Soul and pop music lost one of its greatest songwriters on Monday, with the passing of Nicholas Ashford, one half of the duo Ashford and Simpson. Have a quick flick through Ashford and Simpson’s songwriting resumé and you’ll be pretty gobsmacked at some of the tunes they’ve had a hand in - they’re without a doubt one of the best songwriting duos of the modern age, writing huge hits for Diana Ross, Chaka Khan, Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terell, Sylvester, Ray Charles, Marlena Shaw/The 5th Dimension and lots more.

London-based producer and dj Kirk Degiorgio has put together a special Nick Ashford tribute mix, featuring some of the man, and the couple’s greatest work. This is a fitting tribute indeed, and if you were in any doubt as to how good these guys were, wrap your ears around the following. Damn you cancer, but at least we know the man’s legacy will live on for a long time. 
 

 
The Apollas - You’re Absolutely Right - Loma
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell - Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing - Tamla
Rita Wright - I Can’t Give Back The Love I Feel For You - Gordy
Gerald Wilson Orchestra - California Soul - World Pacific
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell - You’re All I Need - Tamla
Diana Ross - Dark Side Of The World - Motown
Diana Ross - Ain’t No Mountain High Enough - Motown
Valerie Simpson - Silly Wasn’t I - Tamla
Valerie Simpson - Benjie - Tamla
Valerie Simpson - Keep It Coming - Tamla
Ashford & Simpson - Have You Ever Tried It - Warner Bros.
Ashford & Simpson - Don’t Fight It - Warner Bros.
Ashford & Simpson - Everybody’s Got To Give It Up - Warner Bros.
Roy Ayers Ubiquity - Take All The Time You Need - Polydor
The Dynamic Superiors - Soon - Motown
Walter Jackson - Love Woke Me Up This Morning - UA
Ashford & Simpson - Somebody Told A Lie - Warner Bros.
Ashford & Simpson - Bourgie Bourgie - Warner Bros.
Sylvester - Over and Over - Fantasy
Quincy Jones - Stuff Like That - A&M
Chaka Khan - I’m Every Woman - Warner Bros.
Ashford & Simpson - It Seems To Hang On - Warner Bros.
Mirage - Romeo - RCA
Ashford & Simpson - Love Don’t Make It Right - Warner Bros.
Gladys Knight & The Pips - Taste Of Bitter Love - Columbia
Collins & Collins - Top Of The Stairs - A&M
Chaka Khan - Clouds - Warner Bros.
Phyllis Hyman - I Ain’t Askin’
Ashford & Simpson - Part 3: Street Symphony - Capitol
Nick Ashford - I Don’t Need No Doctor - Verve

Thanks to Kelvin Brown.