Real Love is an album by the American R&B duo Ashford & Simpson, released in 1986 via Capitol Records.[1][2]
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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
Personnel
- Nickolas Ashford – lead and backing vocals on all tracks; drum programming on all tracks except "Count Your Blessings" and "Nobody Walks in L.A."; percussion on "Real Love" and "What Becomes of Love"
- Valerie Simpson – lead and backing vocals on all tracks, vocal solo on "What Becomes of Love"; drum programming and synthesizers on all tracks except "Count Your Blessings" and "Nobody Walks in L.A."; percussion on "Real Love" and "What Becomes of Love"; acoustic piano solo on "How Does It Fit"
- Joseph Joubert – synthesizers and arrangements on all tracks; synth solo on "What Becomes of Love"; acoustic piano on "10th Round"
- John Mahoney – Synclavier assistance
- Doc Powell – guitars on "Relations"
- Francisco Centeno – bass on "Count Your Blessings", "Real Love", "Nobody Walks in L.A.", and "Way Ahead"
- Ivan Hampden Jr. – drums on "Count Your Blessings"
- Steve Gadd – drums on "Nobody Walks in L.A."
- Jimmy Simpson – percussion on "Nobody Walks in L.A."; drum programming on "Relations"
- Sammy Figueroa – percussion on "Relations"
- Vinny Della Rocca – saxophone solo on "Real Love"
- Stevie Wonder – harmonica solo on "Nobody Walks in L.A."[7]
- Ray Simpson – backing vocals on "Real Love", "Nobody Walks in L.A.", "How Does It Fit", "What Becomes of Love", and "10th Round"
- Ullanda McCullough – backing vocals on "Real Love", "Nobody Walks in L.A.", "How Does It Fit", "What Becomes of Love", and "10th Round"
Production
- Ashford & Simpson – producers, arrangements, liner notes
- Roey Shamir – recording on "Count Your Blessings"
- Tim Cox – rhythm recording
- Barney Bristol – rhythm recording assistant
- John Paul Canavaugh – rhythm recording
- Joe Arlotta – vocal recording
- François Kervorkian – mixing on "Count Your Blessings" and "Real Love"
- Ron St. Germain – mixing on "Count Your Blessings" and "Real Love"
- Michael Hutchinson – mixing on all tracks except "Count Your Blessings" and "Real Love"
- 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
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