Don't know whether I'll get this one or not.... the fact that they've included The Chiffons' version of "The Real Thing" instead of Tina Britt's is already a mark against it. I think maybe doing a compilation of Ashford & Simpson songs including Armistead co-writes would have been better than just restricting this to songs they all wrote together (although, curiously; I think "Baby I'll Come" was only written by Val and Nick; and "No Better For You" is a Jo Armistead solo composition...?)

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Product Description
They worked together as a team for just two years, but during that time Nick Ashford, Valerie Simpson and Joshie Jo Armstead wrote dozens of great soul songs, 24 of which comprise "The Real Thing", the latest addition to Ace/Kent's unofficial songwriters series.

Florence Greenberg had a keen eye for talent and in 1965 signed the trio to Flomar Music, the publishing arm of Scepter-Wand Records, on which labels Maxine Brown, Chuck Jackson, the Diplomats, the Shirelles, BJ Thomas and others all recorded Ashford/Simpson/Armstead material.

The number that made them was `Let's Go Get Stoned', a smash hit in 1966 for Ray Charles, but heard here in its original version by the Coasters, recorded a year earlier. Not long after the song reached #1 on the R&B charts, Joshie Jo relocated to Chicago, while Nick and Val were snapped up by Motown, but that's another story.

1. Are You Trying To Get Rid Of Me Baby - The Crystals
2. Too Hot To Hold - Betty Everett
3. Look Away - The Shirelles
4. Love Ain't What It Used To Be - The Diplomats
5. Same Old Feeling - Jo Ann & Troy
6. You're In Love - Maxine Brown
7. Only Your Love Can Save Me - Betty Lavette
8. Baby I'll Come - Mary Love
9. Cry Like A Baby - Aretha Franklin
10. I'm Satisfied - Chuck Jackson & Maxine Brown
11. Dance Children Dance - Mary Love
12. You're Absolutely Right - Tina Britt
13. Mr Creator - The Apollas
14. Looky, Looky (What I Got) - Candy & The Kisses
15. Never Had It So Good - B.J. Thomas
16. The Shoe Won't Fit - Betty Everett
17. The Real Thing - The Chiffons
18. Smokie Joe's - The Jewells
19. Say It Again - Marie Knight
20. Please Little Angel - Doris Troy
21. I Saw Pity In The Face Of A Friend - Ronnie Milsap
22. No Better For You - Big Maybelle
23. Running Out - Vernon Garrett
24. Let's Go Get Stoned - The Coasters

Amazon USA:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002610HSG/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002610HSG/?tag=imwan-21

Strange. By random chance, I just started listening to my Ashford & Simpson greatest hits CD in the car this afternoon and should finish it up on the way to work tomorrow. I'm quite surprised to see them being discussed here tonight!

Bump: added cover image to the first post.

The tracklisting's been changed slightly now - the Big Maybelle track has been omitted and Sandy Nelson's "I Don't Need No Doctor" has been added as the final track.