Diamond Life

Fantastic album, one of my fave vinyls to put on in the background, the whole album is just cooL. This album sounds so good on good speakers / a good pair of headphones - Sade has a powerful voice and the instruments are great throughout, love the sax 😎 Fav song gotta be smooth operator (cherry pie runner up)

I'm sure this is really well crafted and she's got a wonderful voice but it's just not for me, Clive

...meh. Not my jam.

I wish the heart of the MAGA movement was solely focused on bringing back saxophones as a centerpiece of songwriting.

I mostly know Sade from references from 90s rap songs as baby making music and that pretty much checks out. Not a huge fan for the most part, but I did like “hang on to your love”.

2.9 Liked it more than I though I would have. Smooth jazz/elevator music at times but i thought it was fairly well done

This is one heck of an album. The beginnings of Sade, with some of the greatest hits on here. The music is so sensual and smooth it unbelievable. I think this group was one of the first to combine jazz, r&b and ophisticated pop. All of the tracks bring out Sades voice, as well as the nice and laid back instrument section, which provides a musical background, without being boring. Including nice bass lines and drum fills. I'm assuming other albums of the group are also on the list, so I resisted to listen further.

Sade - Diamond Life Really good smooth album from sade, first impression was how catchy and melodic it sounded, i really have no other words to explain this, this is really good! 1.- Smooth Operator = 9/10 2.- Your Love Is King = 9/10 3.- Hang On to Your Love = 7/10 4.- Frankie's First Affair = 8/10 5.- When Am I Going to Make a Living = 8/10 6.- Cherry Pie = 9/10 7.- Sally = 9/10 8.- I Will Be Your Friend = 9/10 9.- Why Can't We Live Together = 7/10 FINAL SCORE: 8.3/10

282/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑

Usually a big fan of Sade (which I just found out was a band), but this, while undoubtedly silky smooth, was a little too monotonous for an extended listen. Love Deluxe is my preferred output from them.

Very easy listening

Óskiljanlegt að Smooth operator sé ekki langmest spilaða lagið á þessari plötu, það er langbesta lagið hér. Hitt er notalegur filler með næs rödd og bassa. Solid þristur.

Incredible vocals. Smooth rhythms. Sultry saxophones. What's not to love?

Mid, couldn't get through the whole thing.

....

Nice music but definitely not my cup of tea, maybe if in right mood I could dig it more.

She was in the David Bowe zone of unapproachably cool. A great album. Inimitable sound.

feels very similar to everything else like it

One good track

Crazy vibey. I think Smooth Operator kind of stands out above the rest of the album (so far at least). This is good, but aside from that song, it's not particularly great. I think I'm just not overly impressed with her voice. She shines in Smooth Operator and has a few other great moments, but she's otherwise the lowlight of the album. The band is fantastic and does a really great job existing not in any particular genre but blending a few styles together. Some of the lyrics are also odd? Forced? I'm not sure how to describe it, but they definitely aren't coming naturally. Favorite Song(s): Smooth Operator

smooth and enjoyable but no strong thoughts!

man, i wanted to like this album but it's just SO SMOOTH. like it's been polished down with a fine grit sandpaper until there's just nothing interesting or unique left. the two big singles are definitely the highlights here; after that it's just a slog of similar-sounding smooth jazz. it's not bad, just not something i'd really ever want to listen again. glad this works for other people outside of the context of a dated hotel lobby though. favorites: smooth operator, your love is king

Smooth and sultry, like cool drinks on a tropical evening. I love this album, but then, I always was a Sade fan. Five stars and it gets a place in my Tidal Library.

2.5 the production was really good but the content was a bit to smooth for me

Singer has a lovely voice which made me happy. Nice chill vibes but some of the songs got repetative after a while. Don't think I'll listen again. Favourite track: Why can't we live together

В моей жизни давно не было 5 на 1001, а Шаде охуенная. За все невключенные Love Deluxe! Лучшая песня - Hang On to Your Love.

It was nice easy listening, had it on for ages.

Definitivt en av de bättre soul album jag hört. Fin röst känns inte som hon gör till sig, kan fortfarande kännas långsamt ibland men de första låtarna är långt ifrån det

This is one of those times where, like, I know Sade and can sing the chorus of "Smooth Operator" but I literally have never actually listened to that song intentionally or even in full. Way to permeate the culture Sade! This was some eaaaaaasy listening.

This music is very smooth, but I prefer my music to be bumpy.

Very smooth, I like it.

Not my cup of tea

Best songs at start

Incredible singing, and smooth sound throughout the whole album. Unfortunately, I didn't connect with this album, and it felt a bit too slow for me.

The lyrics are really cheezy but the vocals and instrumentals are great.

Classic

This is completely not my style of music, but it’s really good. The band is great and her voice is top notch. If I was into this music, it’s a 5 but just because it’s a complete style that doesn’t really work for me it loses a bit on my scale. 3.95

The perfect soundtrack for mindlessly browsing the clothes section at a Sears in the 1980s. Not a genre for me and this album does nothing to change that. 3.5/10 (1.75/5)

Great voice, but her album felt too much of its time. Too cliche 80s R&B sax sounding.

Solid Sade sound

The mellow groove is very nice.

Felt style and samples were a bit repetitive, even if the bass is insanely good

Nice voice…..smooth jazz vibes……great scene setting music…..I enjoyed it.

A nice sexy time

2.67

JFC, how many babies were born 9 months after this album came out. If you don’t like this, you don’t like sex. This album is probably called diamond life due to all the engagement rings people threw at her during her shows.

Awesome, soft

Pretty good, but not amazing. No individual songs stood out to me but it had a very consistent vibe without getting boring

godt album

Just chill to perfection. Buttery smooth vocals and music. Not much else to say, I could put this album on at any point and have a good time with whatever played.

Love this album. Just smooth and easy and romantic and lovely. Sade’s voice is a soothing balm. The perfect album for a date night in or relaxing on the couch or going for a drive or basically anything calm. Well deserved spot on the list

Great album. I liked it from start to finish.

I enjoyed this one, it was smooth, soulful and full of emotion. Love and loss were oozing out everywhere. Her voice is a little different and just seeps into every pore.

This is so heartfelt and romantic. The grooves are sublime and I really enjoyed playing bass to it. It's not overcomplicated and the grooves just flow. Great song writing! favorites: Smooth Operator, Hang On to Your Love, Cherry Pie, I Will Be Your Friend.

Damn. That smooth as melted chocolate voice. Those sensual grooves. Sade doesn’t have anything less than a 5 star album, including Diamond Life, and it isn’t even their best. Her band is ABSOLUTELY one of the tightest and most original from the 80’s. I have to admit, I didn’t enjoy this album beyond Smooth Operator and Cherry Pie when I first listened to it decades ago, but after buying their entire discography on vinyl and forming an intimate relationship to them, Diamond Life proves itself to be the best possible introduction to this unmatched set of musicians. It feels like deep night flickering neon in a 1984 city. For as beloved as Sade is, it’s interesting that very few have since matched the quality of this vibe. Prince could and did do it but didn’t do it as often as he should have. 90’s Rap and R&B strive to groove like this and end up doing it differently and in their own amazing way. Others who try just come off sounding very clearly like they are ripping off Sade. Hell, they’ll admit it and then go on a long verbal love sesh about their intense infatuation with Sade. Nowadays, on the rare occasion when they release new music, their fan base collectively loses their shit, which happened recently with their new song called Young Lion, dedicated to Sade’s Trans son. This project is great when it sends a reminder that incredible bands like this exist amongst all the hubris out there. At the end of all of it, EVERYday could be a Sade day and the world would be happy and harmonious.

This is so super silky smooth. She has a very warm and sensual voice, and the music feels almost like it envelops you, and it's something I found myself getting a little lost in even. Favorites were Smooth Operator, Hang on to Your Love, and Cherry Pie.

Beautiful voice. I have friends who love it. But not my jams.

Smooooooooth.

me ha gustado la vibe soul r&b, buena para cuando te estas preparando para salir con una copa de vino y quieres sentirte sexy

This is OK. Sure, I get why it's seen as easy to listen to, but at least it has some swagger to it. Maybe it helps that it's my era, so I can put images to Smooth Operator. But I quite enjoyed this and would, frankly, listen to it again as an album.

Smoooooooooth operatorrrrrrr. Why does “Smooth Operator” sound weird on this album? Was the radio version that I’ve come to know and love a different mix entirely? Weird. This album rules, Sade rules. It’s smooth and it’s groovy. There’s so much I could say, but I’m sure it’s already been said a thousand times. 10/10

Wtf is this version of "Smooth Operator"???? It almost sounds like a different vocalist doing a Sade impersonation. This bothered me so much I did some googling and it seems that indeed some weird, different version of the song has been substituted on streaming services for 'Diamond Life' but the original version is still on 'The Best of Sade' compilation, listed as the "single version". Wtf? Putting aside how very annoyed I am about this, "Smooth Operator" is still an all-time banger. Throughout this album there are fantastically groovy, soulful arrangements, smoldering solos, and sexy, sultry vocals from Sade herself. The keyboard/percussion solo about halfway through "Hang On to Your Love", the beautiful sax playing throughout with a perfect accompaniment from trumpets on "Frankie's First Affair", the slow burn of "Sally"... this album is just full of excellent little moments. It's a faultless album imo and pretty damn close to perfection within the confines of 80s pop/rnb/soul/lounge music/whatever. 10/10

Easy listening. Very easy. 6/10

A reminder that the expectation of bongo drums is far less exciting than the reality of bongo drums.

Welcome to elevator hell. Hope you like the music.

It’s not Sade’s fault that Smooth Operator reached an Eye of the Tiger level of ripeness for irony. This album offers plenty to appreciate, including an impeccable commitment to the vibe. The best Sade album is still Love Deluxe, though. (No Ordinary Love: a jam.)

Had zero idea what to expect but I enjoyed this. Frankie's First Affair and Sally sound like the soundtrack to a romcom with a noir detective as a main character. Not sure how much I'll reach for this in the future but discovering it was fun and interesting.

I didn’t expect to like this, but was pleasantly surprised. Production is okay for 1984. Sound is smooth as silk. Too smooth? Not sure I’d just sit and listen to it, but it was perfect to throw on while I was sanding some walls.

Is this the smoothest album ever made? The answer is yes. Two stars are automatically removed for such a heavy use of saxophone, but one star is added back for the thrusty bass playing on the lusty “Cherry Pie”.

Man, sexy sax and electric piano are just a little too smooth sometimes. I guess once you’re old enough to appreciate Steely Dan, you kinda have to open your mind. The most 80s production I’ve ever heard. Surprised it’s not a Quincy Jones project. Nice and sexy, perfectly pleasant, not something I imagine I’ll come back to though?

Boring. Except for the first song. The rest all sound the same to me. Kinda bland elevator music. But it makes good background music while doing something else.

## In-Depth Review of *Diamond Life* by Sade Sade's debut album, *Diamond Life*, released in 1984, marks a significant moment in music history, blending elements of soul, jazz, and pop into a cohesive and sophisticated sound. The album not only showcases Sade Adu's distinctive vocal style but also reflects the cultural and musical landscape of the mid-1980s. This review will explore the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence while also discussing its pros and cons. ### ****Lyrics The lyrics of *Diamond Life* delve into themes of love, heartbreak, and social commentary. Each song tells a story that captures the complexities of relationships and personal experiences. - **Love and Longing**: Tracks like "Your Love Is King" and "Smooth Operator" explore romantic relationships with a blend of passion and melancholy. "Smooth Operator," in particular, presents a narrative about a charming yet manipulative lover, encapsulating the duality of attraction and danger. - **Social Commentary**: Songs such as "When Am I Going to Make a Living" address broader societal issues, including economic struggles and gender dynamics. The lyrics reflect a sense of disillusionment with the promises of success in a capitalist society. - **Character Studies**: The song "Sally" serves as a poignant character study, portraying the life challenges faced by women in society. Sade's ability to create relatable characters adds depth to her storytelling. ### ****Music Musically, *Diamond Life* is characterized by its smooth jazz influences combined with pop sensibilities. The instrumentation features prominent bass lines, lush saxophone melodies, and subtle percussion that create an atmospheric soundscape. - **Instrumentation**: The album employs a variety of instruments, including saxophones, keyboards, and brass sections. This rich instrumentation contributes to the album's overall sophistication. - **Vocal Delivery**: Sade's vocal style is often described as sultry and aloof, enhancing the emotional weight of the lyrics. Her voice effortlessly glides over the smooth musical arrangements, creating an intimate listening experience. - **Production Quality**: Produced by Robin Millar, the album showcases polished production techniques that were ahead of their time. The mixing balances Sade's vocals with the instrumental backdrop, ensuring clarity and richness in sound. ### ****Themes *Diamond Life* encapsulates several themes that resonate deeply with listeners: - **Ambivalence in Relationships**: Many songs reflect on the complexities of love—its joys and sorrows. The duality of desire versus caution is prevalent throughout the album. - **Socioeconomic Commentary**: The lyrics often critique societal norms and expectations, particularly regarding wealth and success. This theme is especially evident in tracks like "When Am I Going to Make a Living." - **Empowerment vs. Vulnerability**: Sade explores the tension between empowerment and vulnerability in relationships. While her characters often seek love and connection, they also grapple with feelings of insecurity and loss. ### ****Influence The impact of *Diamond Life* on music cannot be overstated. It played a pivotal role in shaping the genre known as sophisti-pop—a blend of pop music with jazz influences characterized by its smooth production and sophisticated lyrical content. - **Cultural Significance**: The album emerged during a time when British pop was transitioning from punk to more polished sounds. Sade's unique fusion helped define a new era in music that embraced both commercial appeal and artistic integrity. - **Legacy**: *Diamond Life* has influenced countless artists across genres. Its seamless blend of styles paved the way for future acts to explore similar musical territories while maintaining emotional depth in their work. ### ****Pros and Cons #### Pros - **Innovative Sound**: The fusion of jazz, soul, and pop creates a unique listening experience that remains timeless. - **Strong Lyrical Content**: The storytelling aspect is compelling, offering both personal reflections and broader societal critiques. - **Iconic Tracks**: Songs like "Smooth Operator" and "Your Love Is King" have become classics that continue to resonate with audiences today. #### Cons - **Pacing Issues**: Some listeners may find the album's slow tempo challenging or monotonous over time. - **Perceived Lack of Variety**: Critics have noted that while the sound is polished, it can sometimes feel overly uniform or lacking in dynamic range compared to more experimental works from the era. ### Conclusion In summary, *Diamond Life* by Sade stands as a monumental debut album that blends lyrical depth with sophisticated musicality. Its exploration of love, societal issues, and personal narratives resonates across generations. While it may have its pacing issues for some listeners, its innovative sound and emotional richness solidify its place as one of the defining albums of the 1980s. As Sade continues to influence artists today, *Diamond Life* remains an essential part of music history—a testament to the power of art to convey complex human experiences through song.

Smooth operator🕺🕺🕺

Smooth beats, the vibe reminds me of a female (but more/better singing) Santana. Includes the iconic Smooth Operator.

Smoother than peanut butter and almost as good.

best album, no skips, i have been meaning to listen to it for a while and truly like top 10 albums imo

2+ Stars (6/15)

A few years ago I saw an old friend and she was so excited by this artist “Sadie” who she had discovered. She put it on and it was Sade. I’m still not sure if she was joking. I get not knowing how to pronounce Sade, but why wouldn’t she have gone with /sayd/? How do people now think Sade is pronounced, what without the help of a radio DJ introduction?? Anyway, this was hot. Really enjoyed it.

Big fan of Sade and super familiar wit this album , not my fav Sade but no one does smooth quite like Sade … soulful and poppy and beautiful … a stable in my rotation

It was fine

Favourite tracks: your love is Kung; smooth operator; cherry pie; sally; when am I going to make a living

A magnificent woman and a magnificent band to boot. No one has ever managed to make the smooth, sultry, loungey, proto-downtempo sound feel as good to listen to as Sade. Is it their best album? Probably not. But it is seminal.

I have no clue what y'all are smoking because this album is absolute shit. It's just about everything wrong with '80s music. It's lame, it's not deep at all, and the only reason people kept listening to it was because it was on the radio. I can't even describe it, but there is something completely wrong with the sound. It's bad and so so so so so cheesy.

Decent background music but gets annoying when I pay attention to it. I've always really disliked Smooth Operator.

Objectively decent but I don't fw jazz.

This is really good. Its a vibe

Sade has a rich deep voice, but the accompaniment is just so cheesy late 80s synths, drums, and sax that I found myself skipping a lot of the songs before they ended. Redeemed a bit with a few tracks, including the last one: Why Can't We Live Together. Feel bad giving this a 2, so let's call it a 2.6/5

Passelia musiikkia, ei jää soittoon, mutta ei huonoa lain.

This soul and smooth jazz style is right up my alley. The first track alone makes it a real gem. I listen to this type of music quite often.

Tolles Album mit einem Hauch von Soul und Jazz auf einem poppigen Fundament - und mit einer coolen Stimme (mir gefällt sie schon seit 40 Jahren!). Als Debut definitiv hörenswert und toll gemacht!

Mit einem Riesensong startet die Platte und wird dann immer schläferiger. Mal hören ja, regelmässig nein.

Very smooth, I really enjoyed dancing around to this in the house.

4/5

Ergens weet ik dat dit album deels omhooggehouden wordt door de pilaren die 80s muziek onweerstaanbaar goedkoop en zoetsappig maken, wat in deze generator al meermaals een afknapper was. Maar mijn god, ik smelt weg bij dit album. Het is extreem binnen de lijntjes en verfijnd, en de saxofoontjes zijn bijna een persiflage op jazz-acts van weleer, maar geen van deze factoren doen afbreuk aan de hemelse sensatie als ik haar (en hun) muziek hoor. Sterker nog, ik noem een muziekact zelden perfect, maar in het genre waarin zij zich bewegen (ergens moeiteloos tussen cheesy pop en sensuele R&B), is Sade feilloos en volmaakt. En Sade Adu's adembenemende voorkomen past perfect in dat plaatje. ''Diamond Life'' grossiert in elegantie en subtiele grooves, en voelt ondanks die typische 'slick' 80s sound ook telkens een tikkie mysterieus. Het begin- en middenstuk zijn om door een ringetje te halen. 8,5/10 Highlights: Smooth Operator Your Love Is King Hang On to Your Love Cherry Pie

Diamond Life is 40 jaren jong. Want hoe goed doen de bangers van Sade het nog in de huidige tijd. Het is een blend van alles wat guilty én goed is uit de 70's en 80's. Alleen van de saxofoon krijg ik soms een klein mondbraakje, maar die slik ik wel weer in. Kant B matcht niet de kracht van kant A, want die kan bijna integraal in de party-playlist voor aanstaand 30-feestje. 8/10 Highlights Smooth Operator Hang on to Your Love

Diamond Life is superb—Sade's voice, the arrangement, and the songs are all perfect for that kind of music. Usually not my genre, but Sade is the great exception.

Great album. Honestly 5/5. Every track is a banger.

Good

some decent tunes on here but i didn't like the album as a whole

smooth, funky, fun, jazzy 7/10

Solid

I need to be in a dark smokey jazz club swaying gently with a negroni in hand NOW

It grew on me as I listened to it more, but feels like the quintessential elevator music.

Wasn't familiar with Sade before. Hearing this as a debate album is astonishing, as she/they already have a sophisticated, established sound which I have learned to be instrumental in shaping the jazz/pop that defined a good chunk of the 80s. A great album, but the songs begin to sound repetitive about halfway through, with Smooth Operator being the clear standout.

Very smooth.

Smooth and soulful album with the song "Smooth Operator" to stand out.

Kann man immer mal wieder hören zum Runterkommen

This album made me pregnant and I'm a man

Absolutely beautiful! Fav song: "Hang On to Your Love"

Like a lovely cup of coffee this!

I had no idea what to expect coming in. I've heard a lot of current artists (Kendrick, Frank Ocean) site Sade as an inspiration. I expected maybe more of an R&B tilt to this album. I was pleasantly surprised, its kinda funky and groovy, but I don't really know how to take this album. There's time that it feels like they set out to make the most jamming elevator music, but then there songs with a more poppy slant that end up feeling really jazzy. At times songs feel like they're just fluff, but I'm not sure how true that is. Lyrics don't seem to completely matter, and for being sort of poppy it's wild how some of these songs are structured. Sade doesn't seem to follow the pop music: verse, hook, verse, hook, bridge(?) hook. Instead some songs feel like they have 3 different hooks, or no hooks. Because of the atypical song structures, I'm not sure if this album is deep or just fluff. Songs flow and evolve, almost making them feel more raw, real, deep. Many listeners turn to lyrics to bring everything together, and some of the lyrics feel like they're just there to occupy the space. The last song is good, almost doesn't feel like it completely fits, but the previous two songs are amazing- they have almost a smoky jazz club vibe to them. I liked this way more than expected, but still don't really know how I feel about it. It was probably the most interesting thing we've heard so far. I'd rate it mid 3's, maybe higher after another listen.

Easy listening, but there wasn’t anything I heard outside of Smooth Operator that would really keep me coming back.

That saxophone on Smooth Operator was steamy as hell. Those horns here were oozing 80’s sex appeal, like this album could have been the soundtrack for an episode of the Red Shoe Diaries. 3.5 ⭐️

This is nothing I'd every seek out personally. "Smooth Operator" is the only song I really knew by Sade, which I could really take or leave, so was wondering if it would all be like that. I liked it a lot more than I expected I would...It ended up being a pretty decent listen for a cloudy Friday morning. Glad to hear a few upbeat tracks: "Hang On to Your Love", "When Am I Going to Make a Living", "Cherry Pie" have some fun grooves. 3.49 stars.

Not really my cup of tea

If Beige was an album.

I like the funkier ones.

Bad representation of hip hop females. Kind of lack luster lyricism and mediocre beats. Would have been a better album with just the saxophone…

I don't think I've ever heard a bad Sade song. They're so cool and her voice is so interesting.

This is great album. It opens wild with two bangers "Smooth operator" and "Your love is king". Atmosphere of album is very sensual with a lot beautiful "feminine energy". Themes are mostly romantic and about male-female relations.

Another surprise 5 star. This was funky and jammy

The first half was great, then the second half was definitely a lot weaker and became quite a drag. Also while Sade's vocals was not really my thing - the instrumentals kinda made up for it though. I'd say 3.5/5 Fav tracks: First 3

Hated this in the 80s, upon relistening to it I hate it now. Safe has a wonderful voice but beautiful vocals over Muzak is still Muzak Someone wasted this woman's talent

A good listen. Went back to it many times to try and form my opinion. Despite enjoying it, finding it hard to recall too many tracks beyond the big ones.

Jazzy, lounge sound with smooth vocals. Not my favorite music but nothing negative to say. Good easily turn on for any moment to have some background noise

Almost tropical With a calming seduction Breezy melodies

Попса, ничего особенного, но биты неплохие

- Sade Adu is the lead singer of this band Sade, formed from their previous band Pride, with which Sade and the guitarist/saxophonist and bassist left to record together under the new name - They created this gem of pure 80s soul - This is a really relaxing album, that I'm sure I've heard several tracks from in the past - Are any tracks "Bangers"? I'm not sure, Smooth Operator is pretty kicking, but this album isn't a party pumping one, nor one for the mosh pits. - I think this is a solid album that hits all the right places for a Soul/RnB album from the 80s

Surprisingly easy listening. Got me through Monday morning.

Nice sound, but every single song sounds exactly the same.

Start the fireplace and grab a glass of wine. It's Sade time!

This ain’t it

I saw a review saying some people just don’t get it, and I don’t really get it. Favorite song: Smooth Operator

She looks as good on this album cover as the songs on the album - absolutely stunning I love me some saxophone. Adds to the overall atmosphere of the album I thought the absolute banger of Smooth Operator would set too high of a standard for the rest of the songs to hit and the first couple of songs after that made my fears come true. It got to Frankie's First Affair and it came back to the highs of Smooth Operator and didn't come down again after that

I absolutely love how yuppie this sounds despite the fact that it’s a blatant middle finger to the yuppie lifestyle. Also it fucking grooves!!! Again, I’m a sucker for sophisti-pop, but this is so much more complex and textured, it’s kind of hard to argue against. Just because it’s a bit smooth and not in your face doesn’t mean it’s not masterful. When this came up for me, I was a bit surprised, because I personally would’ve expected any other Sade album than Diamond Life. But after listening to this record, and then subsequently listening to both Strong Than Pride and Love Deluxe (aka the Sade albums I knew I loved), I have to admit, Diamond Life might be their best record. Then again, Sade are pretty consistent, and we absolutely could have made room for one more of their records, at the very least.

This album was not for me

Sexy-time music. I'll take it. Easy listening R&B funky jazz pop. Great listen.

Solid soft rock/pseudo-jazz album. Sade's vocals are always mesmerizing and her backup band is as tight as it gets. Even the non radio hits are well done.

Deserves just as much respect as the incredible "love deluxe" here we have the soothing, seductive and sleek jazzy backing that is as cutting edge as it is influenced

En nu heb ik de rest van de dag Gladde Exploitant in m'n hoofd. Lekker dan. Een enorm glad en gelikt 80's pop album met smooth jazz en r&b-achtige invloeden. Het is ontzettend duidelijk uit welk decennium dit komt, maar het zit zo goed in elkaar dat ik het volledig accepteer. Een soort George Michael maar dan net iets minder fout. Of nog steeds fout maar niet vies-fout ofzo. Ik vind dit voor een keer best een oké album. En ik sta erom bekend dat ik moeilijk doe over de 80's. Kwaliteitsalbum wat mij betreft. Al is de tweede helft wel een beetje een herhaling van zetten. Drie sterren, maar in een gekke bui had ik hier zomaar op de vier kunnen rammen. Smooooooodoppareeedaaaaaa Smoooooooooood oppareeedaaaaa Smooooooodoppareeedaaaaaa Smoooooooooood.... oppareeedaaaaa!!!

Smooth

2.5/5

Music so sweet to the ears that it will instantly convert any smooth soul skeptic into a believer.

She’s so fucking cool

Jesus. Well. This could be a massive hit with me. Her vocals were always so cool to me and for whatever reason, even though it’s straight up pop, I feel this one could be in my wheelhouse?? Let me begin my diamond life. Take it away Sade. The entrance music for Alberta professional wrestling cologne model/big hoss Fabian Ribeiro brings us into the album. This feels like I’m in a waiting room, but it’s the waiting room for heaven. A deity dances out to the lobby and lifts me via cloud into my eternal bliss. It’s simply too good. The only issue is, I knew I’d like this one. Where will we go from here?? Staying with the super smooth. While the first operator boasted of his relative smoothness, it continues with the king of love or the love that would be king. Whatever. This is pretty decent. God. It’s so nice. I use the word “grating” a lot in my reviews, and in this one, I’ll be using “smooth” a lot. Not simply because of the mega hit lead off track, but because that is what this album is. It has a warm production quality, it’s a little stark and it’s not beating you over the head with pop sensibilities. It has a minimalistic charm. This song rules. Well. We can’t be perfect. I can’t place it, but I feel like there was a show or movie, where some voice sings what’s happening in the show. Did Seinfeld do that for a bit? Anyway, this was a miss. Uhhh a liveable wage anthem??? Oh. No. She says put the blame on no one else. Boooo. This is a “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” type beat. Lyrical equivalent to “uhh maybe if you make coffee at home, you’ll be able to climb out of the sewer we errr I mean you put yourself in.” Still. The music is decent. Getting back to smoothness. This is an excellent radio friendly pop song. Mellow, yet energetic. The lyrics aren’t painful. The instruments provide something and most of all, it’s not grating to the ear. Fantastic song. Debates will rage forever about who had the better “Cherry Pie” song. Was it it our noble Sade, or glam rock fellows, “Warrant”? You be the judge! (It’s Sade). Put your hands together for Sally everybody. A sex work positive slay? I have no idea man. I am not enough of a literary genius to dissect the abstract themes of applauding Sally for housing a heroin fiend father and potentially banging the fellow. Let’s all applaud Sadé. Get to the part about common law marriages. I want to hear about domestic bliss, not this organ solo. Ok there we go. I just had to yell about my love of cohabitation. Oh and also, no more war. No matter what colour. We are Sadé’s brothers. And isn’t that why we’re all here? New brothers. Sade/Sadé brought it big time. The opener rips and there are sparkling points throughout. A few clunkers here and there but for a pop album, this was a trance-like hand dance through the minimalistic fraternity of this Diamond life. Continue to operate smoothly Sade, and shine on you crazy diamond. 3.5 HIGHLIGHTS: Smooth Operator, Hang on to Your Love, Cherry Pie

Immaculate, beautiful production, I love the way the songs are built, and while there isn't a ton of variety, that defining sound is perfected to a tee. It's smooth jazz with sex and soul, and that is a very good thing. Why Can't We Live Together is the perfect song to cover in this style.

Fantastic classic from Sade. Hang On To Your Love is actually my favourite.

Wijs album! Kende enkel Smooth Operator (maar da's niet eens het meest gestreamde nummer?). Een ideaal album om op te viben. Dit zie ik me nog eens luisteren op een nachtelijke rit na een optreden ofzo. 3.9

Solid pop but nothing special for me

This album is fantastic. I like that I didn't' realize that it was smooth operator until halfway through. The track is that good, one of my favorite single tracks of all time. it's followed by 'Your love is King' and 'Hang onto your love' which are also fantastic and groovy and danceable. Cherry Pie is also amazing. The last three tracks are more forgettable though the final track is mostly a very cool jungle instrumental with some beautiful percussion. This whole thing is so groovy, so danceable, so cool. This is the kind of music I really like driving with. It makes me want to put my sunglasses down and walk through the streets with my hips just barely swaying to the beat. These tracks are fantastically enjoyable and really make me yearn for a time where disco and soul were more prominent. Makes me want to go to a soul club. Maybe I will

It's interesting that the group made their whole "brand" around the singer, because the rest of the instrumentals are all really equally impressive. I know smooth jazz/pop has a reputation for being corny or generic but there is some serious talent on display in this album. The saxophone and the bass stand out but the keys and drums carry the rhythm as well. I like that the songs mostly have a solo/instrumental break in them in addition to the vocal parts to showcase all that. The vocals are unique; she's got a great low voice that fits well with the overall sound of "dark lounge possibly host to crime enterprises" band. "Smooth Operator" is such a banger that I'm kind of annoyed it's the first song on the album. It's funny that it's nowhere near the amount of streams as "Your Love is King" on Spotify - the latter is not anywhere near as good of a song. "Cherry Pie" is another really good one and somehow doesn't sound as long as it's runtime would suggest. I was surprised by this. This is the precursor to the 90's wave of european trip hop which I really like so I guess it isn't too much of a surprise. You do have to get over yourself when listening to it though or it's going to sound like elevator music.

ive been thinking of what to say for hours but tbh im prob not in the right headspace for writing and also this is just about the most self-evidentially good music i can think of! if u share any values with western popular music, uve got something to chew on here...rich and melodic and polished and authentic and above all else constantly Touching. arrangements and vocal performances that feel like some kind of logical endpoint of those entire concepts, and yet idk its always human and approachable in all its mastery, never feels alienating or like its Above You even as u have to admire it. i cant even imagine what set of life circumstances could set u up to not love this besides like, racism HFJKFHSJKFSHKJ

Could be good depending on mood.

Weird reviews on here like saying this is "too smooth" as if that's a negative. Also hating on the sax. Insanity. I really enjoyed the album overall. When I listen to Sade I'm not expecting Mudhoney's raw, noisy sound.

Didn't annoy me as much as a certain Pixie warrior. I always liked her voice, but kind of made fun of it back in the day. I had a pretty good impersonation that I haven't attempted in years. The pronunciation vs spelling still confuses me to this day. 🤷🏻‍♂️

I get it. It’s smooth, the sax is lovely, she can saaaang. It’s still dreadfully dull. The vocal control is incredible but the loud power at the end of every other syllable is obnoxious and becomes a one trick pony. Every word doesn’t need to be dramatically emphasized. No thank you, Sade.

Smooth, and funky. Easy music to kind of get lost in. I dig Sade's vocals and the saxophone and I like the meditative bass lines with disco piano over the top of it. Admittedly I started to zone out and not really hear the music anymore halfway through which means it lost my interest a bit. I think it's pretty solid pop music but it's not a record that gets me really excited.

Sexy, funky, jazzy and sensual. You can't deny to the sexiness of this album, but you also can't deny that it almost feels like a meme in 2024. Like the entire album feels like a meme of 80s sexy sax music. Which is a shame, because it actually has some interesting elements. Groovy bass lines, sexy brass throughout, fun and interesting keyboards. Besides this feeling like a meme, it's a bit of a one trick pony. It's hard to decipher one some from the next. They're all kind of the same. I think the kindest legacy of this record would be for a indie-esque band in 2024 to basically homage the entire album and make contemporary music based off of this. Which feels like it could happen at any moment, if it hasn't happened already.

i would have sworn on my life there was a Sade SNL performance where she's introduced by Dan Aykroyd and he nails the pronunciation of her name but apparently I'm insane because i couldn't locate it anywhere. anyway this album rules

5/10 It's fine, got bored but not angry 12-2-2024

a bit too lounge music for me.

Sade is music for a PG-rated implied sex montage.

Really solid album. Loved her voice. A few of the songs felt pretty one-note but I really enjoyed this album. I've never heard of her before this, so I might check her stuff out.

Smoooooooooth operator. Smooth, funky and sexy.

It Sade so its going to be good. The best song on here was Smooth Operator. There was no worst song on here either 9/10

Well today I learned that Sade is a band name, and not just the name of the singer lady! This album is so classic and beautiful.

Smooth Operator is in top ten of pop-hits forever! Masterpiece! Nice album!

Well this was a surprise! So different from their run of hits from the 70s. The saxophone is a welcome addition, and Noddy Holder has clearly had singing lessons in the interim. Having said that, the energy’s just not the same, in the singing or in the music. I think I prefer the old stuff. On the bright side, their spelling appears to have improved.

Sade has a very nice soft voice. I've always liked this album in particular, especially the tracks Smooth Operator and Why can't We Live Together. Very cool and very smooth. 4/5

Start of a legend

Норм

Enjoyable and smooth.

i really like the sound and chill vibe of the album the songs are kind of all the same, smooth operator is amazing tho

Good for background listening, not a first choice for active listening. Nice and relaxed feel

Sade’s confidence to name her band after herself AND to be an artist that goes by one name is woefully misplaced. That isn’t to say she’s untalented, or that this album was bad. On the contrary - I’ll tell you now that I’ll be giving it a pretty fitting rating of two stars. But I can’t help thinking that maybe, just maybe it would’ve been cool if the band had a different name. Carlos Santana named his band “Santana” because he was the generational talent at the center of it. Can you name any other members of that band? I’ll wait. Because I can’t. Beyoncé goes by one name because she’s Beyoncé - there’s only one and we all know it. So does she. Madonna did the same. As did Prince. So you can’t just decide to go by an eponym AND name your band after yourself unless you either A: really are a generational talent and know it or B: are marketed that way by your record label because they think they can best sell you that way. I think the latter must have happened here. This album is…boring. Sure it’s got fun moments here and there. Some cool grooves. But Sade herself isn’t, in my opinion, the main attraction. Her voice is good, but is it THAT good? If it is, she doesn’t find space to show it off here. And sure, fine, you can tell me that the genre doesn’t fit a vocal style where she could show off, and you’d be right. But still. Snoozefest. She’s the focus of the band, its main attraction. But I don’t really understand why. Maybe because this is the closest thing to elevator Muzak I’ve had thus far, and the record label knew that and needed to make it about her to sell it better. This is “jazz” for people who don’t really know jazz. Those people hear this and can feel cultured by listening to it. I listen to it and feel disappointed and bored. Standout Tracks: Hang Onto Your Love, Cherry Pie

It all sounded like the same song. She's got a great voice, though. 2/5

A well produced and performed album.

3.5/5. Not my genre but I respect the game.

So this is the person who sings that “Smooth Operator” song! Ultimately, this was a really good album that got my Sunday morning started. It didn’t blow my mind or anything, but it was very relaxing, smooth, lush, and chill. I don’t really see myself going back to this album in the future, but I don’t regret listening to it either. So I guess I would say it was middle of the road.

It brings me right back to that time

No creí que este disco fuera tan bueno.

Smooth rhythm and cool saxophone surround flawless vocals. A really soothing mix.

Gillar skivan. Bra stämning och röst. Typ samma låt genom hela albumet men bra musik att jobba som bakgrund.

Har en skiva med Sade. Skön röst och behaglig lyssning. Lite väl jazziga/saxofonig. Bra som bakgrundsmusik.

Hade inte fattat att Sade var ett band, man lär så länge man lever. Svårt att tycka illa om den här. Hon sjunger bra och det är trevligt och mysigt rakt igenom, men lite för mycket cocktailbar för att kunna bli mer än en stabil trea.

Well orchestrated, lovely toasty voice. Interesting to listen to. Great for traditional slow dancing. Nice musical flourishes.

If you like this vibe, it's right on. Because it hardly changes. Smoothest album I've had so far I reckon, but delicious as it was, some more variety wouldn't go amiss

I have made out and had sex to this album easily a dozen times.

Beautiful voice always

Didn't like in 84 don't like now

A few good songs, a few classics. But I'm not the biggest fan of some of the songs.

Good vibes loved it

This fucks

For your information, my Nigerian goddess, Chicago is not on the coast and there is no R in your name. That being said, Diamond Life is a unique masterpiece of smooth jazz pop, and I LOVE it!! 5

In heavens name why .. wouldn't this get 5 stars. All love to Sade!

"Sophisti-pop" songs with saxophone :')

smooth

absolutely beautiful and breathtaking album that is super tight and also really chill. Either to listen to and doesn't really lose anything throughout the whole album. Plus, smooth operator.

Not really my thing. 2/5

I know it’s a classic, it’s just not for me. I was also sleep deprived when I listened to this, so not great timing.

Talk about smooth. Wow. This album flows so cleanly it makes 45 minutes fly by. Love Sade's voice. Great album. All I got to say

When I heard 'Smooth Operator' I thought I would end up rating this one higher... Turns out that the album just starts really strong for me and then it doesn't reach that level ever again. Sade's voice is lovely, nothing wrong there, it's apparently just not the kind of stuff that catches me that much. Standouts Smooth Operator 3/5

Very soothing

Loved it!

I have to say I was surprised. Opening song (smooth operator) is a hit though I never knew who sang it. All in all it's a nice album with a great mixture of jazz, funk and pop, and, although a bit boring at times, it is very well produced.

Super

Good vibe but too sleepy for a mid-afternoon fall tune.

3.5 STARS!

Think I would have gotten a better class of bird if I’d tried fingering them to this rather than Grace Under Pressure.

Great voice, great production, ok songs and a fair reflection of what was good pop music in the mid eighties.

Smooth, baby

A favorite! All Sade is good.

3+

Other than the first two tracks, the rest of the album is just meh.

Good and Chill

Sexy jazzy smooth cool ass album. Enjoyed.

Fico

Sade at her best.

i liked this one a lot. great vibe to it. feeling loved. 9/10

I don’t really like this type of music. I get bored easily by this - Yes, I know the massive hit Smooth Operator, and I noticed that she was a huge star when I was I kid, but it’s just not for me. The quality of the music and her voice is undeniable though

Lost my review, but this album is fine despite not being for me 3/5

It'd be easy to dismiss this as a corny 80s album with a couple hits, but on a full listen it deserves a lot better than that review. Soul, funk, pop; jazzy muted trumpets, sax, bass, synths; long, expansive tunes - it's sprawling in every direction of genre, instrumentation and song length, yet the whole album is tightly constructed. And Sade's voice, perfect.

Decent

Interesting blend of jazz and R&B. I enjoyed listening the the whole album, not much depth or anything revolutionary but very nice

The soundtrack for numerous Quiet Nights In for couples and prospective couples, Diamond Life never really rises above its inoffensive, non-confrontation smooth-Soul-Jazz inspirations. Impossible to dislike, but never likely to inspire. Music of music haters, perhaps

When I was in 6th/7th grade, I played trumpet in the school concert band. I really enjoyed it, so I also joined the after school jazz band. I had never heard of Sade until our band director picked “Smooth Operator” as our piece for the Spring Concert. Many years passed without me thinking of Sade or Smooth Operator. One afternoon I was out shopping for records and I found Smooth Operator on a 12 inch single. Immediately took it home and gave it a spin; the song just was just good as I remembered. So naturally I listened to the full album and the rest is history. I say all of that to say that this album is a smooth-soul/jazz classic and a phenomenal debut album that will always have a special place in my heart.

Wanted to live it but it’s so middle of the road

Jazzy and Epic and Smooth Operatooooorrrr

not my cup of tea, too slow

1. operator - 2 2. king - 1.5 3. hang - 1.5 4. affair - 1.5 5. living - 1 6. cherry pie - 1.5 7. zally - 1.5 8. friend - 2 9. together - 1

Put your hands together for Sade! Diamond Life is a killer debut; well thought out and executed. We had this album on CD shortly after it came out so know it well. Her rich, smooth voice over jazzy sax makes for a memorable listen. L - sweet as Cherry Pie (5.0*s) J - Stronger Than Pride (4.8*s)

This is a great debut album and I'm a big fan of Sade, she gets a lot of play at my house. There's nothing to dislike here, no skips and sax for days. Her voice is so smooth and just really easy to listen to overall. High 4.5.

Great debut album. Sade is so smooth and the band operates with like a well-oiled sophista-jazz machine. Would like to know which other 6 songs they cut for this album cause the ones that made it are all good. Nothing beats this if you want a nice romantic evening with your sig-O. You start out with this and then throw on a little Marvin "Let's Get it on" and you know where it leads...3.55

Credit to Sade on a pretty great debut album. It opens with a very strong 3-fer and while the rest of the album isn't as good it is still a solid listen. There's something very pleasant about the backing band's smooth bass and sax accompaniment. This album must have been on in our house a lot as a youth because a couple of these songs lived deep within my psyche despite not recognizing the names. 3.63 stars

A good set of songs, well produced and performed but lacking any edge.

Never heard this album, but I knew quite a few songs. It's alright. Nothing new when it was new. Good but not spectacular. Well made. Very smooth, but not in an annoying way. I like her voice. She could have dug a little deeper. Favorite song: smooth operator.

Everything sounds a bit samey. All very classical jazz. Smooth operator has a good melody i can listen to over and over, and the only one that doesnt really bore me is cherry pie.

Smooth as silk

SMOOTH OPERATTOOORRRR. I fucking love this song Hang on to your love is another classic I fucking love Sade. Such sexy music

one or two songs sounded like music that would be playing in a Dillards. the rest were bangers, i really liked hang onto your love

So many samples have come from this album

Yea this was everything you want in album. Smooth operator is such a bop, and the rest of the album is solid too. Wasn’t a song I didn’t like on the whole thing

Banger after banger

This was pretty good. 3.5/5

More sex was had to this record upon its release than any record since Roxy Music's Avalon. It's also great musically – smoothly and exquisitely played, beautifully sung – with a sustained mood of most sophisticated languor and stylish ennui. One fully dug then, continues to dig now (though rarely listens), and believes it to have held up very well indeed.

Cool

an easy listening gem in the world of late 80s early 90s. id listen to more.

Favorite tracks: Smooth Operator (absolute banger), When am I Going to Make a Living. The rest of the album blends together a bit. Production is solid.

really solid album. catchy tunes, slow and smooth. the production sounds as bit dated at this point but the songs are decent enough to carry it past that. a good time, but not a great time.

SmooooOOooooth. And also kinda boring towards the end

radio music.... for la noire detective movie women

Not my type of music

Smooth like butter. But after a while you kind of get bored with the same sultry, romantic vibes. Still, if you're in a funky, loving mood, definitely a good listen.

It definitely has its charms, but it does sound quite dated these days. I don't want to be too harsh on it, but it's not something I'm likely to come back to.

Beautiful album, incredible voice, chill music

I have heard of the band Sade, but I have never listened to them before. They are a group whose style blends soul and sophisti-pop, formed by singer Sade Adu, saxophonist/guitarist Stuart Matthewman, and bassist Paul Denman, with Andrew Hale on keyboard duties. Diamond Life is their debut album, and I will say it is pretty good for what it is. This is the kind of sensual music where Sade Adu's sultry contralto voice carries most of the tunes, with the rest of the band providing good soul/light jazz instrumentation to neatly back her up. It does help that the band does flourish when it needs to, particularly with the saxophone solos on "Smooth Operator" and "Love is King." If I had to complain, there's not much variation in the lyrical content. This is mostly a collection of love songs, where Sade Adu plays coy with the love interest while also observing relationships that fall apart such as on the track "Frankie's Love Affair." I will say there is a nice deviation in "When Am I Going to Make a Living", wherein she sings about surviving on the fringes of a livable wage. Given that Sade Adu squatted early on in her career, this song does come off as drawn from personal experience. Overall, it's a solid debut album from a group that would go on to influence the neo-soul sound. I'll give it a solid recommendation.

Besides "Smooth Operator" the songs just didn't appeal to me. Most of the tracks seemed dated.

some super smooth tracks here, haven't listened to it for decades! probably a bit 80s plastic jazz sounding these days, but i quite enjoyed it. 3.5

Kinda boring

Really solid all the way through. Sade would have killed an 80s James Bond song.

It was okay. Another album to have sex to

Buen marques, mejor perrera

Ohja hoor, album over het weekend getild maar dat was een topkeuze. Wakker worden met Smooth Operator, veel beter gaat het niet worden! Hoop dat de rest van het album dezelfde kwaliteit heeft en dit kan zomaar een erg lekkere sessie worden. En het tweede nummer pakt gewoon lekker door, met een werkelijk waar fantastische saxofoon solo. En eigenlijk gaat dit vrijwel het hele album door. Sade klinkt geweldig, de muziek is ook echt top. Vaak lekker funky. En ik vind het persoonlijk geweldig dat de nummers lang zijn, maar niet 10 minuten lang ofzo. Een soulplaat mag van mij al snel 5 minuten zijn, dat er genoeg tijd is voor een goede solo ofzo. Dat is hier zeker het geval. Het album kakt wel een beetje in, in het midden, maar verder vind ik dit oprecht een geweldig album! FAVO: Smooth operator, Your love is king, Hang on to your love, Sally, Why can't we live together

Nice background music. Not sure I’d pick this every day but there’s a time and place for it. I also can see why “Smooth Operator” was a hit.

Love singing along to this one and her voice is beautiful, bass and sax for days

if you want to sway-dance, listen to this album

They do what they do very, VERY well. It's not for me but this album deserves praise. Everyone is on their A game. The fusion of a few genres all come together to make a smooth, easy listening album that fits the mood you're looking for perfectly.

OK, I got hung up on this album for weeks. Just couldn't bring myself to start it. Why would I want to listen to Sade?? But then I did and that smooth jazzy, 80s yacht rock vibe took hold and here I am swaying in my chair, nodding my head, tapping my toes. Those bongos and saxophones are infectious. Am I going to favorite any of these songs or put this into regular rotation?... No. But this was still pretty fun.

this was amazing, some amazing songs and really great production

Smooth Operator was the only hit from this record in my country, so that's all I knew going into this. This album has that manufactured "effortless cool" thing going on. I actually love the singers voice here as it suits the music perfectly. I would have liked just a tad more variety to make each song a bit more distinct.

Undeniably smooth and well performed. An album full of songs about the woes of love. Its main upside is also its downside, a continuous soundscape that fits a certain time and place

Not my thing.

Too smooth for my taste.

Chill out to this, and you're automatically cool for 45 mins

Kinda tedious after a while, like she was struggling for filler.

Soft lounge music

Smooth soul

jazzy pop.. smooth operator indeed. a few banger tracks on the album pushed it to 5 stars. Every instrumental interlude is interesting and fun. Favorite track: Smooth Operator other picks: your love is king, hang on to your love, cherry pie, sally

Pretty good. Nice chill vibes.

I liked it! This felt like a proper 80s pop album in all the best ways possible. It was smooth, it had bops I had it on repeat all damn day! I mean it, I had a ton of fun with this album, was it like high art? No, but the music was really good and had those nice jazzy tones that I do love so much plus it kept me in a high spirit all day so you cant beat that. It wasn't perfect but very deserving of a 4.

I really enjoyed this album more than I thought I would (common thread in some of my reviews). Sades voice was amazing. The sax solos and intros were smoooooth. The instrumentals were on point. Just really good album all the way through for me. Main reason I knocked a star off is all of the songs felt long to me. Like just droning on the last 30-45 seconds or so. But still, excellent album overall!

80s rnb with smooth percussion and strong bass with subtle moments of guitar and a nice saxophone in between. I enjoyed it, but it is not something I would go back to often.

I only knew "Smooth Operator" (and I thought I hated that song when I was fifteen). But after listening to Diamond Life, I think I'd listen to Sade sing the damn phone book. It wasn't a perfect album, but I enjoyed it WAY more than I thought I would.

Man, I really want to love Sade, but all I can muster is to like Sade. Her sultry voice, her jazz-tinged arrangements, her solid musicians, her good songwriting is impressive, it just doesn’t speak to my musical soul.

Beautiful album. Warm, smooth production and her voice is perfect. I put this record on often and it’s one of the only ones that my entire family agrees on.

Smoooooth

Killer album - amazing production, style just dripping off the tracks, and amazing vocals on a consistent collection of tracks. Four and a half. Fave track: Your Love Is King

Beautiful woman amazing voice🤩🥰

Smooooooth. Let that sax slide over you, and let the voice carry you away I've always liked Smooth Operator but never heard anything else. The rest of the album follows in this vain and, surprisingly, was a decent listen Best: Smooth Operator, Frankie's First Affair Worst: Your Love Is King

Looking at the top 1001 albums released in 1984, this is one I would probably have picked last to listen to. However, that’s what makes this project interesting, you never know what hidden gems you might discover. Unfortunately, in this case... not much. It’s really not my cup of tea. I was already familiar with the opening two tracks from radio play, and while it was nice to sit down and listen more closely, there wasn’t much beyond that. There are some interesting layers in those first two songs that I hadn’t picked up on before, but that was where the intrigue ended for me. "Cherry Pie" was decent, but the rest of the album felt like background music a wealthy yuppie might play in 1984 to show off their brand new CD player at a party. Overall it's just not my thing.

Doesn't get much more 80s than this. A bit dull overall.

It evokes images of an over-aged Bond seducing someone far younger in the Roger Moore era...not something I'll specifically be revisiting in a hurry. Having said that, Hang On To Your Love and Frankie's First Affair are pretty neat, but the album's dripping candle production isn't my favourite.

Clearly an influential album and an incredibly successful band, but not really my thing. I struggled to get through it tbh.

Loved it

This was fine, but uninteresting.

She has a nice voice and everything is nicely done here but this is just way too soft for me

Not the kind of stuff I like to listen often, but at least this one deserves a place on this list.

Not my kind of music at all, but... at least, it deserves its place in this list. A true classic!

I liked this one! Kind of a mix between Joan Armatrading and the early 1990s R&B that I'm familiar with. Also reminded me of the kind of thing my mom might like. :)

muito bom de escutar? como um mero noob em sade eu achava que o auge dela era smooth operator, mas esse álbum é do caralho!!