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