Reviews (page 4 of 13)
Finalmente uno muy buenoo! Arranca con smooth operator y, pese a que no hay otra canción tan buena, son todas buenas y el estilo del albúm me gustó mucho, sin duda lo volvería a escuchar.
I enjoyed almost every track on this except Sally, which was a complete snooze-fest. Vocals were great on everything else.
For me, the problem with music that's too smooth is that it slides right past me, honestly. So this one probably won't join the ranks of my all-time favorites, but it's a perfectly lovely album to spend an evening with.
Smooth indeed
This is my third consecutive female fronted pop album, and probably my favorite of the three. On Diamond Life, Sade looks to soul and jazz, and escapes the worst stylistic pitfalls of the '80s because of it. She consistently sounds self-assured and mature across this Diamond Life, and she is a really compelling vocal presence. The writing feels personal and there's a slight moodiness here as well. All in all, Diamond Life is everything you would want from a "sophisti-pop" album. It's also a really strong debut to boot. Diamond Life manages to be a really enjoyable pop album while having some really impressive thematic depth.
3.7 stars.
3.8
Smooth Operator will always be my favorite Sade song! I never listened to the whole album before, but it’s pretty good!
so basic jazz
A great smoooth listen. Everything works so perfectly together. like an affogato
I liked this.
Sade my queen. Her voice is so smooth and buttery
I wish I could give this a 4.5
Really good record
noice
Rating: 8/10 Saying that the album is so smooth is an extreme cliche, but the way the songs on Diamond Life glide by with its mellow mid-tempo arrangements and Sade’s soulful voice leaves a very warm feeling. The very modest album length has me enjoying the experience without getting bored, and it’s really consistently good. A great first three tracks but my favorite is Cherry Pie
Really good. Confident and interesting without dragging on. *that* part in Smooth Operator is still killer, but Sally is second fav 7.0
That one person in the top reviews saying the band is carrying Sade... I mean, that's the most wrong anyone has been all day. All year maybe, regardless of when you read it. If you don't like the quiet storm sound and there's no time or place in your life that it'd fit and make you feel good, fine. I prefer it most on a summer night's drive, sometimes it doesn't fit for me either. But come now, let's be reasonable. Sade sounds phenomenal, she has a beautiful, sweet voice and she's never off or out. If we have a metric for objectivity as far as good singing goes, I would look sideways at anyone that doesn't consider Sade to be there. The band is mostly okay but pulls some gaffes regarding appropriate times to pull out the blues language, mostly in tracks 2-4 where there's a bit of b7ing over maj7s and such. They do their best when there's a nice minor groove, which is present in a lot of the album so it works out. Incidentally, I think tracks 3 and 4 are the weakest on the album and then it really picks up after that. Smooth Operator is a strong intro, though. If the band was firing on the cylinders that Sade is, this would be such an easy 5. Like, the bands of artists that likely took some inspiration from Sade like Erykah or Jill Scott? Those bands? Killer shit. But with Sade doing most of the heavy lifting and not fully being matched, I guess I'd call it a 4. I think I've felt that way about this album the whole time I've known it.
nunca lo había escuchado ahora entiendo por que hablaban tan bien de sade
A true gem that showcases a phenomenal voice. Very solid album with a lot of good performances and songwriting. I don't listen to Sade often enough.
nice
Starts to blend together after a few tracks if I'm honest, but spectacular nonetheless
Some really good stuff on here - Sultry, cool, and smooth ; this collection of jazzy R&B tunes proved to make a big splash as a debut for the group. Sade Adu's appeal as a songwriter and performer are undeniable - yearning for a better love, life and world. Cherry Pie was the highlight for me. Love all the Prince adjacent stuff and found the guitar tone to be similar to Jerry Garcia at times, interestingly enough.
mmm
Ahora solo quiero ser cantante vocalista de sade. demasiado smoooooooth me encanta. Cherry pie me gustó mucho, todo lo demás espec también.
Muy bueno. No es lo que escucho normalmente pero me encantó
4.3
Buen álbum me gusta su voz
funky, jazz, bit of soul infused. I dig it!! my first 80's album I like??? chapeau. smooooooth operator
So smooth and sultry. This is quiet storm to me, and I enjoy it so much more now than I did in the 80s. I didn't realize Sade was the name of the group, not just the singer. The great saxophone and Sade Abu's voice fit perfectly, just as R&B and smooth jazz do throughout the album.
INPUT = {"artist": "Sade", "album": "Diamond Life"} LINEUP = {"men": 3, "women": 1} FEATURED_ARTISTS = {"men": 0, "women": 0} TOTAL_MEN = 3 TOTAL_WOMEN = 1 WOMEN_PERCENTAGE = 25 OUTPUT = "Score adjusted accordingly. 4/5"
This album is such a mood. Zen
no pensé que me iba a gustar tanto pero la voz me cautivó!! el jazz no es mi género favorito ni cerca pero la verdad me gusto bastante
Somehow before it's time and timeless
Pas mon style mais super pour les balades
Todo un feeling. Super cool, creo que sería un muy buen álbum para conducir
Sade is the perfect woman. The record definitely puts its strongest tracks at the front. There are a few snoozers in the middle and second half but the record ends on a very strong note with the closing track. Overall an incredible, classic listen, one for the music history books.
The groove is immaculate. Every once in a while I was thinking that they also all sound the same, but it's a killer sound so who cares
muy bueno
Buen álbum. Sade nunca falla 🫶🏻
Ateeee
Love this album. So many iconic tracks like 'Smooth Oporator', 'Your Love Is King' and 'Hang Onto Your Love'.
Nice little album with soft sung calm melodies.
So when Sade came up for me, I already knew what to expect. I really like “Hang On to Your Love” and a few other classics. I’ve noticed that the first impression when listening to a particular album can be significantly different from how it feels once you already know what to expect from the artist. So… I listened to the album, read a few reviews, and I can’t shake the feeling that there might be something to the often-repeated criticism that Sade’s music lacks depth. It is, however, objectively a good, solid album. But compared to albums I gave a 5 to - those were more refined and exceptional. Even though it really grooves with me, I’m giving it a 4. 8/10
Unexpected appearance of the brilliant Smooth Operator song on an otherwise pretty decent album. We enjoyed it.
What’s not to love here, Smooth operator come on. Love anything with a hint of jazz, would definitely re listen to the album in full Favourite song is hard to choose here, smooth operator is a classic but on this occasion I’m going for something new, Cherry Pie takes the top spot
Good music makes you feel good. Nothing to complain about.
this is just excellent idk what to say
sympa mais je crois que j'en ai un peu ras la casquette de sade
Incantevole
I've been on a big Sade kick this year, so getting this album was a nice treat. There's something about her music that makes me nostalgic for a life I never led; one full of mystery, high drama, and style. It's just so intriguing to me, everything she does just has a certain air about it that I find intoxicating. That said, this album, while still extremely strong, doesn't quite hit the same sublime highs of Love Deluxe, which I think (and I suspect I'm not alone) is her finest project. Diamond Life is a little more grounded in jazz, lacking just a bit of the gloss and atmosphere of her later work. Still, amazingly strong album. 4.5/5 from me.
good Album
It grew on me
This is probably a little controversial, but I'm not at the point where I think this is entirely amazing. Give me a few more months to a year for this to really click because right now, I think it's really good but just that. Some really good singles here though I feel exhausted by the end. Maybe it's the ear fatigue or the conditions I'm listening in but that shouldn't factor into the experience. It's good-great stuff, I'm just not ready to take it to the 5. Don't be surprised if you see an update soon (8/10, 4/5 on this scale)
8/10 In my honest opinion, music peaked with Japanese city pop. I feel that this is the closest we will come to that in the U.S. Awesome, jazzy, great hooks, very easy to listen to. Favorite tracks: Smooth Operator, Hang On to Your Love, When Will I Make a Living, Cherry Pie Least Favorite track: I Will Be Your Friend
This is exactly the kind of album I would normally do down as 'too polished' and insincere, but it's just really good. It's got a lovely shimmering feel to it, stemming from the drum sound I think, and topped off by the superb vocals. It's a tiny bit repetitive for me, but I really do respect it and I'm glad to have listened to it.
Strong vocals. The album is a bit front-loaded, which is why I prefer Promise over this one. 7/10
Easy going and nice tunes. Smoooooth operatooor. 3.5/5
What a beautiful she has and a unique vocal styling. Never knew that Sade was actually a group.
Smooth operator is a classic. A solid 4. The whole album is pretty serene and calming. Induces deep cogitation which is something I tend to avoid when studying (as my mind tends to wonder). I'd recommend listening if you're having a bad day and need to take your mind off things.
Rating Sade higher because she is not a generic 70s rock album
What a polarising album... I confess, I'm familiar with Sade only by name, but I think everyone has probably heard a snippet of "Smooth Operator" at some point in their lives. This was good! It's a strong example of smooth, jazzy pop done incredibly tightly. When something is both a funky, jazzy sound and also technically very tight and precise you know there's a lot of skill and musicianship at play. Not everyone's cup of tea (not really mine either if I'm honest) but still very nicely executed.
Such great memories of this album. Great pick, hope others enjoy as much as I did again.
Great funky soulful album. Provides one of my favorite combinations of piano with sax. The bass line really drives the flow of the songs and they hit a really good balance between everyone in the band, her vocals are great. Smooth Operator, Cherry Pie and Sally were favorites
this was lovely
Hadn't heard any of this except for the radio hit, the rest was pretty good.
• Week 07 | Feb 14 – Feb 20 • Album: Diamond Life • Artist: Sade • Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ • Favorite Tracks: Smooth operator (banger)
Sooo smooooth… cool vocals, and nice laid back jazz-pop hybrid. Sagde really had something going back in the 80’s
7/10 Good album
Great songs of love. Timeless production.
Very smooth indeed.
Really good soulful pop. I can hear some of what early Adele was working from.
Great background music to most life activities. Good vibes all around.
Very nostalgic, one of the albums of my childhood because of my dad. It does what it's trying to do extremely well. Has a vibe. Smooth operator and Hang on to Your Love are highlights for me.
sade je bas unique, mnogo dobar vibe, ima neki luksuz u pesmama, bas dobro
her swag is effortless. a legend for a reason Would I listen again? Yes Deserves to be on this list? Yes 4.3
smooth operator
Tikrai bottom of best of Sade, feel good muzončik. Įsimintini motyvai ir kantrūs basslainai. Must lissen
Easy listening
I like Sade, Lovely sultry voice and really classy slick production. Shame it all sounds the same after a while. I enjoyed it though.
Oh, more sex music. I'm on my period this time. Bad timing, generator! She's smooth and sexy. I like it but it's quite samey. Maybe in a sexy context it would be better.
Feels like a warm hug from a good friend. It's not going to redefine your musical tastes, but it's a masterclass in creating a specific, chill mood that's perfect for relaxing.. or dreaming. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions - Smooth Operator - Your Love Is King - Hang On to Your Love - Cherry Pie
Such smooth operators
Smooth, pleasing, but lacks something. As an album it's horribly frontloaded.
Perfect easy listening or when you want to set a certain mood in your new apartment. Really good songs.
Favorite tracks: Smooth Operator, Hang On to Your Love, Frankie's First Affair Absolutely stunning and emotional record. Sade's voice is as beautiful as always and pairs very well with the smooth shimmer of 80s production.
I thought i was gonna love this but i dont find it super exciting. Some of sades songs i think are great but in general im not a fan of this style of 90’s production where everything is super crisp and perfect sounding. Feels a little sterile to me and kind of sounds like elevator music even though it was probably hip at the time
Had no idea this was a band. I don’t really like the lyrics
liked it
just sade i love her voice i love the bossa nova style, very slow dance in the kitchen with your love type album. not my fav in comparison to love deluxe which has kiss of life on it (my favourite sade song). smooth operator will always be a great song though!
sade j'aimerai toujours tout ce que tu produis
Nice enjoyable listen. I'm sure I've heard a bunch of her hits before but never really did a deep dive. I see she has some more beloved albums that I'm sure I'll be discovering soon too. Very nice. 4.5 stars.
Really good album. I've really started to love Sade's work these past few months.
Étonnamment bien avec le classique smooth operator
great at the start but too much of the same??
The only song I knew by Sade going in was Smooth Operator which I always thought was pretty good. I really liked this album a lot. Your Love is King, Hang On To Your Love, Cherry Pie, and Sally are especially good but there's not a bad song on this.
Surprisingly very fun. Some bangers on this album
I dig this one, felt way ahead of it’s time
Album #76 Sade: Diamond Life I have often heard the allegation levelled against Sade that they create elevator music. This allegation isn’t the reason that I have never listened to a Sade album before, but it is something I associated with the band. This same allegation, of course, is often levelled against Steely Dan, whom I consider one of the great bands of all time. Sade musically is quick, similar to Steely Dan with their jazzy instrumentals and soft vibe; both bands are separated by their incredibly recognizable vocalists. In either case, if an elevator had Aja or Diamond Life playing, I would probably ride it a few extra floors for love of the game. I didn't expect to like this album, but frankly, I am quite blown away by it. The 80s are probably always going to be my favourite decade of music; something about the production of the time just gave everything such a magical feeling; any of the big songs from the 80s can be instantly pinpointed to that place in time purely off the atmosphere alone. Whether it is cheesy arena rock like Journey or REO Speedwagon, or pretentious Sophisti-Pop like Prefab Sprout or The Blue Nile, I can’t help but indulge. Sade falls into the latter category, though I wouldn’t necessarily call it pretentious. Sade’s voice may be one of the most relaxing and comforting that I’ve ever heard. Something about the way that her British accent slips into her more talky parts just really scratches my brain. The band is absolutely exquisite on this thing as well, rivalling even the best Jazz instrumentals that I’ve ever heard. Though I did love almost everything about this album, I am not ready to give it a ten, because I do wish there were more moments where Sade completely releases the built up emotion, that are often my favourite moments on soft albums like this; the only one that I can really point to comes in Frankie’s First Affair which also happens to be my favourite track. What intrigues me most is that this is largely not even considered the band’s masterpiece, so it can only get better from here. Best Songs: Frankie’s First Affair, Smooth Operator, Hang On To Your Love Worst Song: I Will Be Your Friend Score out of 10: 9.5
beautiful
Hard to go wrong with Sade
Pretty good a lot of the songs were very similar
Wow
A great album, Sade’s voice is warm and comforting. I don’t feel like any of the songs are super stand out for me, but the overall tone of the album is captivating. Season: True Winter Favorite Song: Smooth Operator
Just like the most famous track, this album is smooooooooooth. It's a great listen, Sade Adu has a great voice and the instrumentals take you to a beautiful place in the 80s. Not every track is as good as Smooth Operator, but still. Highly recommend.
This album is just pure 80s, mixing soulful jazz with a smooth sophisti-pop sound that still sounds great. Sade's voice is amazing for those slow, late-night jams. The band is killer, from "Smooth Operator" to "Hang On To Your Love". Some might say it's boring, but it's actually super sexy and chill, perfect for a night out or just relaxing at home. It's a classic! Banger? I hardly know her...
Un estilo de los 80s adhoc para escuchar tranquilo en la noche dibujando, mientras bebés un té o un café, buenísimo.
Me encanta
Not my bag, but deffo good nontheless
Bom demais, né!?? Já adorava as faixas 1, 2 e 3 e agora descobri Cherry Pie
Maybe not exactly my cuppa tea,. this is very smooth, well produced and great sounding recording. Reminds me of 80s movie, 4 stars. I should check out some of her other albums, artist to REVISIT
Excellent. Has stood the test of time
So smooth, so easy listening, the percussion isn't the most obvious thing about this album but there are some really fun percussion moments, just an all around good time of an album to listen through.
Smooth as butter, just an incredible listening experience. This album is silk sheets, light jazz, cocktails on ice, menthol cigarettes. Just bangers from beginning to end, doesn't outstay the welcome, does exactly what you want from an R&B album.
album must be listened in a aesthetic bar with a cigarette and a drink 7.5/10
didnt think id like this this much. sultry done in the coolest way.
Great smooth jazz.
This is smooth as shit, no pun intended. Easy 90s smooth jazz station listenin'. Highlights: smooth operator
this genre tends to be a bit slow for my taste and that is present here but this is still incredibly solid, and i don’t really have anything bad to say about it. very well put together.
Definitely a very good album, sounding very smooth. I’ve listened to this before but honestly, apart from the opener, none of the songs really stuck with me. Doesn’t take away from the fact that it is really nice to listen to and that I don’t mind returning to it from time to time. Just not all songs are as memorable as others.
One of my all-time favourite guilty pleasures.
No standouts, but an immaculate vibe!
Smooth … (operator)
Kind of music that makes you want to have an affair in the 80's
YEAH!!! this is sick!!!!
It is crazy that this is my fourth favorite album from a band because it's so good. This is the only one in this book which is criminal but check out Love Deluxe and Promise.... If you guys haven't.......... And you want to...... Jess and I played Wii Sports Resort to this and it was weirdly fitting.
Nice album overall. Smoooth operator.
Aside from the incredibly smooth voice Sade the singer offers, Sade the band incorporates some beautiful musical arrangements for this album. The sheer sensuality Diamond Life oozes could turn an angry mob into a hippie commune. Best songs are Smooth Operator and Hang On To Your Love. 8/10, the feeling of a long warm hug.
Wonderful stuff, extremely smooth and pleasant to listen to. Not quite a 5 as not every song hit quite as hard, but definitely will be checking out more Sade.
Beautiful. So much soul with a unique take on soulful jazz vocals. 1 song added to playlist.
4/5. I’m usually not the biggest fan of 80’s pop, but this album was pretty great. Especially that opening stretch where you get Smooth Operator, Your Love is King and Hang on to Your Love right in a row. only real knock I have against it is that it ends weaker than it starts, but so do many albums.
yay blev glad da jeg så dagens album. Hun er en af de bedste!!!
Soooo smooth
it’s nice to see that she had that cool, smooth vibe mastered from the beginning. the only reason it’s not a 5 is bc none of the songs really stood out to me as one I’d listen to again but they were all great
Iconic
Exists in a special space that defies decade and genre. Hang On to Your Love is so good!
Smooooooooth
Great, one listen and now I'm pregnant.
Album 100. Diamond Life — Sade (1984) It's the 100th! So, it'll be not just a review, but a little reflection on the challenge too. What's the album! Absolute banger. It's a streak of really good albums, I love it. It's a pleasure to listen to her less popular songs. This album has so many great-sounding sax solos. We need more..sax🎷 Sound is so smooth, jazzy and funky. Sade's voice is fantastic. The album feels relaxing, emotional, chill, tender. It's a crime that her Love Delux album isn't on the list. Fuck you Robert Dimery. During the first hundred albums, I was already tired of listening to one shitty British rock album just after another. It's so fucking annoying to get 5 shitty noisy or just almost similar albums that I can hardly distinguish the next hour after listening. Sometimes it feels like torture. In everything else, I only see advantages and I enjoy the process. I learned about new bands. Expanded my playlist. It gives me a push to listen to more albums that were not included on the list, like it'll be with Sade's Love Delux album. I'm gonna listen to it later off the challenge. And English. It has become easy to write, my AI tutor has to fix fewer and fewer of my mistakes. It means it's time to make my texts more complex, to reach new altitudes. There are more than 980 albums remaining to listen to. Yeap, on the website list almost eleven hundred albums because it includes albums from all book editions. 4/5 Liked songs: — Smooth Operator — Your Love Is King — Hang On to Your Love — Cherry Pie
Dette var smooth. Da er det vel per def yacht rock? Fin popmusikk og plata føles ikke overprodusert som så smoothe plater pleier å være. Har hele tiden trodd "Smooth Operator" var en Sting-låt, så det var greit å få puttet halen på eselet. Hadde ikke hørt noen av de andre låtene før, men er flere perler. Særlig "When Am I Going To Make A Living", bare gi meg enda litt mer av det orgelet i starten.
Dette var den første LPen jeg eide. I åttende klasse kjøpte jeg den billigste platespilleren på Clahs olson (tror den kosta 400kr eller noe), så gikk jeg rett til gledeshuset og kjøpte denne for en tier. For en plate! Jeg var bare 12-13 og ante ikke at dette var sexy musikk engang, bare digga musikken i seg selv. Når jeg hører den igjen nå står den seg fortsatt veldig godt!
Dope
This is a classic from my time! Solid album...4 stars because it is great but don't think I would buy it
Sade doesn’t make many bad songs huh? It all just sounds so smooth, I could listen to this all day long
Smooth jazzy pop, pleasant singing over elevator music but in a good way. I enjoyed it
Jazzy and poppy and pretty fun but chill. I like it
One of my little musical theories is the better looking an artist is, the duller their music will be. Generally, it’s a sound concept, but Sade is a definite exception. I saw her once, around about the time of Diamond Life, shopping in a London market, and she was utterly captivating, like she’d been beamed down from another planet to cheer us all up. As for the album, Diamond Life feels like a midnight tour through the capital’s classier joints, cool, confident and pleasingly smooth. Pop, jazz and soul fuse effortlessly; emotionally punchy but never oversold. It’s remarkable how well it holds up. 9/10
I enjoyed this album quite a bit. The fact that this was her debut album makes it even more impressive. If I had one complaint, I would say the basslines get a little repetitive. Four stars. (Favorite track: Smooth Operator.)
Who knew something so smooth could come from England? Major respect to Sade, although I love this kind of music anyway.
A voice as elegantly smooth as the correct pronunciation of her name.
More complex than expected for R and B.
I don’t really know what to expect out of this one as I’m going in completely blind! Smooth operator, as an opener was cool. I liked the smooth jazz vibes and the beat. There is a lot to listen to with this track! I’ve heard this song before but not in its entirety, and definitely not a close listen. Your love is king reminds me of the music my mom used to listen to when I was growing up. That kind of slow, rhythmic, melodic vibe. Hang on to your love was a brilliantly groovy little track! This was a highlight for me for sure! Moving forward, Frankie’s first Affair brings back that melodic vibe. In the best way possible, I could fall asleep to this. The vocals, the jazzy piano, the horns, it’s all very relaxing. I love the percussion in When am I going to make a living, and I think I’m going to be humming Cherry Pie for the rest of the day. The way that Sally escalated at the end was awesome! A really cool piece of music. I’ll be your friend had some really nice vocals! Why can’t we live together was a good closer to this album! Pretty vocals, music that I really like, and recognize, but I can’t place, and a nice vibe. Overall, 8/10, 4/5 ⭐️! Thought this album was really good, loved the way it carried itself the whole way through. 26/1089
Solid stuff all the way through
SADE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FAVS (top 3): smooth operator, your love is king, i will be your friend mençoes honrosas: when am i going to make a living, why cant we live together ela meio q arrasa nota final: 4/5
Mais um álbum que surpreendeu. A faixa que abre o álbum eu já conhecia e achava boa. O disco possui outras excelentes músicas. Curti. QoA Cloudscape.
Fand ich geil
Not my style at all but I like her voice. A very good, peaceful album.
Classic 80s bath in smooth saxophone sounds!
Non l’ho sentito
Smoooooth operatoooor
3.5
4.5
Desde el arranque es un discazo: "Smooth Operator", "Your Love Is King" "Hang on to Your Love" o "When Am I Going to Make a Living". El sonido de una época con unos directos que hay por YouTube que merecen verse con tranquilidad.
Nice
This was smooth.
Really nice album. Sade has a beautiful voice, accompanied by some really nice jazzy instrumentation. I had never listened to Sade before, but I really enjoyed this one.
Pretty great. Listened to it twice over the course of a few weeks after my first listen, and hearing it again I feel more comfortable with this rating than I did my first listen, as I probably would've rated this much lower had I not given it time to settle in. Great songs and pretty easy listen to have on in the background
molto carino, le ho aggiunte tutte per risentirle quindi top in più ho scoperto Smooth Operatooooor
it was really good!! it was unique i loved the percussion
Another brief but very positive review. Perfect family vacation album. Cool, relaxing, smoky sax. My 91 year old mom had no complaints.
Great intro album. Having listened to later Sade albums first before Diamond Life it’s exciting to hear her early sound and think about how she evolves over each work.
i love sade and i can’t believe it took me this long to listen to one of her albums, overall i rly liked this album
Not sure I knew much of Sade beyond Smooth Operator but this album of smooth jazz went down smooth. Glad I got introduced to her more than the one hit.
Easy listening at its finest. Every bit of this record is enjoyable. The lyrics are great on this. Heavy focus on the love songs but Sade has the voice to match the love song vibe. There is clearly a lot of talent in both Sade the singer & Sade the band. The music sounds so neat, and displays a nice balance of R&B and jazz. A particular bit that really stood out for me was the saxophone solo in ‘Sally’, absolutely astounding. I love the freedom they had in there sounds and that they pushed there experimental ideas, although minimal, if you listen properly you can hear all those fun ideas and sounds they’ve put into this record. Favourite tracks are: ‘Smooth Operator’, ‘Sally’, ‘Your Love Is King’, ‘When Am I Going to Make a Living’, ‘Cherry Pie’.
Jazzy and easy, moody and rhythmic and more timeless I thought it'd be even though it was full on 80s. I've never heard of Sade even though they're apparently really popular. Definitely not what I normally listen to but this was pretty good. Liked the bass part on When Am I Going to Make a Living and the slow start of Why Can't We Live Together.
You can feel that 80s groovy love oozing from this one
Very smooth bass. Deliciously 80's drum tracks. Jazzy guitar. I was previously familiar with Smooth Operator and was delighted to find that the rest of this album carries the sounds and vibes of that song. No surprises or excess, and definitely no risks taken - in the end, you get only what you expect from this album, so you'd better enjoy this 80's style of saxophone-Casio-jazz rock.
- tää on jo mun 'lp levyt jota pitäisi hankkia' listalla - on hyvä meno
didnt listen to all of it, but i did while playing a game and it was peaceful
My 4/5th favourite Sade album, still great though. 8.something
great music
Smoooooooooth operator
For old time sake...
Had so much fun listening to this album :)
Overall Sade is beautiful, her voice complements the jazzy instrumentals so so so well. Everything about the album feels so smooth and ethereal. I just can't comprehend the level of talent here, and it sounds like it's done so effortlessly. But, as a collective of songs, some of them just kind of let me down, it somewhat ruins the album as a whole. Particularly 'cherry pie,' 'Sally', and 'why can't we live together' Majority of these songs will be added to my liked songs, but the album won't be on repeat. 1. Smooth operator ⭐ 2. Your love is king 👍 3. Hang on to your love ⭐ 4. Frankie's first affair 👍 5. When am I going to make a living ⭐ 6. Cherry pie 👍 7. Sally 👍 8. I will be your friend ⭐ 9. Why can't we live together 👍
Great, pretty album, good lounge pop, although ultimately I think it fails to keep consistent level until the end.
- love smooth operator so funky and fun - hang onto your love is unfortunately a song ruined by playing at work so much - when am I going to make a living so relevant to me in this moment bc im hungry but I have to wait - loved sally rly appreciate the switch up in vibe to this like story - i will be your friend cute jazzy and sweet - cool album. Her voice is super gripping like very soulful and elegant. I think some songs are ruined for me bc of work which I think makes me connect with it less than I would but some songs especially I like and it’s pleasing and jazzy
4 stars
Faves: Smooth Operator, Love is King, and When Am I Going to Make a Living
Really nice.
Genres: Sophisti-Pop/Jazz/Soul Slow 80s chill Musik, durchgehend im gleichen ruhigen Stil. Ein bisschen sehr gleichförmig und ruhig zum Ende hin, trotzdem solides Album. Rating: 8/10 Top 3: 🥇 Smooth Operator 🥈 Hang On to Your Love – Long Version 🥉 Your Love Is King HM: Frankie's First Affair
Love albums with a theme. Fav song: Hang onto your love
Really liked this, got me wishing i had a cd of this album. Favorites: smooth operator, when am i going to make a living, cherry pie (HM: why cant we live together, the instrumental is so good that the first 2 minutes without any vocals seemed like 30 seconds) 7.8/10
Really great in terms of needed jazz for a whole room revamp.
knew more of these songs than I thought
Kalter Wintertag. In der Bahn gehört, Sonne scheint rein, Gesicht erwärmt - 10/10 experience
So vibey, so nice to listen to. It is smooth and satisfying. The songs are a bit long, but honestly, the whole album could be one giant song, so I don't mind too much. The best way to listen to it is as an entire album, while relaxing or reading, and it is perfect for that
This is one of those albums which has been a staple of FM radio for years, so you think it might be a bit crap. Actually, it's really good!! Sade had that smooth 80s sound down pat early, and cashed in with some great songs and good playing. The first 3 songs (Smooth Operator, Your Love Is King, and Hang On To Your Love) would be familiar to anyone who was anywhere near a radio in the 80s (and ever since then, to be frank), and the 2nd half of the album, whilst less familiar, is also very good.
Hits a sweet spot between clean (bad) and clean (sick) - I'd only listened to Love Deluxe but this felt great to listen to. Had it bumping while walking around the neighborhood on a cold winter night and even over its synthetics, it warmed me up. Favorite Tracks: Smooth Operator, Frankie's First Affair, When Am I Going to Make a Living, Why Can't We Live Together
It was good. not my favorite flavor of music but i did like I will be your friend.
I liked this Sade album better. Smooth operator is her best song and the vibe on this album is more fun.
Smooth as fuck
1 - its smooth operator what more can I say !! 2 - love the opening. Voice and instrument hit a place in my brain. 3 - love it ! I knew i liked music like this but this is really good 4 - yep. No notes. I enjoy the lyrics and the instrumental 5 - more upbeat. Very nice 6 - nice bass to open it. Not sure it needed to be 6 mins but very easy to listen to. Had a little dance to it 7 - God I love a good saxophone intro. Unlike the long song before it, I liked that this one was 5 mins. A very cinematic song. 8 - probably my least favourite. Still love the instrumental but somethings not clicking 9 - different to everything else on the album. Necessary.
vrmt carré, j'ai rempli mon carnet de culture en même temps, il met dans un tres bon mood + il entre dans des genres que j'apprécie beaucoup genre jazz, soul tres smooth et avoir pondu cette masta dinguerie comme premier album c'est carrément iconique
In the lineup for best opening three tracks on an album... This and the 1985 follow-up are incredibly strong releases. It's 5 stars but I'm saving those for opus-level albums so crazy high 4.
Love her voice
Just a truly lovely album. Will listen again for sure.
Slaps. Some turns carry this, some are mid, but overall smouldering smooth, sensual, well produced, great low voice. It’s heavy on style and more rather than less backs it with substance. So 80s with the sax and keys but in this case it’s aged well. Can be prone to background musicitis, but nonetheless likeable
Bought this when it came out. Great album
I liked it!
Smooth and perfect, just like the first time I heard it back in the day!
It's fair to say I didn't get this at all when it came out. The singles got played to death, still do I guess, on some radio stations. Listening to the whole thing for the first time ever, 40-odd years later, it still sounds pretty bloody good.
Not really my type of music but damn she can sing and her band is pretty damn good as well. I wanted to hate this since the 80’s but after listening to the whole album I just can’t be a hater any longer.
Beautiful, gorgeous, jaw dropping, a spectacle. And that’s just me describing Sade’s looks
Consistent. Brilliant. Smooth.
Good study music
Wonderful album. As an 80s kid, I enjoyed their hit singles and I watched their Live Aid performance on TV. This, my first run through of a full album, was every bit as good as I had hoped. This doesn't suffer "dated-ness" as much as a lot of early/mid 80s music does. For example, the drums are mixed like real drums, synths are kept in check, etc. It's a great performance. It's no surprise this band has been uber-succesful. Focusing, and excelling, in a Jazzy Dance genre (whatever name you call it) gained them chart huge crossover acceptance. The songs are almost a little too immaculate. But, that makes two songs particularly shine out: "Frankie's First Affair," where Ms. Adu's vocal is the most free, open, and soulful on the whole record (She should to do more like that), and "Sally," a beautiful and emotional tribute to the selfless work of the Salvation Army. That song was the unexpected standout of the album for me. I've added this album to my library and will return again.
Nuthin' but sax and sex on this LP, baby. Sade can hang. 80s as hell, but this time it works for me. Maybe I can rock with pop when you stir some R&B in there too.
Very chill music with great instrumentation and vocals. This is a great listen both as background music and music to relax after a long day. I enjoyed it pretty much, but it's not a 5 star record though.
Songs I like -Smooth Operator -Your love is king -Frankie
Opening with Smooth Operator – absolute banger. Sax for days, smooth as you like. Big fan of some tracks on here, which I wasn't expecting. Exceeded expectations!
Baby making music …. lol
4 star elevator music
I mean, who doesn't immediately fall into a groove when they hear "Smooth Operator"? It's like a condition that no one is immune to.
Favourite Songs: Smooth Operator Cherry Pie
Groovy. Fun. Not full of hits, but it was very enjoyable to listen to throughout.
8.0/10 Liked this a lot more than I expected.. must be because I’m old..lol
Love this a lot, Sade's voice is beautiful and the instrumentation is so smooth. Love every sax appearance across the album, felt like I was lounging in a comfy warmly lit room. Did distract me from my work a lot though. Highlights: Smooth operator, Your love is king, Hang on to your love, Why can't we live together.
Very easy listening. Loved it starting on the sax, lovely sax in general I cannot complain. Sweet Operator is iconic, I loved cherry pie, a lot of funk and groove I love. Good vocals with a nice rhythm. Not much to complain about will definitely be listening again
This was a perfect listen for trudging through the snow on my commute to the Zoo. It matched the dreary atmosphere but still kept my spirits up. I loved Sally.
Amazing record that I hadn't heard before. Going in the rotation for sure.
So smooth
This is smooth. In a good way. Sade is a class act with a great image and her voice is perfect for this style of music. 3.5 rounding up
joy to listen
I’m away this weekend. I listened to this before sunrise, whilst drinking a coffee, watching ducks swim on a calm lake. I’m very glad I got this as my album of the day and not thrash metal or something.
Comfy and cozy
Smooth operator, smoooooooooth operator
Love her hits but nothing in this grabbed my attention.
It’s a cool album that warrants a relisten
Island flavored smooth jazz pop confection.
Hell yeah. This one drifted past me on the first listen but I loved it on the second time through. It's not my usual genre so I don't know how often I'll come back to it but I'm definitely glad to have checked it out.
At first I thought this was a pleasant nothing of an experience, complimentary. Atmosphere music to leave on in the background and enjoy the vibe. Then Hang On To Your Love grabbed my attention and I started listening actively. Great album, Sade sounds amazing, and even if it's sometimes understated the bass and piano and saxophone are doing some great work here. added to collection
Beautiful smooth soulful sound.
Smooth
Please excuse the pun, but I liked how smooth this album was. Also, I really enjoyed the bass lines.
Most overrated Sade album.
Now, as an objective listener, I should say that this over-polished '80s R&B filled with sweet but lackluster vocals is just not my thing. The thing is, though, that this record is the soundtrack to the rainy Sundays of my youth, bringing the sun into our home when my father put on this record. That said, what pleads for the band and singer is that they composed their own songs - songs that are smooth, funky, and jazzy. Sade Adu's style of singing might be called lazy at times, but she sure has soul in her voice, especially on "Frankie's First Affair" which also displayed their storytelling ability. Or listen to the brilliant cover of Timmy Thomas' "Why Can't We Live Together". So, subjective or not, I enjoyed revisiting it, and I still rate it 4/5.
I love her.
Always been a fan of her music and this album. the girl can sing and write some great music
Of COURSE it's amazing
Smooth
Pretty good
Sade hits all the right notes.
It's a darn shame Ed used this record as a zombie weapon in 'Shaun of the Dead' because it showcases some rather wonderful and soulful vocals from the impressive Sade (Shah-day) Abu. 'Diamond Life' is Sade's 1984 debut, and despite being only 24 at the time of recording, Sade has the mature, confident and charismatic voice of a seasoned soul/jazz veteran, and she's backed by inventive saxophone, colourful guitar and samba-like drums. The dense, lush production also ensures 'Diamond Life' hits the mark, although it does sound ahead of its time. For 1984, it sounds like a record that would be quite at home in the 90s adult contemporary scene, and its a darn shame Sade was never called upon to write a James Bond theme, as her style would've perfectly complemented the spy thriller genre. 'Diamond Life' is as solid as the solid matter its named for, and Sade's charisma is well beyond her years here. Best songs: Smooth Operator, Hang On to Your Love, When Am I Going to Make A Living?, Why Can't We Live Together
Classy 80s jazz/pop album from one of the best voices of that decade - and most distinctive.
For the 80's R&B, it's probably one of the better produced albums. Very smooth, mellow and jazzy. Unique voice and song writing on this album. At times, the album gets cheesy, a little lazy, and a few cliches like the track "Cherry Pie" "Smooth Operator" and "Frankie's First Affair" are absolutely bangers on here. Awesome storytelling, with some unique concepts. The album has solid, occasionally social conscious subject matter. The best track is a long song "Your Love is King" 4/5 stars
A chill and enjoyable listen
jazzy
Slow, British jazzy blues
Smooth.
I truly have no idea what to expect with this one. Just started listening now. Already 1000x better than New Order Low-Life. I wrote a few sentences about every track but I came back and now it's all gone! Guess I must have forgotten to save it. That's too bad because I really enjoyed this record and it is officially my first 4 star rating.
I fucks with Sade. This album makes me want to dance in a downtown high rise at night with the blinds open in a bathrobe with a flute of champagne showing the city just how damn groovy I am. Four stars and favorited.
Groovy. Good vibes. Would listen again.
This was a surprise. I expected it to be nice but boring. Nope. A few tracks were like that but many were funky, catchy, groovy and smooth. I'll probably listen again.
This shit slaps so hard. Hang on to your love sounds like a major interpolation of Billie Jean (or vice-versa). I could listen to these smooth-ass grooves all day every day for a long while. 4/5
Starting off with the climax was very smart for this record, Smooth Operator is enough of a reason to have this album on the list. But the entire project, a dissection of love-related emotion, is worth its listen. I was hoping I'd like the effort more, especially since its clear '80s era music I actually enjoy— the percussion here isn't a machine and I think it makes all the difference. Everyone in the band is pretty tight, though. The bass, cheesy as it often is, actually slaps if you consider isolating the sound. The sax? So easy to go overboard, presented consistently in a tasteful and talented manner. Sade's vocals merit their own review, they're so fucking beautiful. I like the cassette version of the album, where after Why Can't We Live Together, we get to hear Love Affair With Life. Both tracks are excellent ways to finish off an album, but there's something special about the production of Love Affair. I love it but I thought I'd love it more. 4.1/5
I could listen to this often. Maybe my preferred 80s style music!
Super smooth and incredible R&B/soul performances with some classics sprinkled. Highly recommended for anyone that enjoys that kind of music.
Day 105 First listen- This album is so so smooth and gorgeous, I can see myself coming back to it again and again! (4/5)
smooooth operratooor
Супер класика, яку приємно слухати майже під будь-який настрій.
Really vibed with it
Smooth, ahead of its time and funky in the narrative.
Surprised by how much I dug this. Smooth.
Didn’t expect to like this one but loved the vibes (even though I felt like you could start singing smooth operator during most of the songs and it would fit)
hellll yessss. smooooooth operatorrrrrr
That was nice. As most of these albums, not my cup of tea but I'm happy to have heard this album in its entirety. It's interesting how our tastes change with time.
Cool album; Smooth Operator is an all-time R&B jam. This has a smooth blues feeling to it.
Enjoyable but repetitive
Great album
While I think Soldier of Love is my most listened Sade album, this is up there as well. I have to admit I tend to spin one of her massive collections most often, but that's because they've got so many tracks and I've got sexytime inbound. It's a great pop album with jazzy world music vibes, while I do like her smooth jazz stuff, I prefer the stuff leaning more to the soul and latin side of things. I think I've got Promise in my collection as well, but before checking out I would've sword up and down Stronger Than Pride was my most listened. Apparently I don't even have it in my collection, or my book keeping isn't up to bar (which is what I suspect).
Parts of this album are a 5 for me. Others are a 2-3. But Sade has become one of my favorite artists after hearing her entries on 1001 albums...
This is so 80s. So smooth
Super chill RnB. Heartbroken lyrics, sultry saxophone lines, groovy percussion arrangements, funky guitar... Very relaxing, and groovy, but also sad and longing. Wonderful!
Einige Songs kannte ich bereits, ohne zu wissen, dass sie von Sade stammen. Die bekannten Stücke wie Smooth Operator klingen auch heute noch elegant und zeitlos. Der Mix aus Soul, Jazz und Pop schafft eine entspannte, stilvolle Atmosphäre. Das Album bewegt sich für mich eher in der „Kuschelrock/Pop“-Ecke, bleibt aber durchweg hochwertig produziert und angenehm zu hören.
“Smooth Operator” is essential. And “Your Love Is King” isn’t far behind. I don’t think anything else on the album quite approaches those heights, but even the less-than-stellar is sure darn pleasant. SMOOTH, as nearly every review here says. When this album came out, I thought Sade was headed to a stardom that few reach. She became a star—but not on, say, Madonna levels. The promise was there. I wonder why the super-super-stardom didn’t happen. Hmm.
I know “smooth operator” which I think is the only song. When I was kid I think “smooth operator” came out after “Mr. Telephone Man” and I thought that “smooth operator” was a bout a friendly operator helping the guy from “Mr. Telephone man” get in touch with his baby. 😂
Good
Really good. Very smooth both musically and as a vocal performance.
Lush voice and some solid lyrics and rhythms; loved two of the tracks but after a while got a bit repetitive. Still, her voice so enjoyable to listen too.
Great album wish I listened to it sooner
Good Soul
This is so clean for a debut album, I love it.
This album made me want a Harvey Wallbanger to go with it.
copa de vino antes de follar
Great album! Mellow and very melodic
*Listened before the project* Smooth operator~~~
This truly was a smooth operation.
-Sade Adu is fucking incredible. i’m so glad this album reminded me to listen to more of her stuff -i listened to it twice and it hit sooo fucking hard the second time. Cherry Pie is one of the most mesmerizing songs i’ve heard in a minute and Smooth Operator is one of my all time faves.. i may even enjoy this more than Love Deluxe -Favorites are Smooth Operator, Hang On to Your Love, and Cherry Pie
Vet inte om jag ens hört hela den här skivan tidigare, mer än enstaka låtar och framförallt Smooth operator då. Verkligen bra och hög jämn nivå från första till sista ton. Inga svackor. Helt rakt, ärligt, strävt framfört utan åthävor. Släppt 1984, men kunde ha varit 2024. Förvånsvärt bra åldrat. Stark fyra.