Real Love (Ashford & Simpson album)

Real Love
Studio album by Ashford & Simpson
Released	1986
Studio	39th Street Music, New York City Blank Tape, New York City Unique, New York City
Genre	R&B, soul, pop
Label	Capitol
Producer	Ashford & 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
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

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

• 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. "'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. "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.