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1986 studio album by Ashford & Simpson
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
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
Title 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
^
"At Last, The Secret Is Out" . Billboard . Nielsen Business Media, Inc. September 20, 1986 – via Google Books.
^
"Jet's Top 20 Albums" . Jet . Johnson Publishing Company. September 22, 1986 – via Google Books.
^
"Ashford & Simpson" . Billboard .
^
"Ashford And Simpson" . GRAMMY.com . November 23, 2020.
^ "Popping Around". Showcase. The Tennessean . 10 Aug 1986. p. 13.
^
a
b
" 'Love' and Marriage" . The Washington Post . Retrieved 30 June 2021 .
^
"Ashford and Simpson — Dynamic Duo on the Charts" . Orlando Sentinel . Retrieved 30 June 2021 .
^
"Real Love - Ashford & Simpson | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
^
a
b
"Robert Christgau: CG: Ashford" . www.robertchristgau.com .
^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music . Vol. 1. MUZE. p. 271.
^ 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.
^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide . Random House. 1992. p. 25.
^
"R&B's Love Couple" . Los Angeles Times . August 24, 1986.
^ Griffin, John (25 Sep 1986). "Ashford and Simpson – Real Love (Capitol)". The Gazette . p. E3.
Nickolas Ashford
Valerie Simpson
Albums Singles Related articls