Reviews (page 3 of 13)
Absolutely stunning
This is #day238 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... oh my, this is my fifth consecutive 5 out of 5. The music is as smooth as the first sip of Negroni on a Friday night. A compelling blend of soul, jazz, and '80s pop, with lavish productions that complement Sade's unmistakable vocals. It's a stunning debut, and once again, no choice but to give it a perfect score. Looking forward to #day239.
Smooth Operator is a certified banger and it's maybe the 4th best song on this album. Masterful.
S E X the voice! For me, Sade is the kind of artist that can't be left out of your sex playlist. She's like the female version of Marvin Gaye, and "Smooth Operator" is like "Let's Get It On" This is a great debut album. 9 songs of the highest quality, both in terms of sound and composition and instrumental. Her voice embraces us like a soft purple silk curtain, leading us to experience sensations of lust and pleasure. 5 stars, of course.
Great voice!!
so fckn smooth, honestly first time really listening to a sade record. I'm familiar with smooth operator and hang on to your love. With its blend of smooth jazz, soul, and pop, this fits right up my alley
Smoooooooooth operator
Underbart. Vilken nostalgi! Vilken röst! Vilken lättlyssnad mjuk och fin upplevelse. Femma!
Incredible album. Sade is one of my favourite R&B/Soul Artists of all time. 'Frankie's First Affair' blew me away - the saxophone kept me captivated the whole time. I hope more people can listen to this amazing piece of art.
A1 Smooth Operator - 10 A2 Your Love Is King - 10 A3 Hang On to Your Love - decent 8 A4 Frankie's First Affair - 10 A5 When Am I Going to Make a Living - 10 B1 Cherry Pie - strong 8 B2 Sally - lite 8 B3 I Will Be Your Friend - 10 B4 Why Can't We Live Together - lite 9 Favourite 3 Tracks - 1. Your Love is King 2. When Am I Going to Make a Living 3. Frankie's First Affair - NOTE RATINGS ARE FROM A FIRST LISTEN -
Iconic Iconic Iconic An incredible debut album that has been timeless and sampled endlessly
Pretty good, moody and she’s a great singer
Love Sade!
Grateful for the prompt to listen to Sade, which is never a bad idea. She's a class act, so effortlessly sexy and sophisticated, capturing an 80s version of glamour that manages to sound timeless.
An album that, as it ages, seems to appeal more and more to those of us that are also aging. I've never put on a Sade album and thought "nah, not in the mood..." Good stuff.
A beautiful album; 40 years old but the vocals, musical arrangement & lyrics all are marvelous & hold up superbly. In my view it simply doesn’t get any better than this.
太牛了终于知道真正的五星
Fantastic vocals and great instrumentation.
Love every track on this album
Smooth operator is an all time classic, and the rest of the album surprisingly holds up as well. Pleasantly surprised.
I wish the heart of the MAGA movement was solely focused on bringing back saxophones as a centerpiece of songwriting.
Incredible vocals. Smooth rhythms. Sultry saxophones. What's not to love?
Smooth and sultry, like cool drinks on a tropical evening. I love this album, but then, I always was a Sade fan. Five stars and it gets a place in my Tidal Library.
В моей жизни давно не было 5 на 1001, а Шаде охуенная. За все невключенные Love Deluxe! Лучшая песня - Hang On to Your Love.
Just chill to perfection. Buttery smooth vocals and music. Not much else to say, I could put this album on at any point and have a good time with whatever played.
Love this album. Just smooth and easy and romantic and lovely. Sade’s voice is a soothing balm. The perfect album for a date night in or relaxing on the couch or going for a drive or basically anything calm. Well deserved spot on the list
Great album. I liked it from start to finish.
Damn. That smooth as melted chocolate voice. Those sensual grooves. Sade doesn’t have anything less than a 5 star album, including Diamond Life, and it isn’t even their best. Her band is ABSOLUTELY one of the tightest and most original from the 80’s. I have to admit, I didn’t enjoy this album beyond Smooth Operator and Cherry Pie when I first listened to it decades ago, but after buying their entire discography on vinyl and forming an intimate relationship to them, Diamond Life proves itself to be the best possible introduction to this unmatched set of musicians. It feels like deep night flickering neon in a 1984 city. For as beloved as Sade is, it’s interesting that very few have since matched the quality of this vibe. Prince could and did do it but didn’t do it as often as he should have. 90’s Rap and R&B strive to groove like this and end up doing it differently and in their own amazing way. Others who try just come off sounding very clearly like they are ripping off Sade. Hell, they’ll admit it and then go on a long verbal love sesh about their intense infatuation with Sade. Nowadays, on the rare occasion when they release new music, their fan base collectively loses their shit, which happened recently with their new song called Young Lion, dedicated to Sade’s Trans son. This project is great when it sends a reminder that incredible bands like this exist amongst all the hubris out there. At the end of all of it, EVERYday could be a Sade day and the world would be happy and harmonious.
me ha gustado la vibe soul r&b, buena para cuando te estas preparando para salir con una copa de vino y quieres sentirte sexy
Smoooooooooth operatorrrrrrr. Why does “Smooth Operator” sound weird on this album? Was the radio version that I’ve come to know and love a different mix entirely? Weird. This album rules, Sade rules. It’s smooth and it’s groovy. There’s so much I could say, but I’m sure it’s already been said a thousand times. 10/10
Wtf is this version of "Smooth Operator"???? It almost sounds like a different vocalist doing a Sade impersonation. This bothered me so much I did some googling and it seems that indeed some weird, different version of the song has been substituted on streaming services for 'Diamond Life' but the original version is still on 'The Best of Sade' compilation, listed as the "single version". Wtf? Putting aside how very annoyed I am about this, "Smooth Operator" is still an all-time banger. Throughout this album there are fantastically groovy, soulful arrangements, smoldering solos, and sexy, sultry vocals from Sade herself. The keyboard/percussion solo about halfway through "Hang On to Your Love", the beautiful sax playing throughout with a perfect accompaniment from trumpets on "Frankie's First Affair", the slow burn of "Sally"... this album is just full of excellent little moments. It's a faultless album imo and pretty damn close to perfection within the confines of 80s pop/rnb/soul/lounge music/whatever. 10/10
best album, no skips, i have been meaning to listen to it for a while and truly like top 10 albums imo
Diamond Life is superb—Sade's voice, the arrangement, and the songs are all perfect for that kind of music. Usually not my genre, but Sade is the great exception.
Great album. Honestly 5/5. Every track is a banger.
Absolutely beautiful! Fav song: "Hang On to Your Love"
I don't think I've ever heard a bad Sade song. They're so cool and her voice is so interesting.
This is great album. It opens wild with two bangers "Smooth operator" and "Your love is king". Atmosphere of album is very sensual with a lot beautiful "feminine energy". Themes are mostly romantic and about male-female relations.
Another surprise 5 star. This was funky and jammy
She looks as good on this album cover as the songs on the album - absolutely stunning I love me some saxophone. Adds to the overall atmosphere of the album I thought the absolute banger of Smooth Operator would set too high of a standard for the rest of the songs to hit and the first couple of songs after that made my fears come true. It got to Frankie's First Affair and it came back to the highs of Smooth Operator and didn't come down again after that
I absolutely love how yuppie this sounds despite the fact that it’s a blatant middle finger to the yuppie lifestyle. Also it fucking grooves!!! Again, I’m a sucker for sophisti-pop, but this is so much more complex and textured, it’s kind of hard to argue against. Just because it’s a bit smooth and not in your face doesn’t mean it’s not masterful. When this came up for me, I was a bit surprised, because I personally would’ve expected any other Sade album than Diamond Life. But after listening to this record, and then subsequently listening to both Strong Than Pride and Love Deluxe (aka the Sade albums I knew I loved), I have to admit, Diamond Life might be their best record. Then again, Sade are pretty consistent, and we absolutely could have made room for one more of their records, at the very least.
Deserves just as much respect as the incredible "love deluxe" here we have the soothing, seductive and sleek jazzy backing that is as cutting edge as it is influenced
i would have sworn on my life there was a Sade SNL performance where she's introduced by Dan Aykroyd and he nails the pronunciation of her name but apparently I'm insane because i couldn't locate it anywhere. anyway this album rules
It Sade so its going to be good. The best song on here was Smooth Operator. There was no worst song on here either 9/10
Well today I learned that Sade is a band name, and not just the name of the singer lady! This album is so classic and beautiful.
Beautiful voice always
For your information, my Nigerian goddess, Chicago is not on the coast and there is no R in your name. That being said, Diamond Life is a unique masterpiece of smooth jazz pop, and I LOVE it!! 5
In heavens name why .. wouldn't this get 5 stars. All love to Sade!
absolutely beautiful and breathtaking album that is super tight and also really chill. Either to listen to and doesn't really lose anything throughout the whole album. Plus, smooth operator.
Talk about smooth. Wow. This album flows so cleanly it makes 45 minutes fly by. Love Sade's voice. Great album. All I got to say
Super
A favorite! All Sade is good.
Sade at her best.
When I was in 6th/7th grade, I played trumpet in the school concert band. I really enjoyed it, so I also joined the after school jazz band. I had never heard of Sade until our band director picked “Smooth Operator” as our piece for the Spring Concert. Many years passed without me thinking of Sade or Smooth Operator. One afternoon I was out shopping for records and I found Smooth Operator on a 12 inch single. Immediately took it home and gave it a spin; the song just was just good as I remembered. So naturally I listened to the full album and the rest is history. I say all of that to say that this album is a smooth-soul/jazz classic and a phenomenal debut album that will always have a special place in my heart.
Put your hands together for Sade! Diamond Life is a killer debut; well thought out and executed. We had this album on CD shortly after it came out so know it well. Her rich, smooth voice over jazzy sax makes for a memorable listen. L - sweet as Cherry Pie (5.0*s) J - Stronger Than Pride (4.8*s)
This is a great debut album and I'm a big fan of Sade, she gets a lot of play at my house. There's nothing to dislike here, no skips and sax for days. Her voice is so smooth and just really easy to listen to overall. High 4.5.
Smooth as silk
SMOOTH OPERATTOOORRRR. I fucking love this song Hang on to your love is another classic I fucking love Sade. Such sexy music
Yea this was everything you want in album. Smooth operator is such a bop, and the rest of the album is solid too. Wasn’t a song I didn’t like on the whole thing
Banger after banger
Love singing along to this one and her voice is beautiful, bass and sax for days
this was amazing, some amazing songs and really great production
jazzy pop.. smooth operator indeed. a few banger tracks on the album pushed it to 5 stars. Every instrumental interlude is interesting and fun. Favorite track: Smooth Operator other picks: your love is king, hang on to your love, cherry pie, sally
Beautiful album. Warm, smooth production and her voice is perfect. I put this record on often and it’s one of the only ones that my entire family agrees on.
Killer album - amazing production, style just dripping off the tracks, and amazing vocals on a consistent collection of tracks. Four and a half. Fave track: Your Love Is King
Beautiful woman amazing voice🤩🥰
Holy crap this is an all time great album fuck off if you don't like it!
This was a pleasant album with lots of great instrumentation and vocals. Sade's music trends to feel exciting and relaxing at the same time. The big single on this album, "Smooth Operator" is a straight banger. I just wish they'd have placed it in the middle or toward the end. But I suppose it might be tough for a band making it's debut to know what songs will stick.
I love it. Could listen on repeat.
So good, never knew her album. Very smooth voice and style.
Smoooooooth operatooooooor
Remember when music videos were everything? I was all of sixteen, and I vividly remember the “What is this!?” feeling when I saw the video for “Smooth Operator” and being blown away. Sure, part of it was how stunningly gorgeous Sade was (and still is), but many people even today seem to confuse the lead singer with the band name Sade, and the whole group is amazing. For me, it was the uniqueness of what Sade was doing compared to other 80s bands. While UK synth pop and U.S. hair metal bands were ruling the top of the charts, here comes this band out of left field with this R&B, synths and jazz tinged album that for me was mesmerizing, even as a teenager. And the deep cuts are deep, this isn’t an album just about night clubs and gigolos. It’s a classic for a reason. Not all about Gig
Classic easy listening
Love it
Schöne Musik, tolle Stimme
Beautiful record. The "new wave of British jazz" high mark. Loved this as students, love it now. Also, the "Lathe Operator" parody by Lenny Henry was superb
cool 5/5
This album rubs you down with scented oils before making sweet, sweet love to you. Sixty percent of the time, it works every time.
Arrancamos la semana con una banda y disco súper sexis. Cualquier álbum que empiece con una canción como "Smooth Operator" no puede ser malo: la voz de Sade que no da más de sensualidad, el bajo y la percusión que encastran a la perfección y así con todo. El disco continúa con la voz potente y sexi de Sade y la sutileza y fineza de la banda, que juega con lo funky, con el jazz y con lo que quieran experimentar. Ni hablar de los lookazos que clava Sade en los videoclips: impresionantes. Gran comienzo.
Extremely excellent
This is a fabulous album! The version of Why Can't We Live Together is genius.
Nice, smooth, silky -> Sade!
Sade for Prime Minister
Smooth as you like
Excellent
Smooth!
Oh boy, this one takes me back to the good place. 1984, the world in front, school in the rear, girlfriend in tow. Where we paused, the turntable found power and the needle did damage. Add the Cerwin Vega amp and ridiculously large speakers, and our neighbors enjoyed this album on a weekly basis. Sorry, not sorry!
Love Sade
Too slow for my taste but very well done.
Shit's so good that it makes me want to pick up my saxophone and play.
The Queen
Love, love, love his album. Sade's voice is amazing.... top marks from me here. Finally an album in this list that deserves to be here.
Smoooooth
FUCK YEAAAAAA
Flawless.
Absolutely loved this. Soft mellow sound of Sade. I would put this more in the genre of soft jazz linked with a touch of soul rather than pop and soul. The album is more sophisticated to warrant coming under the genre of pop. Brilliant. Loved it.
I love it
the sexiest elevator music you'll ever hear and i mean this in the most positive way possible. this music is so damn pretty. mixing rnb, bossa nova, and vocal pop, sade has created an album worthy of praise and preservation. it is the sheer epitome of class; absolutely spectacular.
Uma experiência musical que transcende o tempo e continua a encantar. A voz suave e envolvente da Sade combinada com as melodias envolventes fazem desse álbum uma obra-prima, que a sua mistura única de soul, jazz e R&B demonstram todo seu explendor nas músicas como "Smooth Operator" e "Your Love is King"
BANGER ALERT BANGER ALERT
A really great album, especially a debut release. Loved it when it came out and it still holds up after almost 40 years.
Never listened to this before, but this was incredible.
Smooth. 5/5
Вау, неожиданно очень неплохо.
The only bad thing about this is the endless copycats that have tried to copy it. But this is gold!
So dreamy
So lusciously smooth indeed. Sultry saxy Sade! I had The Best of Sade CD back when, but haven't listened in a long time. A lovely trip back.
This would typically be my thing. I don't know exactly why...it is pleasant, but somehow never really appreciated Sade's sound. This listen had me a bit more entertained, but the real reason that I am giving it a 5 is because if I don't, then I may find myself divorced sleeping out in the cold.
I LOVE this album! I added this to my cassette collection in my first Columbia House membership (10+ albums for $1!) - and it was not the kind of thing I would be expected to buy. It was love at first listen. Just the thing for lounging on a bearskin rug drinking a hot toddy while the snow piles up outside. Smooth Operator is one of the greatest songs of the 80s… and Sade’s album is a perfect way to deliver it.
It takes a real mix of guts and pure narcissistic arrogance to put your all time total banger as the first track on an album. Surely it’s a recipe for disaster? Not for Sade - she doesn’t stop throwing out bangers. What an album! 4.8
This was a lot better than I was expecting. Usually there's a big drop off when the album leads with a hit single, but all the tracks were really consistent throughout. Real musicians playing real instruments, great vocals, no bullshit auto tuning. People who give this album a low rating couldn't get laid at a swingers convention in Vegas.
This album is gorgeous. Full stop.
I think this is the perfect album of this genre. It’s a great example pf the fact that you can build a song around a groove or a simple chord structure but you also need the melody to do the heavy lifting. Take note every artist basing their career on albums written on a computer since 2001
While I had heard of the name Sade before, I had never had a proper listen to any of her albums, and boy was I missing out. Her smooth voice is a top-notch example of soul and the jazzy instrumentals make me feel like I'm in the middle of a rainy city night in a old-school film noir. The saxophone work in this album alone puts this album into the upper echelon of records I've heard in this project thus far. Sade will absolutely be a repeat listen for me again in the future based on this effort. Notable Tracks: Smooth Operator** Your Love is King Frankie’s First Affair When Am I Going To Make A Living Sally 9/10
auditory butter
Every song is a banger
What a cool album. It's no wonder it's always listed as one of the best to come out of the 80's. The only thing that would make it possible for me to dock any stars is just that it's not the exact type of music that personally moves me, but I can't knock her for that. Great stuff!
Safe is always a 5 star tf
So schön, besonders der letzte Song auch, den kannte ich noch nicht
Loved this since it first came out.
This whole album is just so smooth
My girl! There is nothing about her or this album I don't love!
What a great album! 5 stars.
Love these vibes. I understand why this sound came to be caricaturized and I wouldn’t choose the synthetic keys on a regular basis, but there were bigger missteps in the early 80s than these silky sounds.
“What an album, what a woman, what a music.”
First track in and I get exactly why Sade is praised the way she is worldwide. Hang on to your love is even better. Beautifully sensual and moody. Not grim moody but a good kind of mood, get you in a mood, be it dancing mood or erotic mood. I like the jazzy instrumental selection and her voice … wow her voice. It just works.
loved, listened multiple times
This is smooth af and I am HERE for it. Good lord, that piano tho.
If I were a cheesy music critic being quoted for the album PR, I'd say something like "....a revelation" and I would fully mean it. Imagine starting your opening album with "Smooth Operator" and then going to "Your Love Is King" and then going to "Hang On To Your Love". INSANE!!
Remek djelo soft popa osamdesetih esencijalni cd album
Existe aqui um jeito sexy de se portar dentro do amor.
Vraiment un bon album intemporel. Très Midnight Shutdown sensuel.
If you're in the mood for some relaxing, sensual music, you can't go wrong with this album. Sade's voice is perfect for this blend of R&B, pop, and world music. True, production is rooted in the 80s, but very tastefully so, and the instrumentation is perfect. So is the performance of each individual band member. Iconic opener Smooth Operator sets the tone for the rest of the album. While the album could have done with a little more variation or trimming the running time down by just a couple of minutes, this remains a true 80s classic for anyone who is really willing to listen. 4.5/5
Absolutamente perfeito
Nice
Bit too soft but still nearly perfect album
Sade’s voice is incredible and so is the band. I appreciated the songs I knew more when listening in the context of the whole album.
Yep I’m gonna put this on for sexy time at some pont
Smooth Sade. SADE. 5/5
The smoothest. I could listen to Sade every single day. This album is just about perfect.
Instant 5 stars for this one. I own it. I've listened to it many times, and I will again now because its just good the whole way through.
I loved this album. Beautiful and soulful with some great grooves. Big fan.
Another super-classic album from the 80s: smoothness made to perfection. I might have listened to it too much in the past, but it is still great (and I am not a fan of the genre - if not well done this type of music becomes pretty boring).
What a voice. To quote Tom Waits says, "She's so good she'd make a dead man cum."
HELL yes
Beautiful classic album! Should be in every collection.
Top quality album.
Sade and her band have a sound that I find both exciting and comforting. Great use of chords and melody throughout. Worth watching some of the old love sets of you like this.
Rating: 10/10
Very very good
A favorite! All Sade is good. Already have several songs in a playlist. So glad to revisit this classic. Sounds like it was remastered at some point.
Typisch sade, entweder 0 oder 10
GOAT
So 80's............so Sade. So smooth..........so Sade. She was like the early Nora Jones and used as the inflight entertainment for a million longhaul trips along with a choice of chicken or fish with a roll in a plastic bag. I love this stuff and WEIRD fact I knew someone who went to art college with her. So overall she's beautiful, artistic and talented.
Smooth Operator Your Love Is King Cherry Pie Why Can't We Live Together
ОХУЕННО БИЛЯ
A top album from the supreme year of great 80s music, 1984. Still beautiful to listen to.
Wonderful, great for a rainy Monday morning or a dimly lit bar
Smooth operator is surprisingly one of the weaker songs on this album! Great flow and really funky. Frankie's first affair and Cherry Pie were some highlights
Wow did not expect to like this album so much! Love the jazz elements and what a voice!
Lots of 1-star reviews for ‘Diamond Life' which I don’t understand. Are we listening to the same album? ‘Diamond Life’ oozes class, elegance, and sensuality. This is fire. Always has been.
This is some real NY fashion week music! I've heard her sound described as sophisti-pop, which in my head translates to the love child of new wave and smooth jazz. Not gonna admit how many years I had been listening before I realized it's pronounced "sha-day" but man am I glad to have been exposed to them at an early age. Sade Adu is an incredible vocalist, a master of restraint and and a sharp songwriter to boot, and her backing band is tight as hell. RE this album - I was surprised it was 84 cuz it feels late 90s to me, but it makes sense they were ahead of the curve when they debuted. I never get tired of any groove they lay down, I could easily listen to extended versions of most of these tracks. Was really pleased on this listen - the album barely loses any momentum after the #1 singles are out of the way. It's not until you hit Sally that the energy dips, and it feels deliberate - its also the track I paid the most attention to the lyrics on - only the bass plays consistently under her vocal. I love the bait and switch on where you think the beat is when the drums come in on Frankie's First Affair. 2nd half of When Am I Going to Make a Living is really fun. Thought the whole thing was sequenced really well, ends strong.
This falls under the category of releases that defied current trends and were massively successful anyway. Tracy Chapman's debut falls into this group as well. Sade's debut was fully formed, a seamless listen of old soul and more recent smooth jazz., that is an all-time great slow burn. The production is exception, capturing Sade's smooth voice in the forefront of very solid instrumentation.
This album touches so many genres from smooth jazz, adult contemporary, soul, afro/caribbean all the way through to latin pop. It sounds beautiful. Not only her voice, but the instrumentation and production too. I feel like this is an album where everyone can find at least one thing (if not more) to like about it. Slinky, sexy, stylish and smooth. Plus a really good cover as the final song.
Diamond Life was unlike anything else we’ve listened to (with the exception of Anita Baker and the first track sounding like Steely Dan). This grew on me with each listen and I ultimately need to give it a 5. The Production was fantastic. The vocal layering, the resonant bass, and tight drumming all worked well together and was a great break from British rock of the 90s. This must have been influential on neo soul artists like D’angelo, Beyonce and others who make complex soul music.
Отличный альбом. Душевная музыка…
Subtle and subtly varied, full of restrained, cool movement with just enough emotion and intrigue to add texture. A "just so" masterpiece.
shreds
Absolutely fantastic album. I am a sucker for incredibly smooth, relaxed, and clean production, which this album has in abundance. It has a fantastic groove while maintaining a layer of stripped-back instrumentation, not needing to rely on insane musicianship to keep the listener engaged but just genuinely catchy melodies and bass lines. It's like a more R&B and cleaned-up version of 70s Steely Dan without the admitted cheesiness and extra bells and whistles, which works in its favor. Sade herself is just an incredible vocalist, floating over every single song, creating a chilly atmosphere while also filling your brain with dopamine. Highlights include Smooth Operator, Hang Onto Your Love, Why Can't We Live Together, really the whole album, its so consistently great. Must Listen.
One of her bests including the underrated "Why Can't We Live Together"
I love Sade - this album sounds so fucking effortless and cool, like their natural state is pure vibes.
God damn, Sade is good shit.
”Diamond Life” by Sade is a masterpiece that effortlessly blends together elements of jazz, soul, and pop to create a smooth and seductive sound that is unmistakably her own. From the opening notes of "Smooth Operator," it's clear that Sade is a force to be reckoned with. Her sultry voice floats over a bed of lush instrumentation, drawing the listener in and never letting go. Tracks like "Your Love Is King" and "Cherry Pie" showcase her ability to deliver soulful, heartfelt performances that are both intimate and powerful. The album's production is equally impressive, with a seamless mix of live instrumentation and electronic elements that add depth and texture to each song. The arrangements are meticulously crafted, with each instrument given its moment to shine while still supporting the overall groove and mood of the track. This album is sure to leave you feeling captivated and transported thanks to its timeless sound and Sade's impeccable artistry.
What a fantastic album. It is funky and smooth and it feels like I have to be doing some kind of physical activity while listening to it like dancing. Absolutely amazing to hear for the first time.
Huge album when in high school. I may know every word to every song. We were taking about her this weekend.
Amazing! Love Sade’s vocals.
great album
Wow! Now this is more like it! Beautiful!
This is so smooth. In addition to the more well-known favorites, "Cherry Pie" was great.
Awesome album
A good mixture of funk, pop and soul. The lyrics could be abit repetitive but doesn’t stop it from being a top album. 9/10
music for the soft and sensual sex
Nearly flawless.
one of the greatest albums ever
This is a great palate cleanser after the Kanye album and pairs well with the group project as far as fully-formed and fantastic debuts that stand the test of time. An 80s album that doesn't sound like the 80s. A birthing ground for neo-soul. Smooth without being saccharine. Beyond tasteful: it's delicious.
Absolutely slaps this so smooth and just no skips
Was für eine coole Music und dann diese sanfte Stimme dazu. Fast vergessen, aber immer noch großartig. Muss man sich wieder einmal öfters anhören. Diese Platte ist ebenfalls ein Meilenstein.
Beautiful. I can & have listened to hours if Sade. Her voice is soft velvet.
What a great album. The saxophone in the first few songs goes so hard. My favorite so far for sure. The time signature stuff in Frankie’s Affair has me confused and I wanna get to the bottom of it lol. Favorite song is Love Is King.
Wow. Can't believe I've never thought to listen to this album considering how much of a staple Smooth Operator is in Ric's. What a masterpiece. So much big sax.
Damn that was super funky
Мне кажется этот альбом не нуждается в описании. Несомненная классика , Sade восхитительна, шикарная женщина с замечательным альбомом. 100/100
som relax, ótimo para ocasiões especiais
Sublime, smooth, soothing and interesting. Everything I wanted to hear as an introduction to r&b. Happy this came into my life :)
One word sums it up: EXQUISITE. This crossed over multiple hits lists, hitting so many categories.
Smoooooooth.
Adore her and her voice. Background story about her is way more interesting than most people would assume because of her stunning looks. She worked incredibly hard to have the success she had. Great song choice here. She knocks it out of the park.
Solid album.
Legendary.
This was a banger album
One of the essential 80s romantic albums, with slightly melancholic undertones and that certain touch of neon. Close your eyes to this and you will see inner city streetlights and neon signs flashing by, hear the rustle of dimly-blue-lit satin sheets in a bedroom illuminated by a skyline through flowing white curtains. You get the picture. This album does too. Smooth Operator is an undisputable 80s classic. Pretty strong, considering it's Sade's debut.
I didn't expect to give this five stars but then I listened to it and here we are.
This album deserves 5 stars almost solely for Smooth Operator, fucking dynamite. And the smooth jams just keep on coming. Fantastic voice, and everything works together well, they found a sweet spot with this one, that despite sounding somewhat 80's transcends the decade because it's borrowing from other eras and the quality is high.
Always fantastic. simple and groovy.
As smooth as a fine scotch. I can’t get enough of her smoky voice. “Smooth Operator” has slowly worked its way up my list of favorite songs over the years. Any time I hear a cover of it on the radio or in a department store, the song makes me happy. And the original is incredibly seductive and sultry. The opening 1-2-3 punch of “Smooth Operator,” “Your Love is King” and “Hang On to Your Love” is really impressive and the record continues with a string of very strong album tracks. I’m loving this.
Sade’s music is so damn cool. So damn sexy and so damn well made. I enjoyed this album from back to front. Excellent listen!
An absolute masterpiece. Sade was a god of this shit.
Just incredible
So very good. Sade's voice is amazing and this entire album is a masterclass in storytelling. Great stuff.
Really liked it! I'd never heard of Sade before and I found some new gems.
Stylish, soulfully smooth, musically flawless, timeless album. I love every song on it. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): Your Love Is King, Hang On to Your Love, Smooth Operator, Cherry Pie, I Will Be Your Friend, Why Can't We Live Together, When Am I Going to Make a Living, Sally, Frankie's First Affair
I could seriously listen to Sade all day long.
Love it, jazzy pop songs. Right up my alley, would definitely listen to again.
super cool album, I’m a sucker for 80s pop like this, Anita Baker, Madonna, Mariya Takeuchi and Miki Matsubara are some of my other favorites - 10/10
Love. Love. Love.
Classic.
First great album, it brings back memories of listening to Sade as a kid with my parents This is real 80s music for me, amazing voice, amazing vibes amazing mix of genres 5/5
A smooth operator. Beautiful album.
smooth operator
A superb album. I do love Sade.
All time Classic
It was great look into the smooth jazz of the 80’s. I’d heard of Smooth Operator but I never knew the actual song.
Always been a fan, a must listen.
oh YES
Bought this on vinyl when it was first released way back in 1984. Awesome album and the production is stunning.
Amazing debut
Oh man. Silky-smooth sexy vocals over a funky, chill background? Yes, please. More, thanks.
Excellent
Nearly perfect
This was rad, I would like to put this on again.
The Best!
Fantastic
Ahhh.. Good old smooth op... :)
Loved it
Música de tono medio; voz agradable de escuchar, muy melodiosa; bien acompañada por una buena banda; vocaliza bien; no interrumpe los pensamientos. Otros: Quincy Jones; Roberta Flack; George Michael; The Isley Brothers; Barry White; Donny Hathaway; Grace Jones; George Benson; Randy Crawford
Podre de chique.
a perfect picture of the eighties and a solid collection of songs
It's summer of 1984, Friday. Your office has a window looking to the West Coast. God it's hot. Evening sun is filtering through the cigarette smoke-stained blinds onto your desk full of stock reports and potential client portfolios. You drag in the last of your Benson & Hedges and watch the trail of cars crawl like ants down the highway in the distance. God it's hot. The phone rings and you know it's the last one of the day. Your ground advisor says your week-end stock market options are up 8% and you can enjoy the weekend on a positive note. Maybe you'll get a drink in the lobby on the way out - flirt with the bartender - maybe try out the new club that just opened down the street. You'll decide later, right now it's just taking it all in. Sade's "Diamond Life" plays over your Walkman and you can't help but smile. What a feeling. What a memory. Best not spoil it by thinking about work. Happy Friday corporate America. God it's hot... Time to celebrate. 8/10
Super smooth, viņas dziesmas ir daudz labāk klausīties individuāli, miksējot ar citiem artistiem imo, jo bišķīt saplūst visas tās dziesmas kopā
B+
I like Sade! But this whole album in a row was like boring kind of
Good but all the songs sound very similar.
Great vibes. Pretty good overall. Not the right album for every situation, but a great album for certain situations. Although this album was a somewhat discordant one to listen to over my lunch break at work during a hectic day after being gone a few days. Or maybe it’s exactly what I needed in these circumstances.
Real real smooth, smooth as an android’s bottom. One I don’t have but wouldn’t mind adding to my collection.
Lmao @ getting Pantera yesterday and now smooth jazz/pop today. This website do be silly at times. This level of smoothness and polish isn't typically my cup of tea, but I can set those feelings aside and state that this record is objectively incredibly well made, and exudes an immense COOL factor. Sade Adu's vocals command every song, and the musicianship is about as tight as it gets. "Smooth Operator" is an all-time classic, but I also really enjoyed the grooviness of "Cherry Pie"
Peak. She did that to em
oh hell yeah
If you can't appreciate sticking this one on of a morning whilst you drink a nice cuppa, then I just don't know what to do with you.
Smooth, sensual, a little slow, but decidely sophisticated. Very 80's but in a good way. No other Smooth Soul ever sounded so beautiful and tasteful, considering this genre is notoriously cheesy and full of schlock. I guess brits do it better. Key tracks: Smooth Operator Your Love Is King
Das Sade-Album mit "Smooth Operator". Unverwechselbare Stimme. 4/5
Doesn't end as strong as it starts
You were learning to walk when this album came up, so to watch you lift your arms and dance to smooth operator is a highlight. This album is beautiful, soulful and tells so many stories. Sade voice and delivery is amazing and something to explore.
Typical nightclub music, a fantastic female voice, a beautiful dress, a cocktail or two, a sensual atmosphere—all this comes to mind when I listen to the music. It has a jazzy feel—definitely not the kind of pop that dominated the 80s. You can hear real instruments and interesting shifts in rhythm. A great saxophone features throughout—something I love anyway. In my youth, this record certainly had no chance at all, but now, after all my musical experiences and listening escapades, it is an exceptionally good album that I will certainly enjoy listening to again and again.
Chill album, great accompaniment to an old scotch
Favourite Songs: Smooth Operator Cherry Pie
Opens with one of the best songs of all time, and the rest is a vibe!
Highly enjoyed this.
*Borat voice* very niiice
Smooth as hell
This album is straight sensual.
It depends I guess on how much you enjoy jazz and honey vocals. I do, very much so. But there, it turns off the critical analytical brain, and I'm immediately in a candle lit atmosphere. And you can say whatever you'd like about it being elevator music or whatever, but that's a ride to the top of sexyness, and you, angry little sad sack, are left behind.
Красивая музыка под фон, но если слушать их внимательно, то мне уже становится скучно. Чисто за smooth operator до 4 хватило
не скажу, что весь альбом ровный, но удовольствие я от него точно получил - 4
Linda e sensual voz. Lindo e sensual baixo. Lindo e sensual saxofone, às vezes. Combinação maravilhosa, descolada, o epítome de “legal”. Gostoso e reconfortante. Certamente um caso especial na música Pop, onde a artista vigente é extremamente talentosa e sortuda o suficiente pra ter uma banda de acompanhamento que é igualmente talentosa e que brilhantemente realça os melhores pontos da vocalista. Um casamento ideal e muito satisfatório. A ambientação dessas faixas é incrível, é um disco verdadeiramente relaxante e lindo. Muito belo e bem feito. 4.5/5
76
I remember as a little kid the first time I ever saw the name Sade it was for a 45 single for smooth operator. I thought it was pronounced with a long a sound and I was just mesmerized by the beauty on the cover but I only remember seeing the video on Friday Night Videos. I lived in a rural area and didn’t have real cable for MTV. Eventually I would figure who Sade was and enjoy the music. Diamond Life is a good album especially the first few songs. For A debut it is a very good idea of what they would become. The music would get better. But the classic Your Love is King is just pure sexiness. Without even trying. It’s such a smooth and sexy album. What a beginning.
très bon 4/5
Very enjoyable. Flies by.
Very nice little number, mostly harmless.
Funky, Smooth, Chill, but also low on excitement 3 or 4. Closer to 3
super listenable album, every song is smooth and Sade’s voice is beautiful. Lovely instrumentals as well, the bass, brass, and drums all play brilliantly together.
Definitely a classic, but still a bit monotonous in my opinion. Her voice and the production is great, and what a great album to relax to. Favorites: Smooth Operator, Sally, Why Can't We Live Together
It's Sade, you either vibe with it or you don't, but it's basically the pinnacle of this type of music.
A beautiful mix of miami vice cruisin and a cigarette-smoke-filled bar where the singer tonight has really been through some shit.
One of the best sounding albums I own. Music is damn good too.
There's definitely a formula being followed here, but at least it's a good one. Really smooth soul that really works in the right situation, I just wish there were a few more risks taken
I had only really known Sade by name before this, so I figured Sade was a lot newer than she was (I thought Love Deluxe was in like 2000). So seeing this and seeing it came out in the 80s surprised me, and I was worried that this would end up sounding dated. But I was worried for nothing, this sounds surprisingly modern for its lack of synths. And she has a wonderful voice, this was just a joy to listen to. There were a couple weak tracks to me, but the highs were very high, and even the lows were pretty high. Favorites: Smooth Operator, Hang On to Your Love, I Will Be Your Friend
It might be a corny remark given the name of the biggest hit, but one word to describe this album would be 'smooth'. It flows by easily and is over before you know it. 4/5
I think this was the first record I ever bought, maybe it was Anita Baker. Anyhow, it has a soft spot in my heart
fav songs: smooth operator your love is king hang on to your love i will be your friend smooth, silky, sensual 70/100
Pretty damn fantastic. Gold standard for R&B for me.
분위기가 꽤 좋았다. The atmosphere was quite good.
Super smooth
Sade has an intoxicating voice. My only complaint is that the songs tend to feel very similar, so an entire album can get a bit boring. But the quality of the music is high.
oh yeah, that's the shit
mid 4 cant say no to having this on good stuff
I enjoyed this way more than I expected to. Smooth in a good way, impeccably played and produced, and the songs are all time classics.
This is like really good! I love the bass work The pianist was cooking as well The vocals are insane!!! every single track is a banger the saxophone is so good man! Production also insane this may be a 5/5
Fun stuff.
Mit Smooth Operator startet das Album direkt ziemlich smooth ins Geschehen und diese smoothness zieht sich durch ganze Album. Bringt coolen jazzigen, rauchigen Vibe rüber. Coole Bässe. Coole Drums. Coole Lead Stimme. Zieht sich/ist minimal zu langsam für meinen Geschmack manchmal. Deshalb 4/5.
Enjoyable. The sax is unreal and tbh the band have some serious chill going on, vocals are good but not 100% my thing. Too many songs hung on two chords which got a bit tiring. Maybe that's a soul thing but I dunno probably holds it back for me. Overall a decent listen 7 / 10 Best track/s: Smooth operator, When am i going to make a living, sally
Good
Some really good hits and an overall enjoyable album.
Sade separates herself from the other cheesy smooth jazz outfits because this album is actually sophisticated and classy. Full of restrained soul and jazz touches, with a gentle pulsating rhythm section.
Great vibes. Feels like good lounge music. No bad tracks.
for better or worse I absolutely love this!
beautiful.she must’ve been crazy to watch live
In museums, you will often find beautiful, cold marble statues that, despite their lifelessness, almost beg you to reach out and caress the forbidden areas of their cold, smooth, naked bodies. That's how this album feels.
Beautiful voice. Beautiful smooth jazzy music.
Love this. My dad loves Sade and used to put this album on when we were on holiday when I was a child. Reminds me of sitting on a balcony at night playing cards in Spain or France. Very nostalgic
If you're my age, or thereabouts, then this is probably an album you'll be well aware of. I reckon nearly every family in the UK had a copy. A classic. Silky smooth vocals, fantastic musicianship, classy all round. It falls short of 5 stars because a few of the non-single tracks were average at best.