Ashford and Simpson - Solid

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Solid, the twelfth studio album from husband and wife singer/song-writers Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson. This one hit number 42 in the UK, number 29 on the US Billboard Album chart (with a total thirty-six week run on the chart) and number 1 on the US Billboard R&B chart.

Ashford and Simpson - High-Rise

Following their 1982 album Street Opera (click here for that review), husband and wife team Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson returned to the studio to work on their eleventh studio album. Today (August 21st) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of 1983’s High-Rise, which charted at number 84 on the US Billboard 200 Album chart and number 14 on the US Billboard R&B chart.

Ashford and Simpson - Street Opera

The American husband-wife R&B songwriters/singers Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson started in the 60's writing for such artists as Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, and Diana Ross. The extremely talented duo then transitioned to recording its own songs in the early 70’s.

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of Street Opera, their tenth studio album. This June 1982 release went to number 45 on the US Billboard Hot 200 and number 5 on the Billboard R&B charts. It generated a trio of singles.

Rest In Peace, Nick Ashford

Before I knew who Nick Ashford (born 1941) was I knew his songs. Along with his life-time collaborator, partner and wife Valerie Simpson, Nick was responsible for writing many hit songs from the late 60's and the 70's. If you know "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing", "You're All I Need to Get By", "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)", and "I'm Every Woman" then you know just the tip of the work of this amazing musical duo.