Real Love (Ashford & Simpson album)
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| Real Love | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1986 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | R&B, soul, pop | |||
| Label | Capitol | |||
| Producer | Ashford & Simpson | |||
| Ashford & Simpson chronology | ||||
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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[edit]
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[edit]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [8] |
| Robert Christgau | B[9] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [10] |
| Record Mirror | 2/5[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[edit]
All tracks composed by Ashford and Simpson
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 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[edit]
- 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[edit]
- 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[edit]
- ^ "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.