# Solid (Ashford & Simpson album)

Professional ratings :
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Christgau's Record Guide | B+ |
Solid is the eleventh studio album recorded by American vocal duo Ashford & Simpson, released in 1984 on the Capitol label. The album features the song "Solid", which became the songwriting duo's biggest hit as performers.

## Commercial performance

The album peaked at No. 1 on the US R&B albums chart. It also reached No. 29 on the Billboard 200. The album's title track peaked at No. 1 on the Hot Black Singles chart, No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart. Also featured are two other chart singles: "Outta the World" and "Babies".

## Track listing

All tracks are written by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson, except where noted

## Personnel

* Nickolas Ashford – vocals, backing vocals (1, 3, 5, 6, 9–12, 15)
* Valerie Simpson – vocals, backing vocals (1, 3, 5, 6, 9–12, 15), synthesizers (1, 3, 5, 7, 8), basic keyboards (2), bass (2), acoustic piano (4, 9–15)
* Ed Walsh – synthesizer programming (1, 5), synthesizers (3, 10, 13, 14)
* Joseph Joubert – synthesizers (2, 7, 8), LinnDrum (2), synthesizer arrangements (2), synth sound effects (5), strings (8)
* James Newton Howard – keyboards (6), drum programming (6)
* Ray Chew – Yamaha electric piano (9–12), Oberheim OB-X (10), Fender Rhodes (13–15), clavinet (14)
* Sid McGinnis – guitars (1, 3, 5, 9–12), side effects (9)
* Eric Gale – guitars (13–15)
* Francisco Centeno – bass (1, 3–5, 8–14)
* Peter Cannarozzi – synth bass line (10)
* Chris Parker – drums (1, 8, 13)
* Brian Brake – drums (3)
* James Doherty – LinnDrum (4), drum rolls (4)
* Tim Cox – LinnDrum (7), drum rolls (7)
* Yogi Horton – drums (9, 10, 12, 14, 15)
* Steve Gadd – drums (11)
* Jimmy Simpson – percussion (1)
* Sammy Figueroa – percussion (4, 8)
* Ralph MacDonald – percussion (6, 9, 11, 12)
* Errol "Crusher" Bennett – percussion (10, 13–15)
* Vinny Della Rocca – saxophone (1, 4, 5)
* Michael Brecker – sax solo (7)
* Dave Tofani – alto sax solo (15)
* Joe Mosello – trumpet (1, 4, 5)
* George Young – horns (9, 11), horn solo (11)
* Paul Riser – horns (12), strings (12)
* Leon Pendarvis – horn arrangements (14, 15), string arrangements (15)
* Sephra Herman – strings, copyist
* Ullanda McCullough – backing vocals (1, 3, 5, 9, 11, 12, 15)
* Ray Simpson – backing vocals (1)
* Vivian Cherry – backing vocals (6, 10)

### Production

* Ashford & Simpson – producers; horn, rhythm and vocal arrangements
* James Newton Howard – producer (6)
* Elliot Scheiner – producer (6)
* Jimmy Simpson – co-producer, mixing
* Tim Cox – recording engineer
* Mick Cantarella – assistant engineer
* Robert Harari – assistant engineer
* Michael Mignone – assistant engineer
* Joe Arlotta – additional vocal recording
* Ed Rak – mixing
* Mike Alaire – mix assistant
* François Kervorkian – remixing (1, 2)
* Ron St. Germain – remixing (1, 2)
* Jack Skinner – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York, NY)
* Altamese Alston – album coordinator
* Roy Kohara – art direction
* John O'Brien – design, illustration
* Bret Lopez – photography

## Charts

| Chart (1984) | Peak position |
| US Billboard Top Pop Albums | 29 |
| US Billboard Top Black Albums | 1 |
| UK Albums Chart | 42 |

### Singles

| Year | Single | Peaks | Peaks | Peaks | Peaks |
| Year | Single | US | US R&B | US Dan | UK |
| 1984 | "Solid" | 12 | 1 | 15 | 3 |
| 1985 | "Outta the World" | — | 4 | 4 | — |
| 1985 | "Babies" | — | 29 | — | 56 |