Ashford & Simpson Albums (14)
What The Critics Say
After an extremely long time without a recording contract, the dynamic R&B husband-and-wife singing duo Ashford & Simpson decided to create their own label. This time out, they returned with a friend, the poet Maya Angelou. This is far from their best material, but the concept itself makes this an interesting project. Throughout these 11 urban adult contemporary songs Ashford & Simpson weave their luminous harmonies around Angelou's distinctively gravel-voiced recitations. The title track is the most inviting and boasts a delicious chorus on the subject of finding true love that will last. Angelou opens "Where We Come From," a reflection on childhood, with heartfelt nostalgia that works very well with the song's construction. However, sometimes the hip-hop influence later in the set becomes overwhelming on cuts like "This Time It's Real" and "Made for Me"; moreover, the poems don't always snugly fit the songs, but seem to have been inserted for no reason other than the idea that each song should have one. Still, Ashford & Simpson's following will savor this set in spite of its flaws. ~ Bil Carpenter, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Although not as successful as their mid-'70s dates, Real Love did include some emphatic harmonies and above-average compositions, as well as consistently exciting vocals. What hurt it was the lack of interest in classic R&B arrangements during the late '80s, and the failure of any one single to emerge as a major hit. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Ashford & Simpson have always been the prime representatives in R&B of the joys of wedded bliss, and this extended valentine is their most consistent set as well as their biggest hit ever. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Ashford & Simpson had come close to exhausting their creative quotient by the mid-'80s. Simpson still sang effectively, and Ashford harmonized and contrasted her nicely, but they'd stated and restated both their own situations and any variations on it four albums before. As a result, the feeling that you've heard it all once too often permeates this album. Not that their fans wouldn't want to listen once more, nor that what they had to say wasn't at times compelling; it's just that it no longer was special. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Ashford & Simpson came up with an intriguing tack for this early-'80s session: take a contemporary situation and use a quasi-operatic format to illuminate it. The only problem came in the execution; the songs weren't up to the concept, although most weren't terrible. They were just good, faceless urban contemporary dance and love tunes, hardly the kind of transcendent things needed to make this worthy of operatic pretensions. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
The year 1980 was fairly eventful for Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson. In addition to writing and producing Gladys Knight & the Pips' excellent About Love, the duo had a major hit of their own with the snappy "Love Don't Make It Right." Nonetheless, 1980's A Musical Affair didn't go down in history as one of Ashford & Simpson's essential albums. This vinyl LP isn't bad; most of the tracks are decent, and a few are excellent, most notably "Love Don't Make It Right," the melancholy "Get out Your Hankerchief," and the sentimental ballad "Happy Endings." But overall, A Musical Affair isn't exceptional -- likable and pleasant, but not exceptional. After five-star treasures like 1977's Send It, 1978's Is It Still Good to Ya, and 1979's Stay Free, one greeted this record with high expectations; however, A Musical Affair falls short of the consistent excellence that had characterized some of their best late-'70s albums. Some might even go so far as to say that in 1980, Ashford & Simpson gave their best songs to Gladys Knight & the Pips, whose About Love is nothing to be ashamed of. Both commercially and creatively, that LP was the group's most successful album since 1974's I Feel a Song. In fact, the single ("Landlord") made it to number three on Billboard's R&B singles chart. So Ashford & Simpson certainly did right by Gladys Knight & the Pips in 1980, even though their own 1980 album falls short of essential. A Musical Affair is only recommended to Ashford & Simpson's hardcore fans. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
The title track was spectacular, and the rest of the album was expertly produced, performed, and arranged. Ashford & Simpson dominated the '70s as few couples ever have in any era; they were the textbook blend of classic R&B energy and urban contemporary class and sophistication. Their best material was neither so generic that it lacked soul, nor so soulful that it couldn't attract a crossover audience. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
'Is It Still Good to Ya'
Release Date 1/1/1978
Tracks 8
Label Warner Bros.
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Having written many popular numbers for various artists over the years, the dynamic duo retain that same tradition for this project. The first release from this album was the midtempo "It Just Seems to Hang On." While each verse is conveyed in a soft texture, the chorus jumps with excitement and intrigue, as does the vamp. Prior to this album, the husband-and-wife team had just one prior R&B Top Ten hit ("Don't Cost You Nothing," number ten in 1978).This song had a stronger impact; it stayed on the charts for 17 weeks. But more importantly, it held the number two position on the Billboard R&B charts for five consecutive weeks. The title track was the follow-up single. With its mesmerizing intonation, Ashford & Simpson intensely deliver this classic R&B ballad with all the right ingredients. In spite of the beauty of the song, it only peaked at #12 on the charts in as many weeks. The final release was "Flashback." Not nearly as inviting as its predecessors, this disco number peaked at number 70 after five weeks on the charts. Other notables are "Ain't It a Shame," "Get Up and Do Something," and "As Long As It Holds You." ~ Craig Lytle, All Music Guide
