CHRISTGAU CONSUMER GUIDE

ASHFORD & SIMPSON “Real Love” (Capitol) If I gave points for attitude, I’d up this a notch for fidelity to formula: Nick and Val wrote it, Nick and Val sang it, Nick and Val produced it, and they hope you like it too, Mr. Crossover Gatekeeper. But there’s no “Solid” here, in fact, there isn’t even a “Babies.” So while they go four for eight overall—one-two-three on the first side, lead cut on the second—only their many fans will care.