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'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