slack 'SOLID' HIT FOR ASHFORD & SIMPSON Veteran Duo Celebrates First Chart - Topping Single

Currently on a national tour of ourselves singing to a small seg- BY STEVEN IVORY medium -sized halls in major cities, ment of people. Perhaps a highrise LOS ANGELES Two weeks ago, Ashford & Simpson are currently is success to people in New York, something significant happened in involved in a heavy promotional Los Angeles and Chicago, but once the careers of Nick Ashford and thrust that includes major television you hit the Midwest, where success Valerie Simpson: "Solid," the first shows and in -store appearances, might mean owning a home, you've single from their third Capitol al- something they haven't done in lost your audience. I think people bum, reached the No. 1 position on awhile. have to relate personally." Billboard's Black Singles chart. "Suddenly, we don't mind doing Ashford & Simpson joined the A No. 1 record is a development these things," says Ashford. "You Capitol roster in early 1982 with a that calls for celebration on the part know, when you visit these radio certain amount of fanfare, after of any act, but for Ashford & Simp- stations and other places, you can leaving Warner Bros. -where, after son, the achievement was especially tell whether they really want to see 10 years and eight albums, three of important. In more than two de- you. There's nothing like having a which went gold, their record sales cades as hit songwriters /producers No. 1 record." began to wane. According to Ash- for a multitude of acts, from Diana The duo, songwriters first, insist ford, when the duo's first two Capi- Ross to Quincy Jones, it was the that the reason "Solid" went to the tol albums produced only moderate first time the duo had achieved No. top of the charts, as opposed to their sales figures, he began to worry. 1 status as artists. The success of other singles, had a lot to do with "I'll admit, I wavered for a sec- Blues Brothers. Robert Cray, at 31 one of the blues' youngest performers, won both the single and the album, also how the public related to the song ond," he says. "Capitol is a big com- four awards at the National Blues Award show held last month in Memphis: called "Solid," has revitalized the and its message. "It's catchy," says pany, and we had just left a big com- contemporary blues artist of the year, contemporary blues album of the year career of an act that had been con- Simpson, "and people can either re- pany, which we thought was one of ( "Bad Influence "), ( blues single and song of the year "Phone Booth "). sidered by fans and industry insid- late to the slang, `solid,' or they can the reasons for our dip in sales at Celebrating with Cray, fourth from left, were, from left, bluesmen Hubert Sumlin, ers alike to have done everything at relate to the lyrics, which deal with Warners. I thought, `If leaving one Rufus Thomas, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Albert King. (Photo: Mike Kappus) least once already. two people who have gone through label for fresh territory isn't the an- it all, only to keep their relationship swer, what is the answer ?' " intact. Adds Simpson: "Capitol did a lot " `Highrise' [the initial single more for this record. They seemed from last year's Ashford & Simpson to have affection for the record, and album of the same name] was a rec- that's what did it. People like a&r di- RHYTHME LUES ord we learned a lot from. That song rector Varnell Johnson wanted the by Nelson measured success by living in a record to happen as much as we George highrise apartment, but we found (Continued on page 59)

PRINCE'S "Purple Rain" concert, when seen by this CBS's "Happy New Year America," to be telecast live From Church to Charts observer in Detroit (Billboard, Nov. 17), was a tasty from New York on Dec. 31 ... Michael Johnson's but too encyclopedic regurgitation of the music, Jonzun Crew, known for electric boogie, has released moods and moves of Prince's hit film of the same "Lovin'," a ballad, as its new single on Tommy Boy .. . Glenn Jones `Finesses' name. It appeared that the flamboyant, once -unpre- Ex- Rolling Stone writer and P-Funk publicist Tom Shift dictable performer was about to be embalmed into a Vickers picks up his first production credit on Kiddo's she opened for returning pastor Al rigid formula by his own success. But since that first new "Action" album. Vickers, along with group leader BY HARRY WEINGER Green. week in Detroit, the show has gone through consider- Donnie Sterling and Steve Milang, produced a funk NEW YORK Former child gospel "It was the same show as his pop able evolution. version of the Who's "Can't Explain" ... Reggie star Glenn Jones is making a suc- days, roses and everything," Jones Before the curtain went up on Nov. 30 at Washing- Thompson, who was recently profiled here (Bill- cessful transition from spiritual re- recalls. "And the women screamed ton's Capital Centre, Prince & the Revolution board, Dec. 15), is remixing two cuts from Mtume's cordings to the secular world of pop just as loud." launched into a lengthy version of "Controversy," current album . Bootsy Collins, along with Bill and r &b with his current RCA al- It was manager Louise West who which could best be described as Bootsy Collins meets bum, "Finesse." The album's first plucked Jones from Jeter's band, Talking Heads. Prince gave warning that this show single, "Show Me," dented the top and today she is smoothing the path would definitely be, as some say, all the way live. Prince gets his act 10; a second, "Meet Me Halfway from church to charts. After coordi- Midway through the concert, Prince sat down at his There," is set for release. nating a secular debut on a Norman electric piano for some unaccompanied emoting. In together in Washington While vocalizing in his Jackson- Connors album in 1980, West Detroit this had been the evening's low point, but now ville, Fla. church, Jones was discov- brought Jones to RCA. Prince uses it to play favored "oldies" like "Dirty Waller Jr. and Phelps "Catfish" Collins, has formed ered by the Bivens Specials group, The singer has been with the label Mind" and "I Wanna Be Your Lover" as sing -alongs, Bootzilla Productions, a full -service production com- and, at the age of eight, recorded since a promising mini -LP, produced with the Kid' displaying some serious gospel vocal pany that will be involved in jingle writing as well as with them for Nashboro Records. by then -a &r director Robert chops in the process. However, the concert's real reve- record making, out in Cincinnati. For more info con- Later, in his teens, he released a Wright, Hubert "D Train" Eaves lation was "Baby I'm A Star," which he had tried, with tact Bootzilla Productions at P.O. Box 37841, Cincin- solo album on Savoy. and former Earth, Wind & Fire sax- only moderate effectiveness, to turn into a funk jam in nati, Ohio 45222, or call (513) 631 -6236. "Gospel is show business," re- ophonist Al McKay, surfaced in Jan- Detroit. Now opening act Shelia E. and four members Sound Town Records has a Christmas release in marks Jones, "and the way contem- uary, 1982. But there was nothing of her band come onstage for an extended jam (20 Randy Brown's "At Christmas Time" ... Black En- porary gospel sounds nowadays, I since then until the fall appearance minutes? 25 minutes ?) that was as good a section of terprise magazine has a cover story on black promot- don't think I'm doing anything dif- of "Finesse." undiluted funk as this writer has ever seen. ers and corporate sponsors in its December issue ... ferently, except lyrically." Jones is West, who is also executive pro- Prince and company, including Jerome Benton as Ray Parker Jr. has a Christmas cut on his final Arista applying lessons learned from a ducer of the current album, ex- the designated dancer, were in the class of the JB's, P- album, "Chartbusters." The song, "Christmas Time Is stint in Jenobia Jeter's band, when (Continued on page 58) Funk, the Family Stone, etc. in their hardcore, gritty Here," is the only one of the nine songs not written prime. This was the side of Prince that the 50% black solely by Parker: Thurlene Johnson gets co-composer audience had come to see. Moreover, it was the side of credit. Parker's current single "Jamie" is an answer Prince that many of his newfound white listeners record followup to Pajker's pjoduction of Randy hadn't seen before. When it was over, it seemed as if Hall's recent MCA hit "I've Been Watching You (Ja- the entire hall was stunned and drained by the experi- mie's Girl)" ... Skyy's latest on Salsoul is titled "In- ence. Prince had stepped into the shoes of r &b's great- Congratulations ner City," which is a long way from their outer space est performers and found his own deep, rich groove. outfits of a few years back. There is also more writing When he came back on to perform the anthemic title from inside the group, as guitarist Anibal Sierra to song, he again showed his remarkable versatility. Us- ( "Pay Up ") and singers Bonnie Dunning Bárrino ing his regular brown Hohner telecaster, he played and Denise Dunning Crawford ( "Love Is Blind ") Nick Ashford & Valerie Simpson the song with a supple, relaxed style reminiscent of contribute. The album is produced, as always, by the the brilliant country picker Chet Atkins, before trans- dynamic duo of Solomon Roberts Jr. and Randy on your #1 Black Single ferring to his white custom guitar for a series of blaz- Muller ... Ex-Arista staffer Vincent Davis has three ing, passionate, magnificent solos on "Purple Rain." new releases on his Vintertainment Records: Dougy Prince even sang the words differently, phrasing so Fresh's "The Original Human Beat Box," Chuck that the song's elusive meaning seemed clear (at least Chill Out's "Hip Hop On Wax -Volume 1" and Red "SOLID" while he sang it). It was as if by letting the funk flow Alert's Hip Hop On Wax -Vol. 2." All three are pro- Prince had opened himself and his audience up to the duced by Davis. recorded deep, unbridled energy that music releases. at 39th Street Music Best wishes, from SHORT STUFF: Gladys Knight and Smokey Robin- son co-hosted the Black Achievement Awards show your friends at 39th St. last week in Los Angeles. The program will be syndi- cated this winter. Knight and the Pips will be seen on 260 West 39th St., NYC (212) 840 -3285

BILLBOARD DECEMBER 15, 1984 55