Solid (Ashford & Simpson album)

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".

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