NICKOLAS ASHFORD & VALERIE SIMPSON
Jobete Songwriters

Here we spotlight the inseparable, uniquely talented songwriting team of Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson. While they were staff writers at Motown, their output was an exceptional group of songs which were primarily responsible for the success of Marvin Gaye's duet hits with Tammi Terrell as well as launching the solo career of Diana Ross.

Nick & Valerie are also artists in their own right as well as being noted producers…for instance, together they produced many of the sessions on which their songs were recorded, and Nick teamed with Frank Wilson to produce the hit version of Gamble & Huff's "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me"
by Diana Ross & The Supremes & The Temptations.

Valerie cut some solo recordings for Tamla and, after she and Nick left Motown in 1973, they made a slew of albums for Warner Bros. and then in 1982, began an association with Capitol, for whom they cut their biggest hit
to date as artists, namely "Solid" in 1984.

The following, in alphabetical order, is a selection of their most memorable Jobete compositions:

AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH (Ashford/Simpson)
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (Tamla: 1967) #3 R&B, #19 Pop
Diana Ross (Motown: 1970) #1 R&B, #1 Pop, #6 AC, UK#6
Boystown Gang (in a medley with REMEMBER ME) (WEA: 1981) UK#46
Other recordings include: Sandra Bernhard (Enigma) and Stacy Lattisaw (Motown)

AIN'T NOTHING LIKE THE REAL THING (Ashford/Simpson)
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (Tamla: 1968) #1 R&B, #8 Pop, UK#34
Aretha Franklin (Atlantic: 1974) #6 R&B, #47 Pop
Donny & Marie Osmond (Polydor: 1977) #21 Pop, #17 AC
Chris Christian with Amy Holland (in a medley with:
YOU'RE ALL I NEED TO GET BY) (Boardwalk: 1982) #21 AC
Marcella Detroit & Elton John (London: 1994) UK#24
Other recordings include: Angela Bofill (Arista) and Barry Manilow (RCA)

CALIFORNIA SOUL (Ashford/Simpson)
The 5th Dimension (Soul City: 1969) #25 Pop, #49 R&B
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (Tamla: 1970) #56 Pop

DESTINATION ANYWHERE (Ashford/Simpson)
The Marvelettes (Tamla: 1968) #28 R&B, #63 Pop

DIDN'T YOU KNOW (YOU'D HAVE TO CRY SOMETIME) (Ashford/Simpson)
Gladys Knight & The Pips (Soul: 1969) #11 R&B, #63 Pop
Other recordings include: Maxine Brown (Commonwealth United);
Diana Ross (Motown)

GOOD LOVIN' AIN'T EASY TO COME BY (Ashford/Simpson)
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (Tamla: 1969) #11 R&B, #30 Pop, UK#26
Also recorded by: The Supremes & The Four Tops (Motown)

I AM YOUR MAN (Ashford/Simpson)
Bobby Taylor & The Vancovers (Gordy: 1968) #40 R&B, #85 Pop
I CAN'T GIVE BACK THE LOVE I FEEL FOR YOU
(Ashford/Simpson & Brian Holland)
This is among the finest of all songs which have never been hits!
Originally recorded by: Rita Wright (aka Syreeta) (Gordy: 1967)
Probably the best cover version is the one by Dusty Springfield on
Philips.

I WOULDN'T CHANGE THE MAN HE IS (Ashford/Simpson)
Recorded by Blinky (Motown:1968)

KEEP ON LOVIN' ME HONEY (Ashford/Simpson)
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (Tamla: 1968) #11 R&B, #24 Pop

LOVE WOKE ME UP THIS MORNING (Ashford/Simpson)
Another standout ballad which has never charted anywhere!
Recordings include: Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (Tamla), Loleatta
Holloway (Aware) and The Temptations (Gordy)

THE ONION SONG (Ashford/Simpson)
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (Tamla: 1970) #18 R&B, #50 Pop, UK#9

REACH OUT AND TOUCH (SOMEBODY'S HAND) (Ashford/Simpson)
Diana Ross (Motown: 1970) #7 R&B, #20 Pop, #18 AC, UK#33
Also recorded by: Aretha Franklin (Atlantic)

REMEMBER ME (Ashford/Simpson)
Diana Ross (Motown: 1971) #10 R&B, #16 Pop, #20 AC, UK#7
Boystown Gang (in a medley with AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH)
(WEA: 1981) UK#46

SOME THINGS YOU NEVER GET USED TO (Ashford/Simpson)
Diana Ross & The Supremes (Motown: 1968) #43 R&B, #30 Pop, UK#34
SURRENDER (Ashford/Simpson)
Diana Ross (Motown: 1971) #16 R&B, #38 Pop, UK#10

TEAR IT ON DOWN (Ashford/Simpson)
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas (Gordy: 1972) #37 R&B
Also recorded by: Marvin Gaye (Tamla)

WHAT YOU GAVE ME (Ashford/Simpson)
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (Tamla: 1969) #6 R&B, #49 Pop
Diana Ross (Motown: 1979) #86 R&B

WHO'S GONNA TAKE THE BLAME (Ashford/Simpson)
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (Tamla: 1970) #9 R&B, #46 Pop

YOU AIN'T LIVIN' TIL YOU'RE LOVIN' (Ashford/Simpson)
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (Tamla: 1969) UK#21
Also recorded by: Diana Ross & The Supremes (Motown) and by Smokey
Robinson & The Miracles (Tamla)

YOU'RE ALL I NEED TO GET BY (Ashford/Simpson)
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (Tamla: 1968) #1 R&B, #7 Pop, UK#19
Aretha Franklin (Atlantic: 1971) #3 R&B, #19 Pop
Tony Orlando & Dawn (Elektra: 1975) #34 Pop, #13 AC
Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams (Columbia: 1978)
#10 R&B, #47 Pop, #16 AC, UK#45
Chris Christian with Amy Holland (in a medley with AIN'T NOTHING LIKE THE REAL THING)(Boardwalk: 1982) #21 AC
Mary J.Blige (medley single with Method Man) (Def Jam: 1995) #1 R&B,
#3 Pop
Other recordings include: Nancy Wilson (Capitol), Gloria Gaynor (Polydor),
Dionne Warwick (Scepter) and Hank Ballard (Charly)

YOUR PRECIOUS LOVE (Ashford/Simpson)
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (Tamla: 1967) #2 R&B, #5 Pop, #37 AC
Al Jarreau & Randy Crawford (Warner Bros: 1982) #16 R&B
Neil Sedaka with Dara Sedaka (MCA/Curb: 1983) #15 AC
Tamika Patton & Eric Gable (Orpheus: 1990) #20 R&B
Also performed by: D'Angelo & Erykah Badu on the "High School High"
soundtrack album (Big Beat/Atlantic: 1996).

On one of their Warner Bros. albums in 1981, Nick & Valerie cut a medley
of three of their standout Jobete tunes: AIN'T NOTHING LIKE THE
REAL THING, AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH and
YOU'RE ALL I NEED TO GET BY

ROCK ON !
Alan Warner

© 2001 EMI Music Publishing, Inc./Alan Warner