Stay Free (album)

Stay Free is an album by the American R&B duo Ashford & Simpson, released in 1979. It peaked at No. 23 on the Billboard 200.

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

Critical reception

Robert Christgau praised the "groove" of the songs, but noted that Stay Free didn't reach the same highs as previous albums. 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."

AllMusic wrote that "the title track was spectacular, and the rest of the album was expertly produced, performed, and arranged." 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."

Track listing

All tracks composed by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson

"Found a Cure" – 7:01

"Stay Free" – 5:28

"Dance Forever" – 5:48

"Nobody Knows" – 6:34

"Crazy" – 3:40

"Finally Got to Me" – 4:41

"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, 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

Ashford & Simpson albums

1979 albums