not only her vocal; but also the more soulful production style. Interestingly, Rick did a duet with O'chi on her album, but was uncredited & reportedly got no royalties. This was before he had name value. Goes to show that industry recognition and respect is all in who the hot name is at the moment -- regardless of color.

  • billboard dance #1 april 26, 1986 issue date

  • In my opinion Rick simply performed it better, but that's just my thoughts. The record company made the decision. Simple as that. But naturally ignorant people will turn it into a race war... Idiots.

  • @MikeHova86 its just a misunderstanding. Older black music fans know alot of "hits" were stolen from lesser known artists...sometimes artist of color. Thats not the case here as Rick Astley just covered the song. I like Astley's version better...his voice is more upbeat. Astley had alot of soul like Michael McDonald, The Police, UB40, etc. He's one of the reasons i liked VH1 better than MTV even in the 80's. So norace war....Black ppl like Rick Astley 2. Trust me I have his cds ;)

  • COMPLETELY SOULESS!!! Not even close to Rick's version!

  • There was another extended version, an import on a black label, that I don't see here. Anyone remember yet another version by O'chi? It had a drum track like "Set if off".

  • @monjott its the pull it off mix and it was THE best version and the one they played in most clubs- it was on here

  • I just wish someone would post a copy of her version - not the truncated/video version here. (I know, I know, beggars and choosers,etc.)

  • i love this song thanks 4 post!!

  • This version is not a cover is a original version

  • 2 of the first acts stock/aitken/waterman had hits with were black women, princess and mel & kim, so its bullshit people saying ochi brown didnt have a hit with this single because she was a black woman ! stock/aitlen/waterman did this several times, giving the same song to different acts.

  • Ahhh! the good old days, I remember this use to play on WBLS in NY. Classic song! I remember when I first heard the other version and I was pissed! If I was to rate the male version of the song, I would give it a 3 and I'm being very generous here! Ochi would get a 10! I'm a dude, so I prefer a womans voice over a mans voice any day, especially when its her own song.

  • O'Chi Brown's version is how we in America knew this song. Her version was a huge hit in clubs here.

  • @RocStarr913 She did not get the recognition she deserved for that song. She did this song first! Where's the credit?

  • @memyself2k I know she did the song first, but since it was Stock, Aitken, & Waterman that wrote & produced the song & she just sang it, the song flopped in their home country & they just figured that Rick Astley singing it was a second attempt at making it successful & it was in Europe. Recycling songs from one singer to the next was common in this style of music & producer/songwriters of this sort sadly treat their singers as just mere vocal instruments, regardless if it's her or Rick Astley.

  • @RocStarr913 I was in NYC at the time and I don't remember this being a huge hit at all. America knew the Rick Astley one better actually, got a lot more airplay deservedly so it was a good cover just as Robert Palmer lifted some other oscure urban tracks.

  • Sweet Jesus! I love this!

  • you have been o'chirolled lolz :P

  • Rick Astley's version is much better than this.

  • @lunatunes77 O'Chi sung this Song in 1986, Rick Astley 1987 !!!

  • @sibfanandy007 What's that got to do with what I said? O'chi's version came out at the end of '85 actually!

  • This version is all right, it just has that weird 80s techno pop feel to it. It sounds like zig zags, or something. Meh, 4/5 stars. My favorite will always be Rick.

  • @TheBlkmage211 O'Chi's original version did not get enough play and that was unfortunate.

  • @memyself2k To be fair....

    RIck's version was never a single in North America and a lot of SAW produced hits were recorded by more than one artist.

  • @TheBlkmage211 LOL STEALING... Have you seriously never heard of a cover?

  • @TheBlkmage211 he didnt steal it dude it was just a cover. youve probably been told this million times but you know.

  • ahhhhhh yea......19 again Summer of '86 !!!!!!!

  • I like this song and video! 80's at its best!

  • I Love This O'Chi Brown 1986 Music Video, "Whenever You Need Somebody," Which Became The Number 1 Dance Hit In America.

  • I think this was the original, I heard this a year or two ahead of the cover. Both are great.

  • @hardcorehouse This is the original.

  • I love SAW all their artists were clones all playing synthpop for their over-controlling masters/composers

  • I def remember this version...Still have it on 45.  I really loved the 100% Pure Pain song as well.

  • @djkrushinphx You have great taste.

  • was a club hit in april 1986

  • ochi brown is my auntie! . she doesn't go by that name anymore that was her stage name lol. rick ashleys version is rubbish damn theif!!! haha anyways just supporting my aunt even though this was like in the 80's but hey" she's a legend :)

  • They don't play you auntie's version anymore and some people never heard it. And that's why I posted it for the world to see and hear. And people love this version! You really should be proud!

  • @lainybaybee Your Auntie made a nice record ( and video) I remember being in the record store waiting for this song. I liked quite a few of her records...and this was about a year before Rick Astlleys version

  • @lainybaybee Rick isn't thief! S/A/W/ wrote this song, and they gave Rick to sing it!

  • @lainybaybee MR Astley can sing but this is the bloody original performance and is much better than Rick Astleys own. Its just like history - he who writes the books steals the truth and as in music the media promotes who they want and hides the true TALENT

  • @masterix6 in all honesty and even if Rick's version is a cover of this one, I still prefer Rick over O'Chi (in this case) just like I prefer Marvin Gaye's version of I Heard It Through The Grapevine over Gladys Knight's (and Gladys is my all time favourite female singer!) even though it came out after Gladys... First time is not always the best...

  • @WonderBOnTheOne Ya agreed, Astley's version is better even though his is a cover and even though this is good.

  • ochi brown is my auntie :) she doesn't go by ochi brown anymore lol:L this song is soooo goooddd!!!! rick ashley stole it from her btw, stupid man

  • I remember I was a 12 year old kid when I found a cheap ''12 in the store and among six songs was that... some years ago appeared Rick , so good , but that version is a perfect portrait of the 80's. What happened to O'chi Brown. She left music? She has a good voice..

  • I'm trying to find out myself whatever happened to her.

  • O'Chi Brown was indeed due for consideration as a UK release on the Cherry Pop label but "sadly" I have received a reply today from them to say that there have been "Difficulties" surrounding this and although it "May Happen" one day for the time being the answer is no.

  • Both versions are great.

  • o'chi music is out this year on itunes and cherry pop .

  • I'm so happy that both versions on here. This way the People Who only know Rick's version will get to see Who did it first. ''Miss O'chi Brown''. The Girl can blow.

  • I second that emotion.

  • OMG!!! I literally haven't seen this Video,heard this Song since the 80's. Let alone a ''Telegenics'' Video at that. Lol! I've always liked this version better than Rick Astleys. This Song was a hit in the Clubs as wel las on Radio. However O'chi Browns version didn't get the Monstrous ''Push'' that Rick's got. Go figure. Hmph! I actually got to meet this charming and nice Lady back when the Song first became a hit at ''12 Inch Record'' Store in Washington D.C. 1985 0r 86 at the time.

  • If you slow it down she sounds a lot like Rick Astley

  • She did this song first.

  • I know

  • No, Rick covered this song.

  • i had this one on tape,before rick astley.i prefer this one x

  • So do I.

  • Your opinion. If you have nothing nice to say, then don't say SHIT! Have a nice day.

  • Rick Astley is better [a]

  • I would LOVE IT if someone would upload the club mix of this song...in high quality.

  • I agree.

  • BTW in the NY area this version was a much bigger club than Astley's version. His sound was more forced or manufactured. When Ochi's was out, I really hadnt known about SAW even though they produced it as well.

  • I agree. I first saw this video on Black Entertainment Television (BET) back in 1986.

  • The Rick Astley version is too much better

  • Your opinion, not mine. The original is still my favorite.

  • ME too

  • Something we agree on.

  • thank you for posting this....i love SAW productions and this version of this song (compared to the rick astley version) is soooooooo much better...thank you

  • You're quite welcome.

  • I love the club version but this was a hot song on the dancefloor. In the remix it is like she is hooting " whenever you need somebody". Great club song!!

  • Who cares witch version is better. It's not the artist but the producers who make the songs happen. And Stock/Aitken/Waterman are the best producers of the 80's.

  • Oh shut up. What do you mean it doesn't matter which version was better? People are entitled to their own opinions aren't they?

  • Oh no, not you again. Go kill you're daughters.

  • that is not nice is it

  • I remmber seeing this at a club synched with Rick's vocals. The DJ put in the tag line: Rick Astley doing drag as O'chi Brown. Classic.

    I love both versions.

  • it's more aoulful than rick. is it a little bit slower, the drumsare funkier.

  • Thats why I liked this when it came out in 1986. Believe it or not, I never knew until recently that Rick had done a version of this song. But I like O'chi's better.

  • Rick's version was a classic. Can't believe you didn't know that he did a version of this. It was the follow-up to "Never Gonna Give You Up" and his second single. Have to agree with you though. This version is better than Rick's. Was it her that recorded this first and where did this reach in the uk singles chart?

  • I don't know how far it got on the UK charts back then, but I do know that a lot of people here in America probably never heard of Ms. Brown unless they were watching Black Entertainment Television BET back in the 80s.

  • Reached 97th

  • Thanks for the info man.

  • Or in gay video bars.

  • this was a very popular song in the gay bars back in 86. we love our diva women. So much better than Rick Astley's version.

  • People forget about Ms. Brown and her version of this song.

  • One of my favorite videos! Thank you for posting it! You have excellent taste in music and videos!

  • You're quite welcome. Thank you very much.

  • This was one of my favz !

  • Memories.

  • They played this video all the time on BET back in the day. The Extended Mix was also on the Cassette version of the album.

  • Those were the days.

  • I don't like the cassette version at all. i bought the cassette after I returned to the US, and I never heard her version in my life except for of course Rick Astley. I cannot believe I missed all of the video action between 1986 and early 1989. I was in England and I did not even see this video there!

  • Yes, this song peaked at #8 on the dance charts and number 88 on the R&B Charts

  • The song from this lady was rarely played here in the U.S.

  • rarely played? Beg to differ.

    Back then, on Black Radio, they played almost everything that was "funky."

    I agree, this version sucks in comparison to the 12 inch version. which sounds like "Set It Off" by Strafe.

  • They played this more in the U.K. than in the U.S.

  • Finally! Been waiting for this one to show up on here for a while. Use to have the 12inch back in the day but traded it up for something I'm sure I've forgotten about since.

  • People keep talking about Rick Astley's version, but no one remembers or knows about this version of the song that came out in 1986. People forgot about O'Chi Brown as well, if not know who she is.

  • Does anyone have the extended mix of this record?

  • I had the vinyl album, but that was in the 80s when the song came out.

  • rick astley owns def

  • I never heard rick's version, I only know this version from 1986.

  • Rick has better pipes, I've got to say.

  • Your opinion and yours alone.

  • I had heard this version when it came out before Rick Astley. I like Ricks version also, his version of this song was why I bought his album. I think he gave her credit for the song.

  • LOVE this version! Thanks for posting!

  • My pleasure. This version came out in 1986

  • Finally!!!!!!!!!! Someone post this...Brilliant!

  • No problem. It has been years since she got any play and people never saw here videos or know who she is. This video came out in 1986.

  • I love O'chi's stuff. One of the most underrated and forgotten SAW artists.

  • She is a forgotten artist period. I wonder whatever happened to her?

  • I have been searching for this video for a long time on YouTube. I first saw it at George's, a gay bar in Memphis back in the mid-eighties. I stopped dancing and just stared at the video screen. Ochi's pagoda-inspired hairdo made me squeal like a stuck pig! If you like this song, she also had a good one called 100% Pure Pain. Check it out if you can find it.

  • *compares this to the Rick Astley version*

    Wow, that was different. Thanks for posting this, I didn't think something so obscure would be on YouTube.

  • No problem. People forgotten about O'Chi Brown. Most of America never heard of her. I wonder what ever happened to her?

  • This was my very first SAW 12" I ever bought. Never once saw the video for it or any other O'Chi Brown until today. Love you, love YouTube, love the internet!

  • Glad you had the opportunity to view it. I am surprised at how many people never heard of this video or the song for that matter. Peace, and I'll try to find more rare videos in my stash.

  • Cool.

  • Awesome! I've been looking all over for this song, this is one of my favorites from the 80's. Thanks for posting this classic jam.

  • No problem man. I'm just returning the favors of all of us that provided rare videos. Peace!

  • Thanks memyself2k i dident know that Rick Astley Coverd this song till now and you have some rare songs

  • Don't forget to view the other videos and leave ratings and feedbacks. Tell your friends.

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