Real Love (Ashford & Simpson album)

Real Love
Studio album by
Ashford & Simpson
Released1986
Studio
  • 39th Street Music, New York City
  • Blank Tape, New York City
  • Unique, New York City
GenreR&B, soul, pop
LabelCapitol
ProducerAshford & Simpson
Ashford & Simpson chronology
Solid
(1984) 		Real Love
(1986) 		Love or Physical
(1989)

Real Love is an album by the American R&B duo Ashford & Simpson, released in 1986 via Capitol Records.[1][2]

The album peaked at No. 74 on the Billboard 200.[3] It was nominated for a Grammy Award, in the "Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal" category.[4] The duo promoted the album with an appearance on One Life to Live and a North American tour.[5]

Production

All tracks from the album were written and produced by Ashford & Simpson.[6] Stevie Wonder contributed a harmonica solo to "Nobody Walks in L.A."[7]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[8]
Robert ChristgauB[9]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[10]
Record Mirror2/5[11]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[12]

The Washington Post declared that Ashford & Simpson "haven't lost their knack for knockout hooks, and they have a talent for telling tales to suit the top ten."[6] Robert Christgau wrote that "not even 'Nobody Walks in L.A.', which makes good on its title but is too quirky and local for a single, takes it on home."[9] The Los Angeles Times thought that "Count Your Blessings" possesses "the slick, black adult-contemporary sound that has become Ashford and Simpson’s stock in trade."[13] The Gazette called the album "more seamless songs of love, loss and inspiration from the yuppies of soul."[14]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Ashford and Simpson

No.TitleLength
1."Count Your Blessings"4:53
2."Real Love"4:03
3."Nobody Walks in L.A."5:38
4."How Does It Fit"4:08
5."Relations"5:17
6."What Becomes of Love"5:59
7."Way Ahead"4:01
8."10th Round"4:22

Personnel

  • Nickolas Ashford – lead vocals, backing vocals, drum programming (2, 4–8), percussion (2, 6)
  • Valerie Simpson – lead vocals, backing vocals, synthesizers (2, 4–8), drum programming (2, 4–8), percussion (2), acoustic piano solo (4), vocal solo (6)
  • Joseph Joubert – synthesizers, arrangements, synth solo (6), acoustic piano (8)
  • John Mahoney – Synclavier assistance
  • Doc Powell – guitars (5)
  • Francisco Centeno – bass (1–3, 7)
  • Ivan Hampden Jr. – drums (1)
  • Steve Gadd – drums (3)
  • Jimmy Simpson – percussion (3), drum programming (5)
  • Sammy Figueroa – percussion (5)
  • Vinny Della Rocca – saxophone solo (2)
  • Stevie Wonder – harmonica solo (3)
  • Ray Simpson – backing vocals (2–4, 6, 8)
  • Ullanda McCullough – backing vocals (2–4, 6, 8)

Production

  • Ashford & Simpson – producers, arrangements, liner notes
  • Roey Shamir – recording (1)
  • Tim Cox – rhythm recording
  • Barney Bristol – rhythm recording assistant
  • John Paul Canavaugh – rhythm recording
  • Joe Arlotta – vocal recording
  • François Kervorkian – mixing (1, 2)
  • Ron St. Germain – mixing (1, 2)
  • Michael Hutchinson – mixing (3–8)
  • George Marino – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York, NY)
  • Jimmy Simpson – mastering supervisor, production supervisor
  • Tee Alston – album coordinator
  • Roy Kohara – art direction
  • Peter Shea – design
  • Paul Jasmin – photography
  • Visages – photography

References

  1. ^ "At Last, The Secret Is Out". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. September 20, 1986 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ "Jet's Top 20 Albums". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. September 22, 1986 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ "Ashford & Simpson". Billboard.
  4. ^ "Ashford And Simpson". GRAMMY.com. November 23, 2020.
  5. ^ "Popping Around". Showcase. The Tennessean. 10 Aug 1986. p. 13.
  6. ^ a b "'Love' and Marriage". The Washington Post. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  7. ^ "Ashford and Simpson — Dynamic Duo on the Charts". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  8. ^ "Real Love - Ashford & Simpson | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  9. ^ a b "Robert Christgau: CG: Ashford". www.robertchristgau.com.
  10. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 1. MUZE. p. 271.
  11. ^ Bernard, Edwin J. (13 September 1986). "Albums: Ashford & Simpson – Real Love (Capitol)" (PDF). Record Mirror. London: Spotlight Publications Ltd. p. 18. ISSN 0144-5804. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 June 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2024 – via World Radio History.
  12. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 25.
  13. ^ "R&B's Love Couple". Los Angeles Times. August 24, 1986.
  14. ^ Griffin, John (25 Sep 1986). "Ashford and Simpson – Real Love (Capitol)". The Gazette. p. E3.