SADE
After eight years the new album!
out 14/11/2000
Sade started life as Helen Folesade Adu in Nigeria, but was brought to London by her mother at the age of four. Although music was an important part of her life, the fashion world nearly claimed her for its own, after some of her work appeared in New York in conjuntion with Spandau Ballet's debut in the US. Music won out in the end, however, and drawing inspiration from the soulful tunes of classics such as Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Marvin Gaye and Al Green, Sade launched herself on the pop scene as part of a jazz-funk collection known as Pride.
Sade's first solo single, Your Love is King, appeared in 1984 - and shot straight to the top 10 in Britain and Europe. The album Diamond Life, released a year later, enjoyed similar success, featuring a clutch of hit singles including Smooth Operator and Hang on to Your Love.
Sade's grip on the soul/funk market was consolidated by her second LP, Promise, which combined classic soul tunes with very subjective choices of subject (it's not everybody that can write a decent song about the Salvatian Army). Promise also proved to be Sade's gateway into America where it hit number one on the American pop and R&B charts.
A hungry public had to wait until 1988 for the next Sade release, Stronger than Pride. By this time Sade was established as a truly international artist, taking her 1988 tour to the US, Australia and Japan, as well as Europe.
Yet again, musical integrity took a higher place than a quest for fame or chart success, and it was another four years before the ambitious Love Deluxe was released. Whether she wanted it or not, Love Deluxe achieved astounding chart success, spending 90 weeks on the American Billboard charts and was followed by another worldwide tour.
Sade balances her public and private lives very carefully, remaining essentially a private person, whilst enjoying consistent chart success over a period of more than a decade. It is a testament to her popularity that her pronunciation of 'Sade' is chosen by Brad Pitt's character in this year's biggest movie, Seven, when perusing a book - by the Marquis de Sade. Not quite up to the John Lennon vs Jesus popularity stakes, but impressive nevertheless.
Released by February 1, 1985, by CBS/Portrait RB-39581. Now seems to be SONY-7464-39581-4.
(1: Smooth Operator // 2: Your Love Is King // 3: Hang On To Your Love // 4: Frankie's First Affair // 5: When Am I Going To Make A Living // 6: Cherry Pie // 7: Sally // 8: I Will Be Your Friend // 9: Why Can't We Be Together)
Promise album (1986).
Released by November 15, 1985, by CBS/Portrait as RK-40263. Now seems to be SONY-7464-40263-4.
(1: Is It A Crime? // 2: The Sweetest Taboo // 3: War Of The Hearts // 4: You're Not The Man // 5: Jezebel // 6: Mr. Wrong // 7: Never As Good As The First Time // 8: Fear // 9: Tar Baby // 10: Maureen)
Stronger Than Pride album (1988).
Released May 13, 1988, by Epic as EK-44210. Now seems to be SONY-7464-44210-4.
(1: Love is Stronger Than Pride // 2: Paradise // 3: Nothing Can Come Between Us // 4: Haunt Me // 5: Turn My Back On You // 6: Keep Looking // 7: Clean Heart // 8: Give It Up // 9: I Never Thought I'd See the Day // 10: Siempre Hay Esperanza)
Love Deluxe album (1992).
Released October 30, 1992, by Epic EK-53178. Now seems to be SONY-7464-53178-4. Sony
(1: Ordinary Love // 2: Feel No Pain // 3: I Couldn't Love You More // 4: Like a Tattoo // 5: Kiss of Life // 6: Cherish the Day // 7: Pearls // 8: Bullet Proof Soul // 9: Mermaid)
Best of Sade album (1994).
(1: Your Love is King // 2: Hang on to Your Love // 3: Smooth Operator // 4: Jezebel // 5: The Sweetest Taboo // 6: Is It a Crime? // 7: Never As Good As the First Time // 8: Love is Stronger Than Pride // 9: Paradise // 10: Nothing Can Come Between Us // 11: No Ordinary Love // 12: Like a Tattoo // 13: Kiss of Life // 14: Please Send Me Someone to Love // 15: Cherish the Day // 16: Pearls)
Sade Interactive enhanced CD (1996).
Released July(?) 1996 on OmniMedia CD-ROM for PC. Contains videos, an essay, and lyrics. I haven't seen this myself but it haven't gotten good reviews, this being blamed on programmers/producers, not Sade herself.
Lovers Rock 2000
Released on 14 november 2000, 350.000 sold in USA in the first week.
1) By your side; 2) Flow; 3) King of Sorrow; 4) Somebody Already; 5) All about love; 6) Slave song; 7) The sweetest gift; 8) Every word; 9) immigrant; 10) Lovers rock ; 11) It's only love that gets you through