Solid us the ONLY thing A&S are known for by 99% of people in the UK. That other 1% [[and that’s being generous) fully appreciate their massive contribution to music
Printable View
Solid us the ONLY thing A&S are known for by 99% of people in the UK. That other 1% [[and that’s being generous) fully appreciate their massive contribution to music
I’m so glad I found this thread. A&S are my favorite writers/producers. Their Warner albums, “The Boss” album along with their singles for Marvin & Tammi and Diana are simply sublime. I’m hoping we get a listen if those Motown recordings of their songs for others!
I saw them perform at Lincoln Center in the early 1970s and recall most that they exuded and shared great joy. They glowed, and their positive energy flowed all around the theater and simply filled the space.
They were far more professional than many performers appearing in New York at that time, they cared about establishing a relationship with the audience and the audience reactions seemed to elate them and matter to them.
I think that Nick performed Remember Me; I know I saw him perform it in the televised show cited above, which aired around the same time. Too, they did a medley of some of their most known Motown hits. Cuts from Gimme Something Real [[still my favorite of their albums) made up a large share of their repertoire, if I recall correctly.
They were quite attractive in appearance, and I believe that they wore outfits of the same medium green material, with some shimmer or beading, that evening, hers sleeveless and short-skirted, his with the open shirt he seemed to favor.
They did not have the choreography of, for instance, Gladys Knight and The Pips but they moved with grace, seemingly spontaneously, and they were obviously comfortable with one another. They chatted in a natural, planned but unscripted manner, and sometimes you felt like you were spending a relaxed evening with them in their parlor.
A year or two later I saw Nick walking on West 75th Street, a residential area lined by brownstones, and after I hailed him, we had a brief but unhurried chat. He seemed genuine and genuinely interested to hear which songs he co-wrote were among my favorites [[even though I probably rattled off the same half-dozen titles everyone else would in a similar conversation). It's still a nice memory.
The church my family attended when I was growing up in Michigan would sing a verse of Reach Out and Touch right before the minister gave the Benediction. I remember being stunned the first time we did it.
My husband and I saw them a few times on the upper West side and they were always very approachable. I can't say that regarding most entertainers at their level.
I recall the previous Ashford & Simpson thread very vaguely, but I’m sure it was a bloody great one Boogie :p... I'd just like to say that I completely agree with the ‘not a bad song’ take... consistently excellent songs, singing and production, for themselves, and others. As Blue says they're only really known in the UK for "Solid"... but I’ve heard "Found A Cure" and "It Seems To Hang On" on soul radio before! :D
Yes Tom Tom , it was a masterful work , probably the best Ashford and Simpson thread by me evah :p.
As for SOLID , I haven't heard it in years, and don't sense any yearning to, "hot,hot, hot,hot":rolleyes:, but I will say one thing it has going for it , it's being sung between a real couple , who really were , years into it, still going strong, still excited by each other, this in a society that can't boast that often enough. A good message and testament.:cool:
Attachment 16807
Ashford and Simpson
You're most welcome, P&H. Looks like a playback is being listened to. I see Marvin Gaye on the right. Looks like my brother sitting at the console.
Hard to say Reese . You could be right. But Russ was their engineer and I'm looking at a playback scene so I keep leaning for him.
I doubt it. According to Russ, after the problems with the first session, they were in the studio separately.
https://youtu.be/BMt18phyFZs
For those who have not seen this, Russ talks about that session