Send It
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Album Summary
By 1977, Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson had already proven themselves as two of the most gifted songwriting architects in all of soul music — the duo behind Motown classics for Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell — but 'Send It' found them fully inhabiting their own artistry as performers on Warner Bros. Records. Produced by the duo themselves, the album was recorded with the kind of deep, unhurried confidence that only comes from people who have spent years in the pocket of the music, knowing exactly where every note belongs. Released in 1977, it arrived right at the crossroads where classic soul warmth was brushing up against the shimmering lights of disco, and Ashford & Simpson navigated that intersection with elegance and grace.
Reception
- The album performed solidly on the R&B charts, affirming Ashford & Simpson's standing as reliable hitmakers in the soul and funk community during the late 1970s.
- 'Don't Cost You Nothing' emerged as a standout fan favorite, showcasing the duo's gift for wrapping social warmth inside an irresistible groove.
- Critical reception recognized the album as a cohesive, polished effort that balanced commercial appeal with the genuine emotional depth that had always defined the Ashford & Simpson brand.
Significance
- As a Warner Bros. release, 'Send It' represents a key chapter in Ashford & Simpson's evolution from behind-the-scenes songwriting legends into fully realized front-of-stage soul artists in their own right.
- The album sits at a fascinating cultural moment, blending the organic warmth of classic 1970s soul and funk with the sleeker, dance-floor-ready textures of the emerging disco era — making it a genuine document of that transitional musical period.
- 'Bourgié Bourgié,' appearing here as an instrumental, hints at the duo's playful sophistication and their willingness to push at the edges of what a soul record could contain, pointing toward the adventurous spirit that would carry them into the 1980s.
Samples
- "Don't Cost You Nothing" — sampled across multiple hip-hop and R&B productions, drawn to its warm, rolling groove and the duo's effortlessly cool vocal interplay.
- "Bourgié Bourgié (Instrumental)" — the instrumental version made this track a natural candidate for sampling, with its clean rhythmic bed attracting producers looking for a sophisticated soul foundation.
Tracklist
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A1 By Way Of Love's Express 93
3:36
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A2 Let Love Use Me 72
4:41
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A3 Don't Cost You Nothing 112
4:53
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A4 Send It 80
4:27
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B1 Top Of The Stairs 122
4:39
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B2 Too Bad —
3:27
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B3 Bourgié Bourgié (Instrumental) 117
6:07
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B4 I Waited Too Long —
4:39
Artist Details
Ashford & Simpson were the husband-and-wife duo of Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson, a powerhouse pair who came up through the Motown and soul world of the late 1960s before stepping out as recording artists in their own right in the early 1970s, bringing a rich, gospel-drenched sound to mainstream R&B that made you feel every single word they sang. Before they ever made their own records, they were already legends behind the scenes, having penned classics like "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and "Reach Out and Touch" for Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, and Tammi Terrell, cementing their place as some of the most gifted songwriting architects Black music has ever known. Their legacy is one of love, craft, and soul — a testament to what happens when two people who truly believe in the music find each other and never let go.
