Real Love (Ashford & Simpson album)

Real Love is an album by the American R&B duo Ashford & Simpson, released in 1986 via Capitol Records.

The album peaked at No. 74 on the Billboard 200. It was nominated for a Grammy Award, in the "Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal" category. The duo promoted the album with an appearance on One Life to Live and a North American tour.

Production
All tracks from the album were written and produced by Ashford & Simpson. Stevie Wonder contributed a harmonica solo to "Nobody Walks in L.A."

Critical reception
The Washington Post declared that Ashford & Simpson "haven't lost their knack for knockout hooks, and they have a talent for telling tales to suit the top ten." Robert Christgau wrote that "not even 'Nobody Walks in L.A.', which makes good on its title but is too quirky and local for a single, takes it on home." The Los Angeles Times thought that "Count Your Blessings" possesses "the slick, black adult-contemporary sound that has become Ashford and Simpson’s stock in trade." The Gazette called the album "more seamless songs of love, loss and inspiration from the yuppies of soul."

Track listing
All tracks composed by Ashford and Simpson

Personnel

 * Nickolas Ashford – lead vocals, backing vocals, drum programming (2, 4-8), percussion (2, 6)
 * Valerie Simpson – lead vocals, backing vocals, synthesizers (2, 4-8), drum programming (2, 4-8), percussion (2), acoustic piano solo (4), vocal solo (6)
 * Joseph Joubert – synthesizers, arrangements, synth solo (6), acoustic piano (8)
 * John Mahoney – Synclavier assistance
 * Doc Powell – guitars (5)
 * Francisco Centeno – bass (1-3, 7)
 * Ivan Hampden Jr. – drums (1)
 * Steve Gadd – drums (3)
 * Jimmy Simpson – percussion (3), drum programming (5)
 * Sammy Figueroa – percussion (5)
 * Vinny Della Rocca – saxophone solo (2)
 * Stevie Wonder – harmonica solo (3)
 * Ray Simpson – backing vocals (2-4, 6, 8)
 * Ullanda McCullough – backing vocals (2-4, 6, 8)

Production

 * Ashford & Simpson – producers, arrangements, liner notes
 * Roey Shamir – recording (1)
 * Tim Cox – rhythm recording
 * Barney Bristol – rhythm recording assistant
 * John Paul Canavaugh – rhythm recording
 * Joe Arlotta – vocal recording
 * François Kervorkian – mixing (1, 2)
 * Ron St. Germain – mixing (1, 2)
 * Michael Hutchinson – mixing (3-8)
 * George Marino – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York, NY)
 * Jimmy Simpson – mastering supervisor, production supervisor
 * Tee Alston – album coordinator
 * Roy Kohara – art direction
 * Peter Shea – design
 * Paul Jasmin – photography
 * Visages – photography