Diamond Life

So THAT's who did the Smooth Operator song. Good to know, I'll toss that one on the list. If you like smooth and mellow music, this is the album for you. Very delightful. I recommend tossing this on if you got a date over and want to set the mood without the music being overbearing. Finish that bottle of wine in front of the fake fireplace, then make your move. It must be done, I don't make the rules here.

I like Smooth Operator, and the rest of this album was a smooth mellow listen.

Going in only knowing Smooth Operator. I was gonna rate it a 3 star because it sounded like the kind of album you listen to while sipping a drink in a smokey dark blue-ish room with carpet flooring and vertical panel blinds in 1989 on a rainy early fall fall night while the alarm clock`s red-ish glow hits the wet window reflection at 1:37 AM but then I was like "holy shit, I wish I was listening to it while sipping a drink in a smokey dark blue-ish room with carpet flooring and vertical panel blinds in 1989 on a rainy early fall fall night while the alarm clock`s red-ish glow hits the wet window reflection at 1:37 AM" type shit.

Really groovy production with strong vocals.

3.8 Strong, very consistent album but i think i couldve liked the songs more.

Uffa que joya

Taking a star off BC that version of Smooth Operator is bad but this is a banger album

me encanta SADE

have you ever heard anything smoother?

There's only one Sade. One of the best debut albums of all-time. And it's not even my favorite Sade album (Love Deluxe). The epitome of less is more.

Aural silk, smooth as honey and, despite it's attempts at icy detachment, utterly charming.

just the nicest and most pleasant music ever.. I need to listen to all their albums!

Kicking myself for not listening to any Sade sooner. This scratches that same itch that a lot of 80s city pop does for me. Potential grower. Rating: 8/10 (for now)

It is crazy how stuck in your head smooth operator can get. Very pleasant album. Really really enjoyed. Great production and musicianship. Songwriting js maybe a B-. I think a comfortable four stars.

you gave me the diamond life, diamond lifeeeee

This blend of smooth jazz, sax and an unconventional voice just works. Great vibes all the way through.

Sade seems to me like the perfect singer and artist for the kind of breezy, cool, seductive R&B and Bossa Nova-esque music that she makes. Because of this, Diamond Life sounds incredibly polished and refined, almost like Sade was made specifically for this kind of music. The record goes by smoothly and time flies fast, it has that kind of chic 80s saxophone sparkle that defined the time period. Really, this album embodies cool in every sense, jazzy, lush, calm and sensual. There are few musicians out on this planet that can aspire to be as cool as someone as Sade Adu.

This holds up.

chill music and previously known (could be biased).

Blir bare litt kjedelig

I only knew the first two songs which are gorgeous expensive odes to men who Fuck. but there are also several other good songs for men who cannot fuck.

ahead of her time

Solid smooth jazz

I went into Diamond Life carrying a fair bit of baggage from 1984. At the time, Sade seemed inseparable from The Face, Robert Elms and a particular kind of aspirational consumer culture. I was involved in grassroots community theatre in a small Lincolnshire market town, making deliberately rough-and-ready music with whatever was available, and listening to things like the Three Johns. Sade appeared to come from another world entirely: immaculate, sophisticated and apparently designed for people who knew which wine to order. It felt like two tribes. Strip away that cultural baggage, though, and Diamond Life is an extraordinarily accomplished debut — and considerably more muscular than I remembered. “Smooth Operator” immediately surprised me. There’s real bite to it: jagged electric-piano stabs, Stuart Matthewman’s saxophone and Paul Denman’s bass grumbling insistently underneath. This isn’t music politely waiting to be admired. It has enough sonic pressure to take possession of a room. That bass became one of the revelations of the album. On “Hang On to Your Love”, the lyric argues for persistence in a relationship while Denman’s bass seems almost to argue back, worrying away underneath it like the troubled relationship itself. These arrangements are too intelligent simply to illustrate the words. They complicate them. Sade Adu’s singing works similarly. She has a wonderful habit of leaning off notes rather than onto them. Where another singer might emphasise emotion by pushing harder, she sometimes lets the voice become ragged or slightly unstable. There’s a moment in “Frankie’s First Affair”, just before the saxophone solo, where a high note seems almost to escape her control. But surrounded by playing this precise, it obviously hasn’t escaped anything. The loss of control is itself controlled. That became one of the keys to the record for me. The early demos were apparently much rougher and closer to free jazz and funk. Robin Millar’s production pares that down until every remaining gesture matters. Less becomes more. Control brings freedom. Adu’s background at Saint Martin’s makes perfect sense in that context. Fashion students understand that placement is everything: apparently trivial decisions about proportion, space and what you leave out can be the result of enormous thought. Diamond Life sounds like that. A keyboard stab here, a tiny guitar chop there, a backing vocal placed exactly where it changes the emotional balance. Millar’s production makes those decisions beautifully legible. But the polish turns out to be a delivery mechanism, rather like the strings on Lennon’s Imagine. It makes the argument attractive enough to get through the door. And the argument, unexpectedly, is kindness. Not niceness. Not sentimentality. Kindness with stamina. Again and again these songs return to constancy, commitment and care. “Hang On to Your Love” tells you not to abandon a relationship when it becomes difficult. “Frankie’s First Affair” looks at the consequences of treating somebody carelessly. “I Will Be Your Friend” then puts the singer on the other side of the equation: having demanded persistence from others, she promises it herself. She’ll be there. She walks the walk. “When Am I Going to Make a Living” was where my understanding of the album really shifted. The title apparently originated when Adu was broke enough for money to be a serious daily concern, and the band themselves were hardly living the Diamond Life. Yet here they are making one of the most expensive-sounding British records of the period. “I’m hungry, but I won’t give in.” That line changes the meaning of the polish completely. This isn’t the sound of people displaying what they possess. It’s the sound of people insisting upon standards regardless of what they possess. You can have two plates to eat off and still make beautiful artistic choices. You can be skint and sound expensive. And then comes “Sally”. In another context, a sophisticated soul-jazz band singing earnestly about the Salvation Army could be as naff as all hell. Instead, “Sally” feels like the centre of Diamond Life. It follows “When Am I Going to Make a Living”, and that sequencing matters. First: I’m struggling, I’m hungry, and I’m determined to get out of this. Then: what about the people for whom things have gone even more badly? “She’s doing our dirty work.” That is the line around which the album seems to pivot. Sade aren’t congratulating themselves for caring. They point towards the person who is actually out on the streets doing the caring. Nor is “Sally” saying, “Look where we came from.” It’s closer to an acknowledgement that this is how pear-shaped things can go. Success is contingent. Escaping precarity doesn’t make you fundamentally different from somebody who didn’t. And that is where Diamond Life parts company with the culture I associated it with in 1984. The problem was never aspiration itself. This is a fiercely aspirational record: it values achievement, beauty, discipline, style and success. Adu clearly wasn’t interested in romanticising poverty. She wanted somewhere better to go. What it rejects is the gaucheness of Thatcherism: the vulgarity of making aspirationalism uncaring. Get on, certainly. But getting on doesn’t absolve you of responsibility towards people who haven’t. Escape hardship without deciding that those still experiencing it somehow deserve their position. Don’t pull the ladder up behind you. That makes it rather wonderful that Diamond Life became such a soundtrack to precisely the aspirational consumer culture I mistrusted. You could take this fantastically tasteful record home to your beautifully appointed living room and discover that the bloody thing was quietly arguing against you becoming indifferent to everyone outside it. Finally Sade cover Timmy Thomas’s “Why Can’t We Live Together”, and the album’s moral horizon expands again. What began with persistence between individuals, moved through personal hardship and then outward towards social care, finishes with the simplest possible question about collective existence. And again it doesn’t point the finger. It nags. Those shifts between major and minor keep the song unsettled, and its slow insistence gradually becomes almost triumphal. The question itself becomes the argument. So yes, as a British response to quiet storm, Diamond Life is remarkably sophisticated. The band already know who they are in a way that is almost preposterous for a debut. There’s no sense of musicians throwing different identities at the wall to see what sticks. The musical grammar is already complete. But after listening properly, “sophisticated” isn’t the word I’d finally choose for it. Diamond Life is a kind album. An album about kindness to people you love, kindness to people less fortunate than you, and the persistence required to keep being kind when indifference would be easier. It understands that kindness isn’t softness. It’s something you persist in doing.

Pretty great! Smooth, funky, and soulful. 8/10 Most Excellent

Sade came out swinging. Not their best album but pretty damn close. If you’re not jamming to “Smooth Operator” we’re probably looking for different things in music.

Som Silas engang sagde: Det svinger! Link for reference :) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4VbdnHL35o

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

A almost perfect album for me!! Wish I could do 4 and a half but alas

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.

Absolute silk. I thought that this was over-produced 80's gloss but it's really very stripped back with excellent bass and a very light touch percussion. Much less brass that you'd have expected. Just leaves Sades breathy voice to do all the work.

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

'Smooth Operator' is one of those tracks that embodies the 80s like few others. An insouciant slice of lounge pop, with a great bass solo, into a great sax solo. Such building blocks shouldn't be compatible with being listenable, yet this smashes it out the park. 'Your Love is King' is just as good. I don't think Sade is a person who's ever been angry, and this track is just like a relaxing bubble bath on a Sunday night. The bass and sax combo on 'Sally', alongside the jazz inflected singing and occasional trumpet for flavour, conjure up a lonely detective in the city. It's very nostalgically 'late-night in the 80s'. 'Frankie's First Affair' is a highlight, and another great slice of easy-listening jazz. Sure, after the superior two tracks that open the album, it becomes something of a diminishing returns scenario, but the modus operandi is set, and Sade never falter. It influenced neo-soul, but doesn't have the vapidity or self-regard of that most detestable of genres. There's something here that's sincere. Throw bass solos, sax solos, languid pace and 80s production into a pot, and there's a one in a million chance that's what's coming out is likeable. And this is the one in a million.

76

Hyper soothing joli moment

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.

Sade é definitivamente uma referência com todo seu trabalho.

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.

To listen Sade on a rainy day has a special feeling. Although, not when the temperature is 43 degrees Celsius. 🥵

It’s wild to me that so many of the reviews on this site use the words “smooth” or “polished” as a pejorative. I would posit that good music can sound like it’s made by well-trained and competent musicians sometimes. This is grown folk music, and very good at that.

Queen

this of course was fantastic. Did not finish it but I also did not need to, I already knew this was good.

Gosh do it for Carlos Sainz

A couple of absolute bangers, and a lot of songs that sound alike. 5 stars for the aesthetics, -1 star for the repetition.

Funny story but I know this album well. I won some sort of contest as a 8-10 yr old kid and got to choose a wrapped present... I got "Diamond Life" on tape, haha. I remember listening to this on a Walkman! I recently read a post asking "Does any artist have a perfect entire catalog?" Tough question if you're not a homer for your favorite band. I saw Sade as a top option & this is a good start. Every song is perfect for what it's trying to be. Loved the bass.

Silky

Extremely good vibes. I know who Sade is, obviously, but maybe I had somehow never heard any of her music before? Maybe “Smooth Operator” on the radio once or twice, but didn’t know who it was by. Like I said, this is an incredibly chill and easy listen. Kept it on repeat yesterday. Chill vibes for a sleepy day. I don’t love every song, but I like most of them.

Smooth as the operator on the first track. Keeps the cool side cool and the hot side sultry

lowkey they all sounded the same but I’ve gotta relisten in the future to get the most out of it. Favourite songs: Your love is king

très bon album sade ne se rate jamais. on se voit déjà passer la nuit dans un bar classe à siroter des cocktails tres chers avec la brochette d’olives à l’intérieur la.

J’ai l’impression d’être à la plage en écoutant cet album. J’adore sa voix. Smooth operator is peak ! J’aime.

Très bon album, qui donne envie de se faire un restau semi-gastronomique vétu d'un costume cravatte. Elle m'a fait swinger dans tous les sens du terme notamment Smooth Operator qui reste mon son préféré. On a un peu perdu en qualité sur la fin mais ça reste un solide 4 de mon côté. Un bon classique qu'elle nous a plié, merci pour ça

Classy, bougie, nasty 💅

I've been a Sade fan since I first heard Smooth Operator on the radio as a kid. Between the velvety vocals and slinky saxophone, this is top shelf sophistipop. Hard to believe that Diamond Life is a debut because it's so confident from beginning to end. There's not really a stinker in the bunch but nothing comes close to the brilliance of the album opener.

incredible

Not usually my thing but I mostly enjoyed it

It is such a cool album, her soulful singing is carried by the moody instrumentation to create an intimate soundscape. I would probably rather 'Love Deluxe' but this album has the masterpiece single 'Smooth Operator' so it might be perhaps more unmissable. 9/10 [KEEP]

Amazing

I love sophisti-pop. I love Sade. The smooth sensual sound soft the music, with the strong sultry vocals of Sade, herself, is a perfect match. Absolutely essential

What it is about this record that makes the listener immediately develop a huge crush on Sade?

Impeccable vibes

7 - it’s sade. So smooth.

Yö

For 80s music, Diamond Life ages very well. Sade could be a timeless singer. Album is pretty great but many songs from the middle to the end are a bit samey sounding, but I guess if you're going to listen to Sade you know what you're going to get: smooth silky jazz/quiet storm singing.

listened previously

Silky smooth and oh so sexy

So smooth.

The Carlos Sainz song!

Smooth like butter 🧈🧈 🧈 🧈

Maybe I'm just more generous with my ratings lately, but I can't in good faith give this a 3. I look at my 3s and this isn't it. I'm not sure it's a true 4 either as I really, really like my 4s. But this is good. Totally would listen to and enjoy again.

favs: smooth operator, frankie's first affair

010626 15:21 4

The first few songs must’ve sounded like the fucking future back in 1984. It’s so sleek and refined. I can barely tell it’s from the 80’s. A “Smooth Operator” cover to open things right up and walk you into a rich, luxurious experience. Equal parts loungey and lustful, this record went down smooth from start to finish. The saxophone is practically a second lead singer, I’m left wishing Sade and the sax would harmonize and do more call-and-response. “Hang Onto Your Love” finds a hypnotic groove and, for lack of a better term, hangs onto it. A little funk sprinkled into the mix for good measure. There isn’t a misplaced note on this album, but this song is particularly crafted to perfection. “When Am I Gonna Make A Living” takes a minute or two, but slowly unfolds itself into a rewarding Motown-inspired jam. The way it asks such broad, crucial questions about hardship and society - it’s vintage Marvin Gaye. “I Will Be Your Friend” might be my pick of the album. Not because it’s the most refined, but because it’s the more pure of heart. It’s in the same lane as “Bridge Over Troubled Water”, a song so assured in its love and commitment. “Why Can’t We Live Together” is a wonderful closer. A two minute instrumental before any words are sung. Tactful choice. Obligatory broad stroking call to action song. 4/5, so squeaky clean that you could eat off it

Smooooooooth

So smooth and nice

Het is een plaat die je in menig platencollecties tegenkomt, dat vind ik niet zo gek want er valt ook niet veel op te haten. Ik heb hem ook en ook wel eens aangezet. Niemand zou ooit een hekel aan je krijgen omdat je deze plaat aan zet. Het klinkt goed, goed gebalabceerd en en warm geluid. Heel degelijk, niet het spannendste album die ik ooit heb geluisterd.

Klassieke plaat, op de een of andere manier kan je deze plaat in menig platencollectie terugvinden, en dat is niet gek. Het is high-end kamermuziek voor mensen met smaak. Ik vind de instrumentals erg goed gedaan, het is erg subtiel, precies genoeg, in tegenstelling tot andere producties uit die tijd waar veel gated-reverb op de drums zat in combinatie met foute synth's (wat overigens ook leuk is) Sade's stem pakt de hoofdrol en wat een fijne stem heeft zij om naar te luisteren. Haar stem is ook te horen op Doomsday, mijn favoriete nummer van MF Doom. Ik ben enthousiast geraakt en heb zin om andere albums van haar te gaan beseffen.

Classic. Quality songs and sound.

Great voice and just so very different from what else was going on

(85/100)

generational talent, Who doesn't love Sade?

I have a soft spot for the 80s, particularly Sade

This album starts hot with the 3 big hitters, but stays strong throughout. A very consistent vibe. Fave Tracks: Smooth Operator, Your Love is King, Hang On To Your Love 4.4/5

🥰

elegancia, de noche, sofisticado, me relaja

Really a 4.5 if you ask me. I had never given Sade a chance growing up. As a fan of more extreme music, I too was part of the peanut gallery in labeling this as adult alternative muzak. What a load of garbage. This is a beautiful, fantastic, sensual album that actually touches on social issues in addition to the romantic, slow-moving hits. This simmers all the way through, tight as a well-oiled machine. As a musician, I'm impressed with the band's ability to show so much restraint and release with the jazz and pre-trip-hop song structures. The sax solos are a bit of their time, but precisely, the '80s was one of the best times for music anyway, and I'm such a sucker for cheese as long as the music is tough enough. Sade is a strong and focused singer, not at all flat. Like a Billie Holiday 2.0, at times. As my former jazz instructor, Andrew Speight, once told our large class (with people chatting and making noise upon arriving during the first track he would play), "If you shut up and listen, you might learn something." So glad that I held my breath and gave you a listen after all these years, Sade. Can't wait to listen to the rest.

Smooth Operator was everywhere when it came out. I feel that it was around the same time as Kenny G, Alison Moyet, and Simply Red. A whole lotta of adult contemporary music when it seemed that was done. Some 'romantic' music to get down with. I wasn't the demographic then and this smooth jazzy and R&B inflected stuff was not my bag. She was definitely before Erykah Badu and Macy Grey. I remember stepping into a cocktail lounge -- I am sure there was a mix of swing, exotica, Harry Connick Jr and Sade. I had my first chocolate martini "hated it" and promptly left after trying an expresso martini next. Drinks were expensive and I wasn't ready for this level of BS. Unfortunately, this is my association. Only cocktails and exotica survived that era for me. Anywho, I put this on and the first song, "Smooth Operator", it has this preamble. Never heard this on the radio. I wish I had, it makes the song better. This sounds a lot better when you are only hearing it once and awhile and it is when you want. A lot better. I have already heard half this album and the other less overexposed songs are familiar and good. Maybe I have finally gotten to a place in my life where I can appreciate this stuff. This is sultry and cool. This album is a great album. I think I may give it a 4. It deserves a bit more but not enough to push it into the 5 territory.

Excellent

light 4.5.

Gran disco y gran voz. Muy a gusto su mood. Siento que le gustaba a mi mamá

Smuuuuth operaitor. Ta cool me parece que con un par de escuchadas mas entra en los guardados definitivos

8/10

Amazing chill album, her voice is deeper than what you would expect based on what she looks like. Nasty sax playing, consistently well written pop tunes. She is an amazing performer, yet she rarely performs, check her out if you get the chance.

Smoooooov. This is an excellent example of the 80s sophisti-pop style, with plenty of lush jazzy arrangements, smooth soulful sounds, and of course Sade's excellent vocals tying it all together.

Smooth as FUCK I might like more 80s music if it sounded more like this. As far as this website’s rating system goes, this is on the UPPER upper tier of 4s.

The definition of smooth! Perhaps a bit too much in the middle, as from 'When Am I Going to Make A Living' to 'Sally' it starts bordering on the bland. Literally everything else is gold though! 🎷🐛 Standouts: Smooth Operator • Your Love Is King • Hang On to Your Love • Frankie's First Affair • I Will Be Your Friend • Why Can't We Live Together

My apologies to Sade!! Heard this on the Rolling Stone 500 list and thought it was boring and very skippable. On giving it a careful listen now, I realized it is actually an expertly layered, smooth, jazzy masterpiece with lush production and gorgeous vibes. Oops!

R&B can sometimes wobble dangerously close to full-blown cheeseball territory for this guy. Rose petals, thick mustaches, satin sheets, blue-balled saxophone wails for mercy: the whole horny gift basket. Inject some jazz into the mix, and you've got a volatile compound that could implode under the weight of its own doucheyness right quick. But Diamond Life strolls through that minefield in designer heels without triggering a single cringe grenade. This thing is buttery smooth, but we ain't talkin' gas station butter. It’s expensive... mysterious butter. Possibly wearing sunglasses and smoking a cigarette - indoors. Lil' funk in the trunk, soul in the chest, the faint smoke of jazz curling around the ceiling fan, and enough evolved sensuality to fog up the windows without desperately moaning, "MMM...BABY". The shifting tempos keep it from becoming one long soft-focus cologne ad, and the whole record ends up feeling like a small, stylish suitcase packed with decades of Black music history. Sade’s voice is the whole spell here: aloof but aching, effortless but intimate, like she’s emotionally devastating you from across a dimly lit room while pretending she just came in for a mineral water. Somehow, Diamond Life takes all the ingredients that usually send me sprinting and turns them into something elegant, haunted, and stupid cool. No satin-sheet misdemeanors. Just Sade and company gliding by in slow motion, making everyone else sound like they showed up to the orgy wearing socks.

A timeless album Favourite track: Cherry Pie

Another great endeavor on this list. Another 4 I'll gladly give.

Jazzzyyyy

I mean what a smooth, unique voice

Diamond Life was a dinner party favourite when we were in our twenties. Long time since hearing it. Crisp production. Very smooth, laid back. Some good songs, although Why can't we live together is a cover - still good though.

Smooth Operator is the best song on this album, unfortunately it was the first song on this album. Overall, it was a good sound, but I wasn't absolutely crazy about it.

Such an interesting project, it felt like it was ahead of time, the title track is a classic and the B-sides incorporate modern sounds into blues rhythm, Feels like a fresh breath of air from the loudness of current life, I definitely loved it.

Sade is one of those artists that I didn’t like as a kid but has grown on me more recently. I used to really dislike her music, but these days I like her blend of light jazz and really enjoyed listening to this album. To the extent that I’m going to listen to some more of her catalogue now, in the hope it’s also as good.

This is much better than I remember from just the singles. This probably wasn't what I was looking for as a 17 year old but it sounds great now.

Another album I knew from back in the day. Had forgotten how much I enjoyed it - nice to be reminded

An incredibly sophisticated, pristine blend of jazz, soul, and sophisticated pop. The production is immaculately clean, but the underlying musicianship is exceptionally tight, driven by elastic basslines, subtle percussion, and understated saxophone work that creates a hypnotic, deeply relaxing nighttime atmosphere.

Refreshingly cruisey when Sade burst upon the scene. The whole album so well produced. Great voice and vibe

It is 1984. Summer. You cruise through the city in a convertible sports car. Your sleeves rolled up, sunglasses on even though it is night time. The streetlights and the windows of skyscrapers flow past you, blurring together. The city seems to go on forever. You don't have a destination in mind, but the evening seems to hold endless potential. That is how this albums feels. You could accuse it of being overproduced, perhaps, but it never feels lifeless because of it. There is a great deal of passion throbbing through these tunes. I, too, tend to like my music with a little rough edge, but that would go entirely against the spirit of this album. I only knew smooth operator going in. I have to say "Frankie's First Affair", "Cherry Pie", and "Sally" are all just as good, and at just shy of 45 minutes it does not outstay its welcome at all.

Pretty good

So smooth and beautiful album

This is something I would like to be played in the waiting room for all my doctor appointments (good thing). Jazzy, relaxing, cool, and atmospheric. Likes: Smooth Operator; Your Love Is King; Hang On To Your Love; Cherry Pie

So so smooth. Sexy and jazzy and real easy to sink into. You get what you get with Sade.

Liked it

Классная смесица R&B и джаза/блюза, но не мой жанр Песню Smooth Operator уже слышала Очень неплохо, под определенное настроение пойдет

Immaculately produced and amazingly sung. The instrumentation is at great symphony, the band chemistry on this is so satisfying. It's very easy to enjoy and see why it's so great but still offers a lot of detail and overall a really great sound. Loses a bit of steam towards the end but doesn't fall below very good. HE'S A SMOOOTH OPERATOR!

Great start to a career for an amazing singer. Her voice is impeccable and sounds like the warmest saxophone. Would listen again and again

Grooved so damn hard I was going crazy in AutoCAD listening to this

Performative male music for people who are too scared to listen to laufey or clairo. It is actually pretty good though

Smooth Operator is great and I feel like this album makes a good date night

There is an alternate dimension in which everything in life plays out like a montage sequence for the romantic B-plot for an episode of Miami Vice, and Sade is the world's biggest act.

took a couple of listen but i really really like it.

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

Very groovy record. Loved the basslines from Paul S. Denman, and Sade herself writes some very interesting lyrics touching on what sounds to me like the shady parts of nightlife and possibly being something along the lines of a lady of the night. Very thematic, with killer sax lines and great accompanying piano.

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.

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.

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

SMOOTH OPERATORRRR! Good album, also a lot of songs I am not familiar with! I liked, need a glass of wine to complete the experience though

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