Our Top 10 Ashford & Simpson Songs list takes a look at one of music’s most successful singing and songwriting duos. They were a married singing and songwriting duo. They have written hits for different artists as well as for themselves. They are best known for their songs “Solid” and “Found a Cure.” They have four gold selling albums. They’ve written hits for several acts such as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan and Luther Vandross. Their most famous songs by other artists are “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “You’re All I Need to Get By,” “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing,” Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand)” and “I’m Every Woman.” The duo was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002. They’ve won several BMI awards. They have nominations for various awards. Let’s get to know the duo better.
Nickolas Ashford was born May 4, 1941 – August 22, 2011. Valerie Simpson was born August 26, 1946. They met in 1964. They recorded songs in 1964, but they weren’t as successful at singing their own music at the time. They were more successful writing for other artists. They scored their first big hit when they worked with singer Ray Charles. They wrote “Let’s Go Get Stoned” in 1966. It was a number one r&b hit for the artist. After they achieved that success, they joined Motown Records. They wrote songs for the Motown artists. They started focusing on their own singing careers in the 70s.
Gimme Something Real was released in 1973. The album peaked at number 18 on the r&b charts and number 156 on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the singles “Gimme Something Real,” “I’m Determined,” “(I’d Know You) Anywhere “I Need Your Light,” “Time” and “Have You Ever Tried It.” I Wanna Be Selfish came out 1974. It peaked at number 21 on the r&b charts and 195 on the Billboard 200 charts. The album features the singles “I Wanna Be Selfish,” “I Had a Love,” “Take All the Time You Need,” “Don’t Fight It” and “Everybody’s Got to Give It Up.”
Come as You Are came out in 1976. It peaked at number 35 on the r&b charts and 189 on the Billboard 200 charts. The album features the singles “One More Try,” “Somebody Told a Lie,” “It Came to Me,” “Tell It All,” “Sell the House” and “Believe in Me.” So So Satisfied was released in 1977. The album peaked at number 30 on the r&b charts and number 180 on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the singles “Tried, Tested and Found True,” “So So Satisfied,” “Over and Over” and “It’s You.”
Send It was also released in 1977. The album peaked at number 10 on the r&b charts and number 52 on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the singles “Don’t Cost You Nothing,” “Send It,” “Top of the Stairs” and “Let Love Use Me.” This is the album that made the duo a household name. The album sold over 500,000 copies. Is It Still Good to Ya was released in 1978. The album peaked at number one on the r&b charts and number 20 on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the singles “It Seems to Hang On,” “Is It Still Good to Ya,” “Ain’t It a Shame,” “Flashback,” “Get Up and Do Something” and “As Long As It Holds You,” The album sold over 500,000 copies.
Stay Free came out in 1979. The album peaked at number three on the r&b charts and number 23 on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the singles “Found a Cure,” “Stay Free,” “Nobody Knows,” “Crazy” and “Follow Your Heart.” The album sold over 500,000 copies. A Musical Affair came out in 1980. It peaked at number eight on the r&b charts and number 38 on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the songs “Love Don’t Make It Right,” “Happy Endings,” “Get Out Your Handkerchief,” “Rushing To” and “You Never Left Me Alone.”
Street Opera was released in 1982. It peaked at number five on the r&b charts and number 45 on the Billboard 200 charts. The album features the singles “Love It Away,” “Mighty Mighty Love” and “I’ll Take the Whole World On,” High-Rise was released in 1983. The album peaked at number 14 on the r&b charts and number 84 on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the singles “High-Rise,” “It’s Much Deeper,” and “I’m Not That Tough.”
Solid came out in 1984. It peaked at number one on the r&b charts and number 29 on the Billboard 200 charts. The album features the songs “Solid,” “Outta the World” and “Babies.” The album sold over 500,000 copies. Real Love came out in 1986. It peaked at number 12 on the r&b charts and number 74 on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the songs “Count Your Blessings,” “Real Love,” “Nobody Walks in L.A.” and “Relations.”
Love or Physical came out in 1989. The album peaked at number 28 on the r&b charts and 135 on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the singles “Love or Physical,” “Something to You,” “Cookies and Cake” and “I’ll Be There For You.” Been Found was released in 1986. It peaked at number 49 on the r&b charts. The album features the songs “Been Found,” “Made for Me,” “Keeps on Getting Better,” “I Remember All” and “Where We Come From.”
Ashford & Simpson are an important part of music history. They have written several hit singles for numerous artists in music. These songs helped make them a successful songwriting duo. There aren’t too many married couples who are famous for their songwriting and singing. Ashford & Simpson may have been known for their songwriting career, but they managed to have some success as singers in their own right. They have written hit songs for themselves as well. They also had success as hosts of a radio show on Kiss Fm. Ashford may have left us, but their legacy still remains. This Top 10 Ashford & Simpson Songs list will feature their songs as singers. What do you think will make the list?
# 10 – It Seems to Hang On
The first song on our Top 10 Ashford & Simpson Songs list is “It Seems to Hang On” from the Is It Still Good to Ya album. The song has a rock and disco sound. The lush song is about a relationship that they refuse to let end. It’s the perfect song for the married duo to sing. They had a long-lasting relationship. The song has a cool and laid back beat to it. It cleverly mixes disco and rock music. It’s a slow groove that has enough tempo to allow you to get up on the dance floor. It has a simple arrangement, which allows the song to stand out.
The sound is similar to TSOP (the sound of Philadelphia) music. The song has a catchy chorus that will stay in your head long after it’s done. Ashford & Simpson’s vocals sound refined. They have excellent phrasing as they sing each lyric. Ashford sings in different pitches in the song. He goes up and down like a roller coaster throughout the song. Simpson stays in her lane. She sings the song in the same key. They sing in time with the music. You could tell they had fun recording this song.
# 9 – (I’d Know You) Anywhere
The next song on our Top 10 Ashford & Simpson Songs list is “(I’d Know You) Anywhere” from the Gimme Something Real album. It has an r&b sound to it. This shimmering song is about them knowing each other from anywhere. No one else would compare to them. Ashford & Simpson are known for their love songs so it’s no surprise they wrote a love song for themselves. It starts off softly and then picks up the pace after the first verse.
The song sounds like a myriad of songs. The melody is similar to Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s “You’re All I Need to Get By,” “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” and the Spinners’ “I’ll Be Around.” It will be a challenge to pinpoint what songs sound similar to this one. It has a familiar melody. It definitely has a Motown sound to it. The music is upbeat and bouncy. The keys and drums are the stand out instruments. Speaking of standouts, their voices stand out. They show vocal versatility by belting throughout the song.
They stack their voices in the background to make it sound as if numerous people are singing in the background. They give the song a church feel. She sings in her normal register while Ashford goes up an octave. Simpson sounds similar to Diana Ross. They sing two different verses at the same time while the song fades out. It was a great touch to the song because it makes it stand out.
# 8 – Love Don’t Make It Right
The informative song is from the A Musical Affair album. It has a funk, disco and r&b sound to it. The instructional song gives you advice on how to make a relationship work. It’s not their stereotypical love song. It focuses on love, but it also lets you know that love isn’t always enough Ashford & Simpson are a married couple so who better to explain the ins and outs of love than them? They had a long marriage so their advice would be excellent for couples who are dealing with the ups and downs of relationships. They sing the lyrics in a way that doesn’t come off preachy or judgmental. They are pretty straightforward with their tips and advice.
This song gives the duo a chance to stray outside of their comfort zone a little. They talk about love, but they give you tips on how to deal with it when things go wrong. The melody is similar to their track “It Seems to Hang On.” It has a funky and smooth beat that makes you want to dance. They have superb harmonies. Their voices blend so well together. It’s as if they were destined to sing together. They vocalize towards the end of the song. They saved the best part for last.
# 7 – Send It
The motivational song is from the album of the same name. The song has an r&b beat. This is a moving song about letting go when a relationship is over. They are advising the listeners to know when to move on and allow themselves to be free. The lyrics are relatable to anyone who has trouble moving on after a relationship ends. They wrote an exquisite song about picking up the pieces of your life. You would never know what the song was about just going by the title. You would have to pay attention to the lyrics to get the meaning of the song. The song was recorded years ago, but people can still relate to it now. It’s a classic song that doesn’t have a dated message. The instrumentation will move you and take you to an emotional place.
The instruments are fire. The acoustic piano is breathtaking. The track features someone playing a flute solo as well as a violin solo. The musical pause gives the listeners a chance to focus on the beautiful and soothing music. It’s perfect to listen to when you want to relax. The music doesn’t overpower their vocals. They sing at a normal volume without having to shout over the music. They belt towards the end of the song. They sound like one person because their voices blended together towards the end. They saved the best part for last on the track.
# 6 – Don’t Cost You Nothing
The metaphoric song is from the Send It album. It has a disco and funk sound to it. The empowering song could have different meanings to it. They seem to be talking about not selling themselves out to anyone. They also talk about taking chances. You will have to judge for yourself what the song means. They keep you guessing with this mysterious track. They did a clever job leaving the meaning up in the air. It gives you a chance to draw your own conclusions about the song. The song is funk meet disco. The music covers the best of both genres.
The song starts off with blazing guitar riffs. It will hook you as soon as you hear it. The bassline isn’t to be missed at all. It gives the song its rich and funky edge. The drumbeat is fire and will have you up on your feet. The melody is similar to “The Boss.” Ashford & Simpson’s voices blend very well together especially when they sing the chorus. They stack their voices to create the illusion that more people are singing in the background. The song is a little long because it’s almost seven minutes, but it doesn’t feel as long as it is.
# 5 – Found a Cure
The next song on our Top 10 Ashford & Simpson Songs list is “Found a Cure” from the Stay Free album. The song has a r&b and soul sound. The metaphoric song is about love being the medicine you need to get better. They seem to think love will fix all of your problems. The song is therapeutic for anyone who is in love. They want you to know that love can fix anything. It gives you hope that you can feel better if you have love in your life. The music is mind blowing. The horn and string section are amazing. The music is energetic and emotional.
The music is from the 70s, but it doesn’t sound dated. The bouncy beat will have you out of your seat as soon as it starts. Fans of disco and r&b music will definitely appreciate this electrifying sound. Now let’s talk about their vocals. Did they do a great job on this track? The answer to that question is a resounding yes. They bring their “A” game to this song. Their voices blend with the music. They give each other room to shine without trying to outshine the other. They vocalize when they sing the infectious chorus. The song is a little long, but it doesn’t hurt it in any way.
# 4 – Is It Still Good to Ya
This pleading song is from the album of the same name. It has an r&b and soul sound. This cathartic song is about a couple questioning whether a relationship is still good or not. They were able to write a song about a couple who are dealing with issues when they were in love at the time. It’s a testament to the professional way they write. They write about real relationships and that makes their songs genuine. They can write a convincing song about falling in love as well as falling out of it.
The music is soft and beautiful. It has a somber sound to match the heartbreaking message. The melody sounds similar to TSOP music. It has that classic Philadelphia sound to it. The music is powerful and moving. The string section might bring listeners to tears. Ashford & Simpson’s vocals are off the charts. They sing with a lot of passion and flair. Ashford vocals go up and down like a roller coaster. He even hits an impressive high note towards the end of the song. He reaches for heights unknown when he hits that high note. It’s definitely a showstopper once he hits the note. Simpson didn’t slack off either. She pours her heart out while she’s singing the lyrics. She belts and holds little notes in the song. The song is an earworm that will stay in your head after it’s done.’
# 3 – Street Corner
This story-based song is from the Street Opera album. It has an r&b and funk sound. The metaphoric song is about life on a street corner. The lyrics are out of the duo’s wheelhouse. They didn’t write songs like this one before so it was a nice change. It gave them a chance to talk about something different. They sing the song as if they’re telling a story about people hanging out on the street. It could be implied that the song is about prostitution. The song is soaked in funk and blues. The music was designed to create the sound of life on the street. The arrangement features the piano chords, synthesizers, blazing horns, and the drums.
The music is supposed to represent the street life, but it has an upbeat sound. The musical arrangement is tight and will get you on the dance floor. It’s impossible to sit still while listening to this rhythmic music. The music is perfect for their vocals. Their voices blend well with the music. They take turns singing their parts. They sound sassy as they talk about not being on the street. It’s Simpson’s turn to sing up and down like a roller coaster. She sounds low in some parts and high in others. Ashford basically stays in his comfort zone on the track.
# 2 – Count Your Blessings
The cautionary song is from the Real Love album. The song has an r&b and soul sound to it. The refreshing song is about appreciating what you have. You need to count all of your blessings. It has a powerful message about being grateful for what you have in your life. They had a lot to live up to once they released “Solid.” The song was such a hit that it would have been challenge to create a song that could compete with the monster. They accomplished that feat with “Count Your Blessings.” The underrated song has a strong message and tends to get overlooked because of “Solid.” It shouldn’t be judged based on that song because it’s a beautiful song in its own right. With that said, the song is relatable to anyone who has doubts about the person they love.
It teaches you to be grateful for what you have because you could always lose it. The pre-chorus and chorus are absolutely fabulous. They sing it in such a way that makes you want to sing right along with them. They harmonize so well in the song they practically sound like one person singing the song. They sound fantastic on the track. They sing in time with the music and keep up with the all of the beat changes. Everything about this song is great. It could have easily been number one on the list. The first and second spots were a toss up.
# 1 – Solid
The number one song on our Top 10 Ashford & Simpson Songs list is “Solid” from the album of the same name. The song has an r&b and soul sound. The celebratory song is about surviving the ups and downs of a relationship. Despite their problems, their love is stronger. They are “solid as a rock.” This is their signature song and the track that helped them reach a new fanbase.
The song starts off with Simpson singing acappella. Ashford joins her and the music begins. The midtempo beat is rhythmic and infectious. It sounds like 80s music, but it doesn’t sound dated. The music could still be appreciated today. It has a sound that would please fans of most music. The lyrics are moving without sounding cheesy. It could easily be about their relationship. The song has become a matrimonial anthem. They were the perfect pair to sing the song because they had a “solid” relationship. There aren’t enough words to express how great they sound on this song. Their vocals are heartfelt and passionate.
They sound like they are enjoying themselves on the track. They do magnificent vocalizing while they are singing the verses. This song will most likely stay in your head for a long time. It has an easy and memorable chorus. This is a “solid” way to end the list.
Photo: Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Top 10 Ashford And Simpson Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2021
Classicrockhistory.com claims ownership of all its original content and Intellectual property under United States Copyright laws and those of all other foreign countries. No one person, business or any organizations is allowed to republish any of our original content anywhere on the web or in print without our permission.
