Stay Free (album)
Stay Free is an album by the American R&B duo Ashford & Simpson, released in 1979.[4][5] It peaked at No. 23 on the Billboard 200.[6]
| Stay Free | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1979 | |||
| Recorded | 1979 | |||
| Studio | Sigma Sound, New York City | |||
| Genre | R&B, disco | |||
| Length | 39:10 | |||
| Label | Warner Bros.[1] | |||
| Producer | Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson | |||
| Ashford & Simpson chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Stay Free | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | [2] |
| Robert Christgau | B+[3] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [4] |
"Found a Cure" peaked at No. 1 on Billboard's Disco Top 100 chart.[7]
Critical reception
Robert Christgau praised the "groove" of the songs, but noted that Stay Free didn't reach the same highs as previous albums.[3] The Bay State Banner thought that the duo's "production adds tough, jumping instrumental accompaniment behind them, and keeps their torrid exchanges prominently in the middle of an aggressively mixed work."[8]
AllMusic wrote that "the title track was spectacular, and the rest of the album was expertly produced, performed, and arranged."[2] The Philadelphia Inquirer stated that the pair "sang about marriage, commitment and difficult relationships with frankness and a sense of romance that was untainted by sentimentality."[9]
Track listing
All tracks composed by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson
- "Found a Cure" – 7:01
- "Stay Free" – 5:28
- "Dance Forever" – 5:48
- "Nobody Knows" – 6:34
- "Crazy" – 3:40
- "Finally Got to Me" – 4:41
- "Follow Your Heart" – 4:46
Personnel
- Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson - lead vocals, backing vocals
- Eric Gale, Steve Khan - guitar
- Francisco Centeno, Anthony Jackson - bass
- Chris Parker, Steve Gadd, Jimmy Young - drums
- Ralph MacDonald - percussion, congas, Syndrums
- David Carey - timpani
- Ray Chew - Minimoog synthesizer, piano, Fender Rhodes electric piano
- Valerie Simpson - piano
- Ullanda McCullough, Chandra Armstead, Frank Floyd, Jo Armstead - backing vocals
- Eddie Daniels, George Young - flute
- Seldon Powell - horns
- Alfred Brown - strings
- John Davis, Paul Riser, Rob Mounsey - string and horn arrangements
References
- Wikane, Christian John (April 3, 2008). "Ashford & Simpson: The Warner Bros. Years, PopMatters".
- "Stay Free". AllMusic.
- "Ashford & Simpson". Robert Christgau.
- Larkin, Colin (May 27, 2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8 – via Google Books.
- Berry, Bill (Nov 8, 1979). "Ashford & Simpson". Jet. Vol. 57, no. 8. p. 23.
- "Ashford & Simpson". Billboard.
- "Disco Top 100". Billboard. Vol. 91, no. 36. Sep 8, 1979. p. 48.
- Lane, George (30 Aug 1979). "Shades of Blue". Bay State Banner. Vol. 14, no. 47. p. 21.
- Tucker, Ken (20 July 1984). "4 Concerts, One a Real Must-See". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. E22.