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Solid
Studio album by Ashford & Simpson
Released	1984
Studio	39th Street Music, New York City Blank Tape, New York City Clinton Recording, New York City Right Track, New York City
Genre	R&B boogie soul
Label	Capitol
Producer	Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson James Newton Howard and Elliot Scheiner (Track 6)
Ashford & Simpson chronology
High-Rise (1983) Solid (1984) Real Love (1986)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Christgau's Record Guide	B+

Solid is the eleventh studio album recorded by American vocal duo Ashford & Simpson, released in 1984 on the Capitol label. The album features the song "Solid", which became the songwriting duo's biggest hit as performers.

Commercial performance

The album peaked at No. 1 on the US R&B albums chart. It also reached No. 29 on the Billboard 200. The album's title track peaked at No. 1 on the Hot Black Singles chart, No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart. Also featured are two other chart singles: "Outta the World" and "Babies".

Track listing

All tracks are written by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson, except where noted

Personnel

• Nickolas Ashford – vocals, backing vocals (1, 3, 5, 6, 9–12, 15)
• Valerie Simpson – vocals, backing vocals (1, 3, 5, 6, 9–12, 15), synthesizers (1, 3, 5, 7, 8), basic keyboards (2), bass (2), acoustic piano (4, 9–15)
• Ed Walsh – synthesizer programming (1, 5), synthesizers (3, 10, 13, 14)
• Joseph Joubert – synthesizers (2, 7, 8), LinnDrum (2), synthesizer arrangements (2), synth sound effects (5), strings (8)
• James Newton Howard – keyboards (6), drum programming (6)
• Ray Chew – Yamaha electric piano (9–12), Oberheim OB-X (10), Fender Rhodes (13–15), clavinet (14)
• Sid McGinnis – guitars (1, 3, 5, 9–12), side effects (9)
• Eric Gale – guitars (13–15)
• Francisco Centeno – bass (1, 3–5, 8–14)
• Peter Cannarozzi – synth bass line (10)
• Chris Parker – drums (1, 8, 13)
• Brian Brake – drums (3)
• James Doherty – LinnDrum (4), drum rolls (4)
• Tim Cox – LinnDrum (7), drum rolls (7)
• Yogi Horton – drums (9, 10, 12, 14, 15)
• Steve Gadd – drums (11)
• Jimmy Simpson – percussion (1)
• Sammy Figueroa – percussion (4, 8)
• Ralph MacDonald – percussion (6, 9, 11, 12)
• Errol "Crusher" Bennett – percussion (10, 13–15)
• Vinny Della Rocca – saxophone (1, 4, 5)
• Michael Brecker – sax solo (7)
• Dave Tofani – alto sax solo (15)
• Joe Mosello – trumpet (1, 4, 5)
• George Young – horns (9, 11), horn solo (11)
• Paul Riser – horns (12), strings (12)
• Leon Pendarvis – horn arrangements (14, 15), string arrangements (15)
• Sephra Herman – strings, copyist
• Ullanda McCullough – backing vocals (1, 3, 5, 9, 11, 12, 15)
• Ray Simpson – backing vocals (1)
• Vivian Cherry – backing vocals (6, 10)

Production

• Ashford & Simpson – producers; horn, rhythm and vocal arrangements
• James Newton Howard – producer (6)
• Elliot Scheiner – producer (6)
• Jimmy Simpson – co-producer, mixing
• Tim Cox – recording engineer
• Mick Cantarella – assistant engineer
• Robert Harari – assistant engineer
• Michael Mignone – assistant engineer
• Joe Arlotta – additional vocal recording
• Ed Rak – mixing
• Mike Alaire – mix assistant
• François Kervorkian – remixing (1, 2)
• Ron St. Germain – remixing (1, 2)
• Jack Skinner – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York, NY)
• Altamese Alston – album coordinator
• Roy Kohara – art direction
• John O'Brien – design, illustration
• Bret Lopez – photography

Charts

Singles

See also

• List of number-one R&B albums of 1985 (U.S.)

References

1. Ruhlmann, William. Solid review at AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
2. Christgau, Robert (1990). "A". Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s. Pantheon Books. ISBN 0-679-73015-X. Retrieved August 16, 2020 – via robertchristgau.com.
3. ^ "Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
4. ^ "US Charts > Ashford & Simpson". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-10-01.

External links

• Solid at Discogs (list of releases)

• 1984 albums
• Ashford & Simpson albums
• Albums produced by Ashford & Simpson
• Capitol Records albums