Ashford and Simpson

Gimme Something Real is Ashford & Simpson's first album to be released featuring them as
singers as well as songwriters and producers (an album recorded last year and including
their own versions of earlier A&S hits is still to be released by Motown). It isn't Marvin and
Tammi, but it's certainly the only thing to come close to their standard of class romance in
years. There are fewer just-you-and-me love songs here than I'd like, possibly b... More >

Can this marriage be saved? The problem: Good-but-not-great songwriters whose lush sentimentality would have been unforgivable had they worked for a white company instead of Motown leave Motown for white company. The doctor replies: if they develop the intestinal fortitude to go along with their own vocal limitations, they may not end up the Peaches & Herb of middle-class soul. What did they say? "Time is the space between you and me"? Well, sounds like a breakdown of communication as well. (Grade: C)