Stay Free is an album by the American R&B duo Ashford & Simpson, released in 1979.[4][5] It peaked at No. 23 on the Billboard 200.[6]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
Robert Christgau	B+[3]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[4]

"Found a Cure" peaked at No. 1 on Billboard's Disco Top 100 chart.[7]

Critical reception

Robert Christgau praised the "groove" of the songs, but noted that Stay Free didn't reach the same highs as previous albums.[3] 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."[8]

AllMusic wrote that "the title track was spectacular, and the rest of the album was expertly produced, performed, and arranged."[2] 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."[9]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson

1. "Found a Cure" – 7:01
2. "Stay Free" – 5:28
3. "Dance Forever" – 5:48
4. "Nobody Knows" – 6:34
5. "Crazy" – 3:40
6. "Finally Got to Me" – 4:41
7. "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