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| type = studio
| type = studio
| artist = [[Ashford & Simpson]]
| artist = [[Ashford & Simpson]]
| cover =
| cover =Stay Free (album).jpg
| alt =
| alt =
| released = 1979
| released = 9 August 1979
| recorded = 1979
| recorded = 1979
| studio = [[Sigma Sound Studios, New York City|Sigma Sound]], New York City
| studio =
| genre = [[R&B]]
| genre = [[R&B]], [[disco]]
| length = 01:17:36
| length = 39:10
| label = [[Warner Bros. Records]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/ashford-simpson-the-warner-bros-years-2496168591.html|title=Ashford & Simpson: The Warner Bros. Years, PopMatters|first=Christian John|last=Wikane|date=April 3, 2008}}</ref>
| label = [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/ashford-simpson-the-warner-bros-years-2496168591.html|title=Ashford & Simpson: The Warner Bros. Years, PopMatters|first=Christian John|last=Wikane|date=April 3, 2008}}</ref>
| producer = [[Nickolas Ashford]], [[Valerie Simpson]]
| producer = [[Nickolas Ashford]], [[Valerie Simpson]]
| prev_title = [[Is It Still Good to Ya]]
| prev_title = [[Is It Still Good to Ya]]
Line 27: Line 27:
{{album ratings
{{album ratings
|rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
|rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
|rev1score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/stay-free-mw0000072990|title=Stay Free - Ashford & Simpson &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits &#124; AllMusic|via=www.allmusic.com}}</ref>
|rev1score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/stay-free-mw0000072990|title=Stay Free|website=AllMusic}}</ref>
|rev2 = [[Robert Christgau]]
|rev2 = [[Robert Christgau]]
|rev2score = B+<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Ashford+&+Simpson|title=Robert Christgau: CG: Ashford|website=www.robertchristgau.com}}</ref>
|rev2score = B+<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Ashford+&+Simpson|title=Ashford & Simpson|website=Robert Christgau}}</ref>
|rev3 = ''[[The Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]''
|rev3 = ''[[The Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]''
|rev3score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_NNmFiUnSmUC&pg=PA2129|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|first=Colin|last=Larkin|date=May 27, 2011|publisher=Omnibus Press|via=Google Books}}</ref>
|rev3score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref name="auto1">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_NNmFiUnSmUC&pg=PA2129|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|first=Colin|last=Larkin|date=May 27, 2011|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=978-0-85712-595-8 |via=Google Books}}</ref>
}}
}}
'''''Stay Free''''' is an album by the American [[R&B]] duo [[Ashford & Simpson]], released in 1979.<ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Berry |first1=Bill |title=Ashford & Simpson |journal=Jet |date=Nov 8, 1979 |volume=57 |issue=8 |page=23}}</ref> It peaked at No. 23 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/ashford-simpson/|title=Ashford & Simpson|website=Billboard}}</ref>
'''''Stay Free''''' is an album by the American [[R&B]] duo [[Ashford & Simpson]], released in 1979.<ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Berry |first1=Bill |title=Ashford & Simpson |magazine=Jet |date=Nov 8, 1979 |volume=57 |issue=8 |page=23}}</ref> It peaked at No. 23 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/ashford-simpson/|title=Ashford & Simpson|magazine=Billboard}}</ref>

"Found a Cure" peaked at No. 1 on ''Billboard'''s [[Dance Club Songs|Disco Top 100]] chart.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Disco Top 100 |magazine=Billboard |date=Sep 8, 1979 |volume=91 |issue=36 |page=48}}</ref>


==Critical reception==
==Critical reception==
[[Robert Christgau]] praised the "groove" of the songs, but noted that ''Stay Free'' didn't reach the same highs as previous albums.<ref name="auto"/> 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."<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lane |first1=George |title=shades of blue |journal=Bay State Banner |date=30 Aug 1979 |volume=14 |issue=47 |page=21}}</ref>
[[Robert Christgau]] praised the "groove" of the songs, but noted that ''Stay Free'' didn't reach the same highs as previous albums.<ref name="auto"/> 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."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lane |first1=George |title=Shades of Blue |work=Bay State Banner |date=30 Aug 1979 |volume=14 |issue=47 |page=21}}</ref>


[[AllMusic]] wrote that "the title track was spectacular, and the rest of the album was expertly produced, performed, and arranged."<ref name="auto2"/> ''[[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."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tucker |first1=Ken |title=4 CONCERTS, ONE A REAL MUST-SEE |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=20 July 1984 |page=E22}}</ref>
[[AllMusic]] wrote that "the title track was spectacular, and the rest of the album was expertly produced, performed, and arranged."<ref name="auto2"/> ''[[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."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tucker |first1=Ken |title=4 Concerts, One a Real Must-See |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=20 July 1984 |page=E22}}</ref>


==Track listing==
==Track listing==
All tracks composed by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson

#"[[Found a Cure (Ashford & Simpson song)|Found a Cure]]" – 7:01
#"[[Found a Cure (Ashford & Simpson song)|Found a Cure]]" – 7:01
#"Stay Free" – 5:28
#"Stay Free" – 5:28
Line 49: Line 51:
#"Finally Got to Me" – 4:41
#"Finally Got to Me" – 4:41
#"Follow Your Heart" – 4:46
#"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 (musician)|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==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
{{Ashford & Simpson}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Ashford & Simpson albums]]
[[Category:Ashford & Simpson albums]]
[[Category:1979 albums]]
[[Category:1979 albums]]
[[Category:Warner Records albums]]

Latest revision as of 19:17, 12 October 2024

Stay Free
Studio album by
Ashford & Simpson
Released9 August 1979
Recorded1979
StudioSigma Sound, New York City
GenreR&B, disco
Length39:10
LabelWarner Bros.[1]
ProducerNickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
Ashford & Simpson chronology
Is It Still Good to Ya
(1978) 		Stay Free
(1979) 		A Musical Affair
(1980)
Singles from Stay Free
  1. "Found a Cure"
    Released: June 1979
  2. "Nobody Knows"
    Released: October 1979
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Robert ChristgauB+[3]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[4]

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]

"Found a Cure" peaked at No. 1 on Billboard's Disco Top 100 chart.[7]

Critical reception

[edit]

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

[edit]

All tracks composed by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson

  1. "Found a Cure" – 7:01
  2. "Stay Free" – 5:28
  3. "Dance Forever" – 5:48
  4. "Nobody Knows" – 6:34
  5. "Crazy" – 3:40
  6. "Finally Got to Me" – 4:41
  7. "Follow Your Heart" – 4:46

Personnel

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Wikane, Christian John (April 3, 2008). "Ashford & Simpson: The Warner Bros. Years, PopMatters".
  2. ^ a b "Stay Free". AllMusic.
  3. ^ a b "Ashford & Simpson". Robert Christgau.
  4. ^ a b Larkin, Colin (May 27, 2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ Berry, Bill (Nov 8, 1979). "Ashford & Simpson". Jet. Vol. 57, no. 8. p. 23.
  6. ^ "Ashford & Simpson". Billboard.
  7. ^ "Disco Top 100". Billboard. Vol. 91, no. 36. Sep 8, 1979. p. 48.
  8. ^ Lane, George (30 Aug 1979). "Shades of Blue". Bay State Banner. Vol. 14, no. 47. p. 21.
  9. ^ Tucker, Ken (20 July 1984). "4 Concerts, One a Real Must-See". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. E22.
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