Reviews (page 7 of 14)
Smooth as butter.
Jazzy. Easy listening. Would recommend. 7/10
Cool. I did not know this was a band. Kinda the Rihanna of her day it seems like. I did not know about "quiet storm" music. Genre is ridiculous. Anyway not my style but it is smooth and competent as shit.
OK
5/10
Did not expect to like it as much as I did
Smooth indeed. Easy listening but does not hold my attention enough for a lasting impression. As always torn between giving reviews for good workmanship vs personal preference. Favorite track: Smooth Operator
Was pretty bullish at first. That evaporated quickly. This album is so one-note it’s unreal.
Music to listen to as the cocaine wears off. Michael McDonald and Christopher Cross look out, there's a new monarch of Yacht Rock Island and her name is Sade. Smoove and cool.
Sultry vocals tried to entice me, but ultimately, the smouldering tones failed to light a fire in me.
An absolutely titanic pop album! Haters will still point out that it's pop and lacks a bit in the low end, but there's still an art to make music that you can tap your foot to that nobody's going to exactly hate. 3.5*
Banger
The main feeling this album creates is yearning. Specifically, yearning for the low level middle class luxuries of 90s television: lush shampoo, posh ice cream, massive glasses with normal amounts of red wine in them, fire place sex, glass coffee tables and complicated CD players.There's a boringly dismissive reactionary snob response to this that's probably the one I'd have had in my teens or 20s, but - going full Bateman - distance reveals some of the quirky idiosyncratic touches that make this work so well, the warm inviting disco jazz vibe, the soul bones of the song writing, the clean cutting guitars, the tender sensuous vocals. It's pure commercial pleasure, all sheen and gloss, rubbery funk and smooth synths with its edges polished right off, promising to take the edge off.
Lovely lounge music
Good r/b singer. Great voice. Great songs. One of my all-time favorite albums. A must go to on a cool rainy day.
I enjoyed Diamond Life. I don't think that i have gotten too much R&B with a female singer as of late so this is actually a pretty enjoyable return to it. The musicianship here was very well done with many of the tracks on show being rather groovy and still having that relaxing feel to them. I also did like Sade's voice as she could have that pretty alluring sense in her voice. The album also never felt like it was dragging on but still had enough time to stretch out it's legs and let the melodies sink in. I guess if i did have a problem with it, it would be that some of the songs here are a little forgettable and do blend into the background but other than that, i quite enjoyed this album. Best Song: Hang On To Your Love Worst Song: I Will Be Your Friend
Smoother than a cashmere codpiece, and just as satisfying.
The whole album sounds like waiting room music.
Just not my cup of tea
This is smoothness at it's best. Sade's voice is like silk. And the music? Just perfect. Loved this.
J'étais pas convaincu au début mais franchement ça s'écoute c'est chill
Mellow
Lover boyyyyyyyy
There is nothing I hate more than a sleezy saxophone. That being said, the harmonies in this album are incredible and add so much depth.
Two hit songs. Songs are well written and the performances are very good. Songs are recorded terribly. All treble and too much separation.
I got laid just putting this album on. It's sexy 80's r&b and there's a reason "Smooth Operator" is known by everyone. TIL: it's pronouned "shaw-day"
It’s groovy!
- álbum de estreia que chega como uma voadora de dois pés no peito - muito swing e personalidade - eu acho “Love Deluxe” um álbum melhor que “Diamond Life”
Track 1 is a classic (Smooth Operator)
3 // poppy r&b from the 80s. exactly what you'd think that'd sound like. catchy and fun, but nothing crazy
Really good for the most part. A few songs had too much of that 80's cheese but other than that can't complain. 8/10
Soft 80s pop, with soul background. Sax-heavy, latin-inspired rhythms on When Am I Going to.... It's alright, not mind-blowing. Jazzy sax solo in Sally. Why Can't We Live Together is a nice slow track with inclusive aspirational lyrics. Best track - Cherry Pie (not for any reason), Why Can't We Live Together, When Am I Going to Make a Living 3 stars
Enjoyable but not mindblowing.
Did not kno smooth operator was part of an album.
I couldn't do it. It was just too much for me.
The very best of Mom Jazz/Yacht Rock. Not really inspiring stuff. I remember my mother listening to this in the early 80s. As a kid, I didn't register how bad a singer Sade was. Now, I hear the flat notes, the constant corrections, and I'm in disbelief as to how she was considered a quality vocalist. Oh, she was gorgeous. Now I've got it.
Absolute BONAFIDE classic. Perfect record. If you havent listened, do yourself a favour. It is delicious. Sade Adu's voice is VELVET!!!
I knew i was gonna like this album right from the start. I usually love sade and this is no different. The songwriting and hooks are great and this album has a great atmosphere. 9/10 Favourite: Your Love is King Least Favourite: None
After all the 70s rock Sade felt like a breath of fresh air. I am not deep into soul/quiet storm, but this album really works. Her voice especially is the thing that drives this forward. Sexy without it feeling forced. In no way feels like a debut album she comes fully formed with such confidence. "Why Can't We Live Together" is my favourite track here such a strong closer. I will say it did feel a bit too much at times but that is I think more down to me being too big of a soul lover.
Smooth and jazzy Tracks to Track: Smooth Operator
Better the second time around
you listen the first 2 and the rest of the songs sound similar
The smooth sounds of Sade are pleasant enough, but time has damned it to the kind of light, jazzy music that soundtracks any number of public spaces. Put "Smooth Operator" on a playlist, and you're good to go.
Solid gold. Since Covid I've found so much of the music I used to find painfully boring in my younger years - Steely Dan, Frank Sinatra, hell even Bonnie Raitt - to be really interesting and entertaining. Sade is definitely one of those artists. (I still find Anita Baker boring, sorry Anita Baker). Smooth Operator as the opening song on a debut album is a Welcome To the Jungle level shot across the bow. So many of these albums are chores to get through and this is one where I was surprised and disappointed it was over. Also I appreciate a band where the name of the band is also the name of the singer. I'm going to write to the Band Name Bureau to see if I can get a full list of such bands.
No, Sade, YOU'RE the smooth operator
This album was amazing. No skips, loved some more than others, but every song was worth listening to here. Smooth Operator is obviously a classic, but really enjoyed When Am I Going to Make a Living as well.
Smooth operator is a banger, but I just wasn’t in the mood for the rest of it, which is more on me than Sade.
I was going to say that this album feels ahead of its time, but then it registered to me that it would feel totally in place as a classic soul album, albeit with funkier instrumentation and better production. So perhaps it's "out of time" or perhaps just timeless. I feel like I've only ever listened to the hits, which feels like an oversight on my part after this.
Smooth op easy listening
Very cool, stylish, timeless. A little bit samey at times though. Good one to throw on in the background at some sort of dinner/wine party if you want people to think you're civilised A bit repetitive. Needs some actual bangers that stand out
Great album. Silky smooth, jazzy undertones, Latin percussion, heavy sax, and fantastic sultry vocals. Love it
Record with a great sound, smooth but also funky in places. A bit frontloaded but still a solid 4
R&B sounds well
Smooth Operator
Not for me, but I can appreciate the artistry.
love
All songs kinda sounded the same. Knew smooth operator.
Dude. I kind of knew I would enjoy Sade to some extent, but this is freakin' amazing. Diamond Life is such a great album! Sade is another one of those musical acts that's been on my radar for some time but that I've never touched myself. I wish I had sooner. This is some of the smoothest most pleasing music I've ever heard. I love this. Let's talk about it. It's kind of hard to pinpoint exactly what genre this is. Is it jazz? Soul? Pop? A combination of the three perhaps? Whatever it is, it's spectacular. I'm always accepting of saxophones being used well in music, so this appeals to me. There aren't a ton of bands I can think of named after the lead person in the band, so it's interesting to see a case like this with a singer like Sade. I happen to enjoy her singing on this album quite a bit. She really helps the vibes and words come across more authentically. Good singer. The writing is pretty solid. It's not the most important aspect of the album, but it's good when you notice it. This thing has some fantastic songs. "Smooth Operator" is such a great opener. It sets the stage perfectly and I love it. "Your Love is King" is an outstanding love song. Much of the album fits that title as well, which is nice to see. "Hang On To Your Love" is excellent as well. The grooves on these songs are just so immaculate and I love them. I don't know what to say. I'm more impressed than I expected. I genuinely love this album to a solid degree. Somehow, this isn't even considered the best Sade album by many! Love Deluxe seems to be more of the fan favorite from my perception, so if that's actually the case, then that thing must be a freakin' masterpiece! Is Diamond Life also a masterpiece? Arguably! This is such a cool album and I'm very happy to have listened to it. Light 5/5.
I like the Bossa Nova chill style it has, I knew Sade before, but it was really nice listening to her again.
Inoffensive background music. Formulaic and bland.
Very smooth. Gorgeous vocals.
easy listening music
Smooth as hell, great voice, lovely vibes, lovely saxophone. I gotta be in the right mood to truly enjoy it, but no matter what it's gonna be immersive and enveloping. Must-listen #195
Look: it's not that I don't get this album. It's "cool music." It's the kind of smooth rhythms, silky voice and soaring sax you're supposed to look over a nighttime balcony and smoke a cigarette to. I can totally picture that, and I get it. Here's my issue: what if I **don't** actually think this is all that cool? What if — and follow me here — I think it's, at best, incidental music for a hip 80's TV show? And at worst, extra-produced elevator muzak? I didn't wanna be too unkind to this album. I mean, Sade Adu herself is obviously not a bad vocalist, not by a long shot. Besides, while I might implicate this album as "background music" to insult it, I'm by no means someone who'll hate an album for being wallpaper. If it fits the room it's put in, how can you complain? But this sound, sophisti-pop: it just glides right by me. It's too smooth, dangerously to the point of almost being plastic. If I'm supposed to feel cool while listening to this, I don't. I feel like this should be hearing this stuff play over a department store PA system. And not a cool department store, either, if those things exist; I mean shit like Zeller's or... I'unno, Big Lots? It just feels like they're trying so hard to come across like they're not trying hard. I can see them playing this stuff on stage, trying **so hard** to make it look like they're effortlessly cool, but it's just not working for me. I mean, I said it before: "sophisti-pop" comes across like a genre of music made by assholes for assholes, who act like they're **so much better** than **regular pop artists**. And like with Everything But The Girl, I don't wanna accuse Sade of being assholes; I'm sure they're nice people... But it's a **lot** harder to **not** think it this time around, y'know? Really, more than anything, it's just a feeling like every song is going on ten times longer than they actually are. This smooth jazz soul thing wears out its welcome **real fast**, and there are still 40 minutes left in the album when it does. I hardly ever actively wish for albums to end, but if I wouldn't have preferred to listen to anything else towards the end of this... Again, I didn't wanna be so unkind to this album. I'm sure, in the right atmosphere, it'd hit a lot better. Hell, even with my complaints I can't say it's a totally bad vibe. It just didn't inspire any stronger emotions in me than, "Yeah, sure, fine — can I move on already?" And I do love me a good sax solo, so the fact that this one couldn't deliver for me says something. I mean, I really wanted to give this thing the benefit and give this thing a 3. Honestly, I did. But when I checked where I was in the album, and I saw I was in the middle of "Sally" and had two songs left, and my legit kneejerk first thought was, "Oh, my gawd, why aren't you **done** yet?" Yeah. Yeeeeaaaahhh. I gave this album a shot. Believe me, I did. Honestly, I get this album and what it was going for. But I also get that this album is **not** for me. I'm gonna get the hell off of this elevator.
Simply just some nice chill soul to vibe to. Solid 4 Stars.
I’m at a 4.5 that I’ll bump up to a 5. Little bit of a frontloaded album, especially through the first 4 tracks, but regardless, that’s a hell of a debut to make for 1984. This feels like it’s trying to single-handedly move soul music forward, and I think it probably did in a lot of ways. Even from just an instrumental standpoint, this thing just oozes with a type of smooth charisma that still feels fresh now, and probably felt REALLY fresh in 1984. This is expanding upon the DNA of 70s soul groups (especially Earth, Wind & Fire), and it’s doing it in a way that feels like a preview for the rest of the 1980s to come. Of course, those instrumentals wouldn’t quite hit the same without Sade’s smooth as silk voice gliding on top of them, and she knocks it out of the park here. She adds great depth to each track by herself, giving the lyrics a bit more gravitas, & her higher registers are stunning when they come in, given that she stays low for most of the album. So, why the 4.5 and not a flat 5? A few tracks were a little too long (“Hang On to Your Love”), a little too simple, a little too repetitive (“I Will Be Your Friend” for both), a little too slowly paced (“Sally”)… nitpicks, again, but the sort of nitpicks that build up to make an album experience feel like just a little bit more of a drag to my ears. There’s also “Why Can’t We Live Together”, which is a solid track with a good message… but it feels wrong as the album closer, and it doesn’t feel like it meets the same quality as the rest of the album. Instrumentally, it sounds like it’s from 1977 as opposed to 1984, and it doesn’t really feel as unique as the preceding 39 minutes. As I said before, this is a bit frontloaded, especially with “Smooth Operator”, and I think the album hits its peak at “Cherry Pie”, after already hitting what I thought might be a peak at “Frankie’s First Affair”. That slow falldown afterward is what’s putting this at a 4.5 as opposed to a flat 5, but regardless, it’s an incredibly easy bump up. This is neo-soul as we currently know it being born, with a hint of Japanese city pop standards thrown in, pulling influence from Earth, Wind & Fire, Stevie Wonder, some Hall & Oates, and hell, a little bit of Huey Lewis to my ears. It’s a great blend to have, and for my tastes, it fits perfectly. I was hoping a little more Sade would be on the list (especially the album with “Kiss of Life” on it), but I guess I’ll have to check those out in my own time. Great album, great pick, definitely glad I heard it before I died, and an easy bump up to a 5.
Dated. Makes you wish every song was Smooth Operator. Did people listen to this full album in the eighties?
Smooth operator 😍😍😍
I like this album, but it doesn't really stick with me. There are great songs, and it is a great vibe, but it is missing something for me. Sade's voice is great but a "favorite" that keeps me coming back, and the music is good, but it's neither catchy enough (most of the time) or complex and surprising enough (like a Steely Dan). Still deserves to be on the list for sure, and I could see how this could be 5 stars for many people, which is totally fair.
Not bad, but definitely not my kind of stuff. Smooth operator is dope tho.2.5/5
Remember how big this album was when it came out. What a “different” sound and voice!
Good
Did not listen to
None of it is "bad", not at all. Completely inoffensive, perfectly adequate, laid-back background music. I'm fond of jazz, even smooth jazz, but this just feels so sterile and lacking in nuance. She has a wonderful voice for sure, but idk this just doesn't do it for me, there's no soul in those horns man. If I wanted to throw on some jazz I would choose almost anything else.
A lot of albums have that one single that became extremely popular and the rest is a bunch of songs that suck (such is the case of, for example, of Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret. However, on Diamond Life, and even taking into account how popular "Smooth Operator" is, Sade shows great skills of song-writing that make for a decently rounded album.
so good
my boyfriend loves this band and after I first met him in uni, I listened to this album all the time to understand what he likes about it. I love this album, but not only because it reminds me of the sweet flustering feeling of our honeymoon phase.
Very dull overall! And a particuarly meandery underwhelming end to it. Even Smooth Operator was more dull than I remembered.
very nice
Lush sound and well produced, but a little shallow lyrically.
eig sehr cool und toller Rhythmus, aber es hat mich ein bisschen gelangweilt
Didnt like
Quite good.
Pleasant.
2.5
2.5
I mean how can you go wrong with the classic, the inimitable SADE! This is baby making music for sure, and is great in the background. TBH though, all of her music sounds so similar. If you have heard one famous song, you will always recognize her music.
Great album
Great and sexy album but it tends to have some 'sameness' after a while.
A slow jams classic, incredible vocals and a top notch band execute an all time sexy R&B record. Drops off a bit at the end, but very strong, rewards multiple listens. This one really sticks with you
Another artist that has been on my list for a long time. Going into this I couldn't think of a single Sade song or album title that I was aware of. Immediately that changed with "Smooth Operator" but I never knew it was their song. Each song was enchanting and seductive. Favorite Song: Frankie's First Affair
неумирающая классика, которую должны послушать все, даже те, кто джаз никогда не любили. альбом о женщине в любви great beautiful album but not my cup of tea, that is
great album to listen to .... just not alone 😅 Sade's voice is really something else and there are clearly no bad songs on this album. Just nothing i'm gonna go back to except on special occasions. 7/10 fav songs : Smooth Operator & Cherry Pie
This brought back good memories. It was enjoyable but nothing great
I recognize that this isn't yacht rock. BUT, If I were on a yacht, and a couple of cocktails in, I could easily get into Sade's voice and the saxophone as the world sails by.
There's a chart topper and some good stuff, but it feels a little... subdued.
"Smooth Operator" is a fantastic track. There were a few others I enjoyed a bit but overall this wasn't really a love or hate. Worth a listen for sure though.
8/10
Nice voice - chilled out sound - I really enjoyed the first two tracks (the hits) and Sally - the rest fine, relaxing listen.
Sade evokes the tobacco-scented Bonneville my friend's dad used to drive me to school in. The easy listening station he had on in the car seemed to play Sade every morning, so "Smooth Operator" is inextricably linked to the smell of his pipe and the plush seats in that boat of a car.
Feels like the are 80s. And that's a good thing.
i am biased and love SADE. It is great
This site has delivered several 5s inna row. Shout out disco b!
descargado
been a big fan of this one for a long time, all of Sade's music is amazingly constructed and tasteful. run, don't walk, to listen to Diamond Life.
Great voice, repetitive songs and album not exciting.
Adding a saxophone to yacht rock does not magically make it not yacht rock.
At first you’re cynical and presume this is one of those jazzy 80s things with a bass player with his axe strapped up too far, but it doesn’t take long to succumb to the quality of the first three tracks. Five of these songs are very familiar radio hits; the close listening on headphones reveals lovely double tracked harmonies and very slick percussion. Still loungey and not really my thing, but her voice is beautiful and the whole thing is perfectly realised. Some filler on Side Two, where you don’t realise the time has gone but you’re on to the final track. Highlight: Your Love is King, and the really patient build to the vocal on Why Can’t We Live Together? Low points: Sweet as Cherry Pie and the line about sticking together hand in glove.
Incredible album. What a talent
Músicas de mae
Brilliant album. 9/10
Talented but not my style at all.
Lovely voice but becomes boring after a couple of tracks.
Really fun to listen to the bass lines on this one
Slick cool and fun
She has a beautiful voice. But the album is a bit boring with very little to no difference between the sounds of the songs.
I found this album very dated sounding and more muzak than expected given I generally respect her as an artist.
That album was like one long boring song.
One cool muthajazzer
Sade has a beautiful voice. It's a shame these songs go on for too long.
Beautiful, smooth voice some really nice rhythms. It’s a great album from the 80s.
I can't deny a smooth operator like Sade.
Good mellow morning music. I was surprised at how many of the songs I knew.
Smooth, smoky, jazzy R&B with pop hooks, a tight band, and a sultry singer. The genre is not really my jam as I find the overall effect a bit sleepy, but it is well crafted sophisticated pop that is an easy listen.
Pretty nice!
Thia album encapsulates the 80s. I would say it's an era defining album and I like the clever song about the Salvation Army. Although it's not my normal bag, I enjoyed it.
I don't like jazz. I don't really know why, it just doesn't appeal to me. I get the impression that these are all talented people. Her voice is good. The songs are well crafted and performed. It's just not my thing.
Ooooh, haven't had many of these. Very firmly in the "deserves to be on the list even though I can't stand it" category. Can fully appreciate how different this was, and how well the album is put together whilst it absolutely bores me to tears.
This one caught me by supprise n a good way. What to me was thought to become a one hit wonder. Had a long list of hits and A long career. Put lounge music on the map.
Not my usual taste, but it was ok
Sade is the nightclub singer in an 80s film noir. Slinky, black dress, diamond earrings while singing over the saxophone in a smoke-filled room. Sade is a vibe, and if you weren't there, you have no idea how much this album and this sound dominated the early 80s. Sure, it sounds a little dated, but the instruments are tight on this record, and her vocals are sexy and unmistakable. This really was the certain sound of an era.
Smooth Operator is a certified Banger. Idk what everyone else sees in Your Love Is King but it just doesn’t hit the same. Sade has a good voice. Best song: Smooth Operator Notable(s): Smooth Operator (again), Sally
this was better than i thought it was going to be but it was still pretty bland
I can dig it. But in small doses. 2.7875 rounded to 3.
A smooth operator one might say
Great voice! Great listen!
Album art:4
I expected to like this more than I did. I suppose if my expectations were lower, I’d consider this a 4. At the end of the day, it’s just a simple, beautiful album.
Not my usual kind of thing but I really enjoyed it.
Very nice, but can maybe go on a little long.
One of those albums that lasts through the ages. I only regret that I did not own it when I was collecting vinyl in my youth. Smooth Operator and Your Love Is King are the two stand-outs, but the rest of the album is some smooth listening. Would give a higher rating if there were more chart topper songs.
Smooooooottthh operatorrr
Les morceaux sont trop ressemblants.
Still smooth and beautiful as ever.
Carlos Sainz approves
Definitely a mood album. I liked the British Soul vibe of the whole thing, but would have to be in the right mood to give it another spin.
At first when I put this album on, I thought here we go with another one hit wonder making the list of 1,001 albums to hear before you die. I mean we all know Smooth Operator, if you don't know that song, you have been living under a rock. I was surprised that I recognized a couple other songs from this album, like Hang On To Your Love, which I enjoyed the long version. All in all this album falls into the "didn't hate it, didn't love it" ranking.
Delightfully smooth. While the sax and piano are great my favorite part of this may be the lazy, rhythmic percussion. Nowhere is that demonstrated better than on the closer, which is my favorite song on the album. I love the pace at which the song moves - it feels like a slowcore song to me - and I think it has Sade's most longing vocals on the album. Sade's music got more nuanced after this but this is my favorite album I've heard from them. It's great for late nights and puts a lot of 80's sounds in a more refined, relaxed package.
Smooth Operator was a big hit middle 80's and the entire album evokes images and memories of TV shows and movies from the 80's of NYC yuppy apartments, dinner parties, candle-lit dinners, etc. This is upper middle class mixer music...very smooth, inoffensive but, in short, really boring. Just not my thing. 2/5
I did not react to this album as I was expecting Thought I would hate it It’s actually a damn fine album An incredibly tight band, an unbelievably seductive singer Far, far better than I thought it would be
Sade mi favorita. Diamond Life es perfecto de principio a fin. Obviamente lo conocía pero lo escuché con muchíiiiisimo gusto
Kinda interesting not something i'd go for straight away but I also didn't completely hate it
Very much the definition of easy listening. It wasn’t bad, but it just wasn’t really my thing.
Not my cup of tea
Great voice, average music. A few gems, though.
Smooth, hot, lush. I like this!
Not at all my jam. Didn't dislike it enough to give it a 1 but I also didn't finish it.
I don't dislike this album, but apart from Smooth Operator I just didn't really feel it.
Didn't know I'd heard a couple of her songs, but I have. She has a good voice, but all a bit meh for me.
Tasteful music. Timeless classic. Even when I was a kid I knew the grown-ups were into something. Albums like Diamond Life just will NEVER be made again.
This album is so smooth that I had to hold my headphones to keep them from sliding off my head.
I tried to like this album, it has slick arrangements, hits and the beautiful voice of Sade....but it just didnt do it for me.
Lemppari: Frankie’s first affair Vähiten lemppari: Why Can’t We Live Together
This album was so smooth that I didn't even walk while listening to it, I simply glided.
Sade sounds like nobody else. This is legendary music. Timeless.
Oh my god I love her. LOVE HER.
Reminds me of my youth!
Yeah, it was fine.
This is the 160th album I’m rating. I’ve heard that name before but I know nothing about her music. Adding to my Playlist - Nothing. Not Adding to my Playlist - Smooth Operator, Your Love is King, Hang on to Your Love, Frankie's First Affair, When am I going to Make a Living, Cherry Pie, Sally, I Will be Your Friend, and Why Can't we Live Together. Smooth Operator - Not as good as I was expecting it to be. Your Love is King - The past two songs have just been really boring and they've made me feel nothing. All in all I liked 0/9 songs. If Curtis Mayfield was singing this I think it would be a lot better. Either way it would be too smooth for me though.
Not for me, but good
Great album, great voice
Wow. Now I know why people love Sade. Absolutely great album that I completely overlooked. Happy that the list made me give it a chance. 4⭐️
Came in with no expectations, left floored by this album. It's so cool and I love the Noir feel of it, like walking through a rainy New York alley at night. Smooth Operator, great. Hang on to Your Love, great. My favorite was probably Sally, what a great track. A lot of the rest of the album has great vibes, but doesn't carry quite the highs throughout.
Not bad by any means. Great voice, I love the sax work. Just kind of one-note. Every song sounded kinda the same. But very well produced.
Great voice, some good songs too. Doesn’t come together as a whole album for me
Favorite: Sally
A better singer than Maxwell but the same sort of relaxed/smooth vibe that isn't really for me,
"Smooth Operator" is excellent. I listened to it twice. The rest of it I can take or leave - though in fairness I'd probably grow to appreciate it over time.
Never realized how good the sax is for this group. Sades voice is so smooth but some of the songs are poorly composed. Particularly the last one on this album was awful. 6.5/10
No era lo que me esperaba realmente. Estuvo bien. Pero hasta ahi.
OH MY GOD, THIS IS WHERE SMOOTH OPERATOR COMES FROM??? I think I've heard the name Sade before, but it's the first time I listen to her music. Beautiful voice, but I don't think I vibe with the music all that well. Favorite song/s: Sally Song/s saved: Cherry Pie, Sally, When Am I Going to Make a Living Album saved? No
Liked this more than expected. Steady stream of smooth and driven grooves. Vocal gymanistics with feeling, nice horns. Yeah
I'm really not into that smooth jazzy style of music, and I didn't expect this to be good, but it is. Feels pretty fresh even today and I think it has a lot more going on than the last 80s British soul album we got on the list (Simply Red). Don't know how often I'd sit through the whole thing (again, not my style) but there's a time and place for this. I think I liked 'Hang On To Your Love' most.
Probably a 3.5 that I'll bump up to a 4. What a voice, what a vibe! I couldn't really pick out which songs stood out to me, but listening to this a couple of times was a lovely way to start my morning. This made me want to listen to other albums from Sade, which is usually a good sign.
very lush album. i would do anything sade told me to no questions asked
Good album and I like smooth operator but a bit on the soft side to listen to for a full album
Smooth Operator Your Love Is King Hang On To Your Love Why Can't We Live Together (cover of Timmy Thomas song from 1972)
I really really dislike smooth sax-heavy 80s R&B. Smooth Operator? Much too smooth for my liking.
The soundtrack to your middle school teachers wet dream. Smooth, sultry, and smug about it. Saxophones, silk sheets, and a perfectly chilled chardonnay.
Like Kenny G, It’s not for me
Restored my virginity so it could take it again. 5 Stars.
Everyone knows the first track. If you like it you'll also like the rest of the album which is somewhere between smooth jazz and an early idea of neo-soul.
nice
This is what I would imagine a hot girl listening to.
Smooth Operator is the best Steely Dan song that’s not a Steely Dan song
In no way is this enjoyable to me. Extremely pretentious, forced, and cringy.
• Fully realized sound and mood and several good singles • maybe it’s a victim of overplay, but I didn’t like it as much as when it first came out
yuuuuuuuppppp
thoughts: look. “smooth operator” will always slap but i was not aware of the rest of sade’s game. first four songs are an amazing run; later tracks are good but definitely album cuts. sade’s voice and the band’s sound melt together so well, though, that the vibes are impeccable. “i will be your friend” was a fun little ballad there at the back end. this is just fuckin cool, and effortlessly so songs: “smooth operator”, “your love is king”, “frankie’s first affair” rating: 8.2/10
Solid jazz/pop record, wouldn't listen to it again but I can respect it
This was good at first but got boring after a while. Idk
I was not previously familiar with the artist or album. This sounds like the music of a smoky jazz bar with a female lead vocal. Her voice is really nice and the band is smooth. This is not something I would ordinarily listen to but I did like hearing it so I wouldn't mind hearing it again.
Bardzo przyjemne. Spójny ze sobą album. 4/5
No
I have never been able to hear Sade since it came out without an almost allergic reaction, it’s just soo smooth. So when this came up thought easy 1 or 2. But, I know should judge each on its own as objective as possible on it'sown merit, but the other day a moderner take on Ms Sade ie big selling pop female star was the pick and shit the difference let me listen to this with open ears. This is organic and obviously come from the artist, the bands songs, choices and sound opposed to the by committee , focus group lead, production heavy, faux trite that generally masquerades as modern pop. Enjoyed this enough to return to throughday and it'smy biggest score change - from this morning opening bars of smooth operator a definite i hate this to by days end 4 bloody stars. This is actually pretty ageless and probably will continue to have more shelf life than the auto tuning of today, only taken me near 40 years to see its value.
Not really my kind of music. Too much "soul".
Don’t like
I was listening to a lot of electronica and punk/new wave when this was released. It took me until about 15 years later to actually listen to the full album. What a magnificent album it is. Just wonderful.
I didn’t enjoy this album as much as I wanted to. Sade is clearly a talented performer, but this wasn’t for me (dorky white guy).
point0.
Fuckin great
One song (I don't remember which) had nice vibes. Rest were shite
This one was pretty good! I'm not super into the genre. But there were moments I was bobbing my head and such. I really enjoyed the saxophone solos across the album. 5/10. Maybe 6/10 on a second listen.
Solid R&B album, enjoyable listen
hang on to your love was kinda interesting but the rest of it was just not for me. i can't listen to this kind of 80s soul and not cringe...its like it was designed to be a satire of itself
Ook weer zo'n mooi product van de jaren tachtig, deze übercoole loungedeunen van de zangeres en band met de bekende discrepantie tussen spelling en uitspraak van de naam. Bongo'tje, keyboardje, saxofoon en de warme damesstem. Als er iets mist, is het dan toch variatie: heb je het welbekende openingsnummer eenmaal gehoord, dan is de rest meer van hetzelfde. Desondanks klinkt dit ruim 40 jaar na dato nog steeds fris, en het is bovendien weer zo'n gevalletje van 'direct herkenbaar want alleen deze band klinkt zo', en dat is altijd een prestatie op zich. Dus vooruit.
Duidelijk geïnspireerd door Soul en Jazz, maar niet ontkennend in welke tijd ze leefden op het moment van opname. We beginnen met de hit Smooth Operator. In het begin maakt dat enthousiast. Maar eigenlijk raak ik het nummer halverwege wel zat. En dan wordt het vervolgd met het tergend saaie Your Love is King en door een Long Version van een nummer dat echt te saai is voor een lange versie. De eerste klanken voor 30 seconden in een loop gooien voegt buiten extra seconden echt niets toe. Ik word hier dus niet vrolijk van. Maar tegelijk ken zelf ik de eerste drie nummers al en is er weinig op de kwaliteit af te dingen. Ik snap dus best dat dit in de lijst staat.
Ik moest even wat moed verzamelen voor dit album, want sophistipop zit ik niet echt op te wachten over het algemeen. En met de openingshit weten we al een beetje wat ons te wachten staat. Maar goed, get it over with, zo snel mogelijk door de zure appel heen bijten. Het is in ieder geval geen hiphop zullen we maar zeggen. Dit is echt van die skyradiomuziek waar ik vroeger van moest kotsen. Ik dacht dat ik een hekel had aan jaren 80 muziek, maar daar ben ik wel van terug gekomen. De jaren 80 hebben namelijk echt wel veel toffe muziek voortgebracht. Deze Sade, dat is precies waar ik een gruwelijke hekel aan had in de jaren 80. Net niet lekkere gitaren, teveel getoeter gesynth en gepercussie, net geen fijne zang, maar zo'n lichthese vrouwenstem die door merg en been gaat. Gelukkig gooit ze er niet teveel gekkigheden doorheen zoals Joni, maar het ellenlang vasthouden aan 1 toon is net zo ergerniswekkend. Vooruit, zo slecht als ik doe voorkomen, is het ook weer niet. Misschien omdat ik me had voorbereid op het ergste. Maar ik blijf niet zo'n fan van de iets te trage jazzy 80s soulpop. Quiet storm kom ik tegen als genre ook, als ik doorklik op de smooth soul. En dat deed een belletje ergens ver weg rinkelen, omdat ik dat ergens als stijl heb opgeschreven. Na gebruik van ctrl-f blijkt het bij Anita Bakker, die een vergeetbare 3 kreeg, uiteraard. Want ik was het alweer vergeten. De oorwurm(en) van Sade gaan we helaas niet vergeten. Dus kan ik geen vergeetbare 3 geven. Dan maar een 2.
smooooooooth operatooooor this is so 80s but also not 80s at the same time this is nice nothing really like stands out though aside from your love is king really nice percussion and drumming and her singing is amazing obviously
nice sounding just not rly my vibe
Great album!
before my time, my parents and many adults in my life treasure this artist. i did not know it was a British band but that makes sense that there is more life going on in the music rather than solo driven pop. Smooth Operator is at this point a certified old school masterpiece still radio played today. The album is a testament to the 80's style of horns and mellow renditions of jazz/funk/r&b that was goin on in 1984. there is def more behind the vocals that gives a vibrance to the tapestry in the background to the singing. soft and cool is the theme, but there is energy on tracks like Hold on to Your Love. there is a range of ability transforming older methods of music to the modern era. When Am I Going to Make a Living is a good song with heart. its goin to be a 2/5 for me because of how often I would listen to it by myself, but if i was back at my parent's patio having BBQ dinner, we would for sure play it from start to finish. reminds me of Prince on some tracks. its a quick record, but achieves the atmosphere its going for in 44 min. the end starts to slow down a bit, but its par for the course with this mood. the last track is a slow buildup to a final message of peace that has a 60's funky vibe. for a debut album, its hot out of the gate and shows a refined handling of 1980's pop music.
Sade is the answer to the question: “What if Steely Dan was good?”
This is every bit as cheesy as I remember. Fine in the right setting I guess, coffee shop, wine and cheese bistro, high brow formal wear store, etc. Average but will give it the round up since the opening track had impact at the time. 2.5/5
Man, this one takes me back to high school. Yes it’s dated now with a pretty high cheese factor. Yes I owned it then, and yes I probably thought dropping the needle would make the chicks dig me. Note: that didn’t work. Once I realized that, I probably retreated to my room and played some sad Smiths records.
19.6MM monthly listeners on Spotify! I would’ve never guessed. This was good. Solid songs. Solid performances and vocals. Solid grooves. All around solid. Not a big stand out for me but can’t hate on anything. I’m also assuming Warrant took inspiration for their version of Cherry Pie.
This is fine but totally not my bag, baby. Just comes off as a bit cheesy and one note. Totally average in my mind. 2.5/5
Again, I find this project’s commitment to Latin-inspired music funny and a little confusing. But I ain’t complaining. Pretty cool little album. Feels a bit of its time, but I would have loved it when it came out and would have annoyed the hell out of my college roommate with it.
Was a nice soft album and smooth criminal is a classic
I enjoy the smooth, jazzy backing tracks, but her singing doesn’t do a lot for me. It’s not bad, just nothing exciting either.
Sade let's gooo!! My dad raised me on Sade and even if that wasn’t true this still is such a bop. You just can’t tell me you don’t feel anything when you listen to this album.
Smooth Operator // Your Love is King // Hang On to Your Love // When Am I Going to Make a Living // Cherry Pie // I Will Be Your Friend //
One of the greatest listens in a while, This album Sucks you into the music and makes you become in one with it, Such beautiful grooves.
Classic rock, good stuff but not my fave
Relaxing and calming
drei Smooth Operator
Very smooth. "Smooth Operator" is a classic and deserves to be one. "Sally" flys under the radar but was my 2nd favorite. Overall a great album, but not quite perfect.
I really like the blend of R&B, soul and funk, while still mainly being pop, I think her voice fits the atmosphere perfectly, and the vocals are obviously amazing. I quite like the lyrics and storytelling. Not too much else to say, I feel like this is on par if not better than some of the stuff on Michael Jackson Thriller, but this feels more authentic somehow, I guess everything fits together better. Not really any downsides, some songs it kinda feels like 'ok I get it', in the first 30 seconds, and nothing much else happens. Favourite songs: All but: when am I going to make a living. Overall around 7/10
Not something I'll come back to in a hurry but found it enjoyable enough to listen to, smooth production and vocals, nice blend of pop and jazz, with enough interesting songs to keep it fresh, perfect length too
Frickin great. Super sexy.
That's the rare case when the album's quality matches the label's name. One of the best debut albums for me.
Flawless and sophisticated. I didn't expect I would rate this with 5 stars, but it is the only logical conclusion to such an amazing album. PS: Yacht-rock and sophisti-pop are my kryptonite.
It's fine. Doesn't stand out.
Didn't mind it.
Not really my thing but she has an amazing voice no doubt
I’d give this album 3.5 if I could. I live her voice and style but I’d like some more good songs. 3
This was a pretty good album, with a really strong start, but to me it kind of blended together towards the end. Frankie's First Affair really stood out to me for the time signature changes, and a couple other songs had some memorable bits.
Not really for me
Mostly good. But a bit too mellow and bland for my taste.
ok album
Nice sax
When I was growing up in the 80s, I assumed being an adult meant wearing pastel coloured suits with the sleeves rolled up, driving a Ford Capri, drinking cocktails in wine bars and listening to Sade. Mercifully, most of these things never came to pass - I do like a bit of Sade though. In my mind this music is inescapably ’wine bar’, but the soulful, understated vocals and smooth, jazz-lite music have a pleasing effect. I enjoyed listening to it.
Off the cuff remark: Radio-friendly 80s dross pop-soul!? Standout Track: "Smooth Operator" Purely becuase of familiarity, living proof that being catchy doesn't mean great. Revisit?: I hope not. Perhaps that's a bit harsh - it's gentle and unremarkable.
Smooth music
Got it on vinyl its that good
smooth
I don't really have many notes for this one. She has a great voice and this is a very solid album. Mid 4.
Chad 4.5
3.5
I'm one of the 'I don't get this' listeners. I know people love Sade. But this just passes me by and I feel no connection or draw to it. It's fine at best.
Pretty good throughout, smooth, funky and jazzy with great vocals. A bit generic maybe but that’s fine, what lifts this from being too generic though is the epic saxophone. The only thing keeping this from being 4 stars is simply that there wasn’t enough sax. Favourites: smooth operator and hang on to your love. Overall, 6.5/10.
It’s a pretty solid album! I could see if the vast majority of the songs came on, I would appreciate hearing them on this one. It’s not 100% my style, but I love learning about more artists like this that I would never really listen to before. I think four out of five is good, a few tracks really stood out to me, but the music is a really good beat.
Nice, kind of a lounge feel, very smooth and sophisticated. The breathless soulful vocals really suit this style. For me the standout track was " Why can't we live together". It was sleek and jazzy and had a real emotional message
Smooth Operator :)
Adu's voice is husky smoky perfection next to a Rhodes and a sax. I love smooth jazz (aka elevator music) and this is no exception. Frankie's First Affair, I Will Be Your Friend, and Your Love is King stand out, as does the tight bass/guitar interplay in When Am I Going to Make a Living. Arrangements are tight and intricate, bassline and percussion set the groove alight. Percussion is giving quite a bit of Phil Collins though, especially in songs like Why Can't We Live Together. Only thing I'd like to see is her let that beautiful voice loose - it feels like she is keeping it reigned in to fit with the band's overall smoothness. But holy cracker I bet she could reach right inside you and touch your soul if she let it rip. I'll listen to this again for sure. 4 stars because the album was great but left me feeling like it could have been pushed much further emotionally.
"Diamond Life" is the debut studio album by English band Sade. Smooth soul and sophisti-pop are the Wiki-listed genres. Yeah, pretty the definition of those two in the 80's. After studying fashion design, British-Nigerian lead singer and songwriter Sade Adu began her musical career as a back-up singer with the British group Pride. Adu and three Pride members (Paul Anthony Cook (drums), Paul Denman (bass) and Stuart Matthew man (saxophone, guitar) left to form Sade and eventually got signed to Epic Records. Keyboardist Andrew Hale rounded out the group. The album had wide-spread critical acclaim and won the1985 Brit Award for Best British Album. Commercially, it did well hitting #2 in the UK and #5 in the US. A bossa nova beat, sultry sax and Adu's voice talking opens "Smooth Operator." She eventually sings in her chill style about a "player" collecting girls from LA to Chicago to London. A break with the sax, bass and bells. Yeah, this the song that pretty much defines that 80's sophisti-pop. The next song "Your Love Is King" features the sax a little more prominently and actually ventures a little more into the jazz area. Adu sings about the love her man has given her. "Hand On to Your Love" brings the groove with a funky bass and Matthewman replaces the sax with a guitar. You better hang on to your love after playing all your games. Three for three out of the gate with good songs. Sade Adu wrote the lyrics for "When Am I Going to Make a Living" on the back of a cleaning ticket when she was near financial rock bottom. Bass, piano, a wah-wah guitar and sax solo. This song reminded me a lot of the Style Council...I'm not sure if that's a positive or negative. The album closes with "Why Can't We Live Together." A long instrumental introduction with percussion, bass, sax and piano. Adu gives a more forceful performance as she laments why can't they live together like everyone else. A jazzy guitar gave me a Steely Dan vibe on this one. This is an album that still sounds great, especially for the time it was recorded...very chill. The producer Robin Millar and band do a great job mixing up the lead instruments and styles. Besides the soul-pop, there's elements of jazz, funk and Caribbean. Sade Adu tends to rely on a laid-back sultry approach but as she does in "Frankie's First Affair" has the ability to make her voice soar. All the musicians make timely contributions. I was expecting this album to sound somewhat dated but sue to the sound and song quality, it sounded fresh to me and is one worth going back for a listen.
News to me that Sade is a group and not just Sade! The band did an incredible job on this album, evoking a great jazzy feel. Smooth Operator as the opener was absolutely incredible, the first couple of songs were a fantastic introduction to the band. Sade's vocals are incredible!
Coast To Coast, L.A. To Chicago 1001 Albums Generator 49 (06/10/2025) Sade is a band? I really thought it was just the lady. Okay wow. I also have always associated Sade with the 90's because of Love Deluxe, but that was the only album they released that decade, with 3 of their albums coming from the 80's! Idk, this is probably not crazy to people that know more about music than I do but it's just blowing my mind. Diamond Life is Sade's debut album and was the best-selling debut by a British female vocalist until Leona Lewis (literally who) took that mantle in 2008. However, high sales do not necessarily imply high quality, so do Sade deserve this success and the critical acclaim that has followed them their whole career? Well, I will say that it's really amazing that Sade found their sound so immediately. I have noticed a trend with the debut albums on this list where the first song is just an incredible artistic statement that defines the sound of the artist for their careers. Led Zeppelin I, Songs Of Leonard Cohen, and In The Court Of The Crimson King come to mind. Diamond Life is no different, opening with the incredible Smooth Operator. This song is Sade's most popular for good reason. It showcases their sophisti-pop sound that they would help pioneer with a Latin flare and they manage to do smooth jazz in a way that feels unique and artistic. As someone that loves jazz, when I think of smooth jazz, I think of that curly haired fuck Kenny G. It turns out that smooth jazz is something that can be soulful and beautiful. Your Love Is King and Hang On To Your Love are also great. The former has a great 6/8 groove and almost sounds like Steely Dan at times. I don't know if that's crazy to say, but the sax solo just gives me Aja vibes. Hang On To Your Love is groovy and has a fantastic drum sound in particular. Cherry Pie is a funk-fest, which is again a sound that I do not associate with Sade in my head but damn they can groove. I could see someone arguing that this song gets stale, with its slower tempo and minimal changes in dynamics throughout, but I think that it is written and played masterfully enough that I don't have that problem with it. I do think that this album suffers at times from smoothness overload. This is an argument I also saw leveled against Steely Dan, but that album had enough technical playing that those arguments could be quickly dismissed with a simple "you just don't get it man". On Diamond Life, I think there is more of an argument to be made. Songs like Sally and Why Can't We Live Together don't add much unique to the tracklist, and they certainly don't earn over 5 minutes of runtime each. It would be hard to say that these songs are bad; they have catchy moments and sound great in the background, but I just wouldn't reach for some of the tracks here in particular. From Kind Of Blue to KIWANUKA to Diamond Life, I have been blessed the last few days with different styles of cool, smooth jazz (or jazz-inspired) music. While these three albums are very different in their approach and influence, it has been a great three days. Diamond Life deserves its praise, although it does drag at times for me. 4/5. Favs: Smooth Operator Your Love Is King Cherry Pie Least Fav: Sally
It took a lot of lifting to get past the mechanical 80s sheen, but there was some good music in here once we got past the colour-by-numbers love songs :) Wouldn't willingly listen again, but it was fine!
Cooler than cool
Smooth….
Absolutely timeless, like Sade’s beauty. Although, adulthood has had a lot less gambling in Monaco casinos in ball gowns and jetting between New York and London on the Concorde than “Smooth Operator” led me to believe at 15.
Sexy and smooth 4.5/5
absurdo. clássico. cinema!
Beautiful
5/5 This album is a silk robe for your brain. It’s jazz-pop with the soul of a nocturnal panther—slinky, calm, and unbothered by your chaos. Every track sounds like it was mixed inside a martini glass. Favorite Track: “Smooth Operator” The way that saxophone glides in? That’s not music, that’s emotional dry-cleaning. I aspire to this level of composed elegance. It’s what I’d play while pretending to read philosophy on a rooftop during a rainstorm. This is the music you listen to when you’re emotionally intelligent and hot, which I would be if I had unresolved father issues.
Fantastisk stemme og rytme, elska frankies first love affair
SMOOOOOOTH OPERATOOOOOOR🥵🥵🥵 Et behagelig og vibe album. Mye lignande, spesielt i bass åg perk, men di fusste sangene kule og står ut ift kverandre😊
this sounds how floating on your back in perfectly warm water feels. fav tracks: when am i gonna make a living; frankie’s first affair; cherry pie; smooth operator; hang on to your love; sally
i love this album. even though listening through it for the first time in awhile i realized it gets very repetitive after a few songs. however it almost kinda works because it put me in a trance because of how soothing it was, so maybe not necessarily a bad thing. but really only a few songs that i'd return to (and it's the same ones as i had going into this relisten).
Fairly inoffensive soul music. I’d play it in the background and enjoy the instrumentals.
3/6
Didn’t enjoy it at all
I get the comments about its overly silky smooth feel, but this really is quite enjoyable to listen to
Listenable but not really to my taste.
This is actually my least favorite Sade record. It's still good, but it's her first and I think it's weird that it's the only one on this list from someone who made nothing but great albums her entire career. If this was ANY other Sade record it'd get a 5!!! Why this one!!!
SMOOOOOOTH OPERATOOOR
Call me generic, say I dont love music, call me tacky, but thisbis Crack. I love this shit. It was popular and still is popular because its good. One of my favorites from this challenge so far after 50. What can I say. Neo jazz and jazz in general is just really good.
smoooooooooooooth operatorrrrrr
Too much saxophone.
Jazz Pop, 1984 -> 4
Souly pop record that seems like solid background music. Lacks some spice though.
Great album, I really enjoyed this.
Great voice. Another album where it seems like it's just repeating the same song though
Feels very much like this was the coffee table CD of 1984 - for those early adopters who already owned a CD player - which, I'm assuming, any self respecting Sade fan would have done.
If my son asked “Daddy what was a Yuppie?” I’d reply “Son, it was someone who listened to Sade in the mid 80’s” Extremely smooth, nice, but ultimately not my thing and too uninspiring. I’m making it 3 stars because it really does define a certain sound of the era
One of those: "hey I know that song!" artists. A little too smooth for my tastes, but still a solid album.
Smooth and sexy can be used to describe this record. Most, if not all, songs include a "sexy" sax accompanied by a bumping bass line. A highlight for me on this album was that saxophone performance. I feel like it just added a little extra to each track. The only lowlight I could find was that the tracks sounded too similar to each other. Favourite Track(s): Your Love Is King Least Favourite Track(s): Frankie's First Affair
Enjoyable
Great vocals over smooth r&b/jazz beats