Reviews (page 7 of 13)
what a bass lines, I loved her
Better than expected. Smooth Operator is a banger
Nice, feel-good music. Elements of blues.
Wow. Pretty much everyone associates "Smooth Operator" with Sade. And thinks the one track, because that was her big crossover hit. But MAN this whole album just exudes sultry. I didn't think it was possible, but she was able to outdo the sax there all throughout the album. "Sally" really struck a chord with me, not sure why. I really liked the lyrics and how she brought those out. I had to listen to more of the band's stuff after listening to the album, which says a lot about that first album. Really enjoyed the whole first album. Close to a 5-star rating, although the "Why Can't We Live Together?" seemed kind of forced. Still, all in all a really good album.
I kept picturing someone like Christian Bale in American Psycho putting this on the stereo after bringing a date home. I dug it, some great sax on here
Smooth Operator en Hang on to your love waren bij mij al bekend. Rest van het album klinkt vrij hetzelfde. Goed voor diner of s'avonds. Stand out van het album is voor mij why can't we live together. Soms herhaaldelijk maar zeer goed album
Muito bom! Outra artista para conhecer mais. Melhor música: Your love is king
Enpä tajua, miksen oo tätä ennen jaksanu kuunnella. Varmaan avausraidan kuluneisuuden takia. Mut on kyl todella jees. Sopivan hillittyä ja ehkä vois sanoa urbaania.
That’s back to back days of just vibes
Just a really nice album, love her voice and the piano and the smooth pop/jazz/rnb tunes which have a style of their own.
The songs + her voice are absolutely beautiful. This is not my style of music but the merit rates it
Powerful voice, gets a bit nothingy at points but still good stuff
Honestly great.
smooth jazz isnt my thing but maybe this one caught me on the right day. thought it was pretty cool
I was not expecting this to be so good. Sade as a whole was ok, but this album was amazing.
7/10 nice smooth 80s pop with a good vocal performance, kind of cheesy though and definitely got weaker in the second half
7/10.
Solid sound but had its share of sleepy moments. 7/10
Delicate, exquisite, soulful, stirring, eloquent, elegant and a chock full of diamonds. No wonder why the first track was called smooth, hehe. Favorites: Smooth Operator, Your Love is King, Frankie's First Affair, When I Am Going to Make a Living, Cherry Pie.
The sax had me like 🤤😍
classic
This was a lot better than I was expecting. This was always my go-to stereotype song to play when a bar was closing down and you wanted people to leave but I never actually listened to it. Her voice is smooth and the songs are all easy to listen to. Does the job.
Sade has a great instrument. Classic mid-80s with sax and fretless bass.
Very smooth and nice to listen to
Sade's voice is absolutely amazing and I loved the 80's groove to this album, especially on Smooth Operator. I did wonder if there was any connection between the album being produced in 1984 and Orwellian predictions for 1984, but probably not.
Liked it! Great voice.
An excellent album, with some great songs on there. And I learned I had been mispronouncing the artist name all along.
4/5. Easy listening indeed, only one snoozer or so, tasty sax ngl
Where are my ski pants and shoulder pads?
beautiful
Cool
Solid production, sets and hold a cool vibe, good musicianship, excellent use of space. Great for the genre
This is the chillest thing I've ever heard. I would've HATED this 10 years ago. Also I guess this is the original smooth operator song.
East, breezy, and smooth. I liked it!
God I love me some mournful saxophone and this has that in spades. Going in I was only familiar with 'Smooth Operator' but by the end of the second listen I'm not sure I'd have that in the top 3 on this record. A joy, start to finish.
Really fun, definitely needs a relisten
Yeah nice, actually gets better as you go deeper into it. I thought it was frontloaded when I saw the two hits were the first two on it, but it's not at all.
Smooth
Smooth operator, indeed
Kind of easy listening... enjoyable but not one I would think of.
Het is lekkere rustige muziek die iedereen wel aanspreekt
Great voice, great band, great production, great debut, fitting lyrics.
Nice enjoyable album, easy listening yet not boring or simple. Liked the saxophone and the vibe
Este es un GRAN disco de pop ochentero. Por supuesto, conocía Smooth Operator, pero no conocía ninguna de las otras. El álbum tiene un "feeling" muy similar al de 'The Nightfly', y me agradó el uso de instrumentos electrónicos, que le dan una textura muy característica a la música de esta época.
Some of it is way too cheesy 80s but Cherry Pie is great. Groove. Gave it 4 stars just because I'm obsessed with Cherry Pie now.
Smooth. My employer uses 'Your love is king' as its hold music. Customers have complained that, having had to wait so long, they can't enjoy the song any more. One customer said hearing the song outside of the work environment induced panic attacks.
This was a surprise knowing the first song to kick off the album. Really enjoyed this jazzy soul like album!
Very good start with smooth operator. Pleasant background listening. I was surprised when it was over, left wanting more. Good album I think
From easy listening to soulful punches, incorporating R&B, soul, jazz, and even disco, there seems to be something for everyone... That is until I read the top reviews of this site. Not sure how anyone could hate this. It's not boring or repetitive or annoying but rather borrows from a diverse range of styles with pulling hooks to keep each track interesting. First track is a masterpiece, 2nd track is pretty good, and the rest follows.
Silky vocals, smoothe saxophone, great songs -I love this. This is nice relaxing music. A couple of five star tracks and above average on the balance. Easy 4 stars.
Her voice paired with the soothing jazz music is so impeccable.
It was a big joke to listen to Sade when I was a kid. Now that I’m grown, this record is excellent. Smooth vibes throughout and she is in complete control of her voice and sound throughout the record.
OK didnt set my world alight at the time or now.
Sexy
Best Tracks: Smooth Operator, Your Love Is King, Hang On to Your Love, Frankie's First Affair, Cherrie Pie
Excellent bass lines with crazy smooth and soulful jazz over it. Can't not groove to it, but so smooth it's always relaxing. Favorite song: Hang On To Your Love
Now this makes me feel like a natural woman
nice and vibey! i get some amy winehouse vibes from it. adds: 0 highlights: frankies first afair, i will be your friend
Really enjoyable. Nice vibes
Smooth Operator absolute banger
- SMOOTH OPERATOR!!! MY JAM!!!! although i do like the single version better - the saxophone in your love is king makes my heart do rolly pollies - hang on your love is my new fav it's so calm yet catchy at the same time. i'm listening to it lying down in the sun and the experience is transcendental (duh i googled the spelling) - i could never get tired listening to her voice ever. that smoother than butter huskiness. yeah.
Classic R&B with a modern touch.
Gorgeous music, been listening to this a lot.
Smooth, sophisticated, but not over crowded jazzy pop music with THAT voice. Very cool, good for sunny days and relaxed evenings.
First 2 tracks absolute Smooth classics. Was really ready to give this a 4 after the first 2 tracks but because its not massively my genre it dipped to a 3 in the middle and felt more like background music. Decent though, last track real good too. Good late night album. M-people defo took inspiration. 3.5 so rounded up to a 4.
Good vibes & memories of lyrics long forgotten
Una mezcla de jazz y r&b, 80s, un timbre algo grave para ser una mujer pero es lo que la hace especial <333
What an album, what a woman. I grew up on Sade so this gives me so much nostalgia. Her voice is like listening to silk, I loved it!
Good Sade album, not Love Deluxe tho
Smooth 80s neo-soul vibes. Pleasant!
Wikipedia mentions "sophisti-pop" and that's a great name for this. It's a jazzy, r&b, lounge music with svelte vocals that's sometimes sultry, sometimes lamenting. like sitting in a hotel bar after being stood up for a date
pretty good
So far very smooth and easy to listen to. Seems like to what one would relax on a beach at sunset. Reminds me a bit of James Bond music. Overall not bad.
This came at a good time for me as far as this list goes. I was happy vibing on something different. +1
I thought this was really good and can perfectly suit a certain mood. “Smooth Operator” is the standout but really everything in the first half was really good
You can’t really go wrong with Sade. I don’t think I’ve ever listened to anything by her that I didn’t like. May sound a bit too 80s for some (that sax!) but it’s hard not to enjoy her silky voice.
I knew what I was getting into kinda with sade, but was very pleasantly surprised, actually liked it more than I expected :)
An album with one of the most ubiquitous songs of our generation and one of the most elegant & iconic performers. I was hoping the songs that I hadn't heard didn't turn out to be too sugary and they weren't. Socially conscious lyrics and beautifully understated delivery as always. The band and studio musicians provide a nice jazzy, soulful background and never get in the way. Quite a debut!
Astonishing that this debut album has so many solid, solid tracks. This is probably the only mainstream easy-listening jazz/pop album that I'll ever admit to liking. I was also surprised that its from 1984, I thought it was from the 90s, so that cheezy sax didn't date it too much.
Awesome 80's bass "Diamond Life sold over 10 million copies worldwide ... becoming the best-selling debut album by a British female vocalist, a record that stood for 24 years"
Enjoyed this more than I thought I would
Enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would! Spent my morning drive grooving to this and feeling like a sexy adult.
got an old sound to it that's more unique. vibes
Definitely cool and seductive soul. Still enjoyable and worth revisiting.
Love Smooth Operator. Great drum sounds on Hang On To Your Love
Groovy. But not my cup of tea.
Not a big r&b fan but her voice and the band are awesome
soooo good, sade is so sultry
Tight
Like it
nice
This one was good. Smooth Operator was one I'd heard a ton, but never knew the artist. Not a genre I get super excited about generally, but you can't deny that this music is very enjoyable.
I mean it’s Sade!
Such a beautiful voice. Great laid back background music. Will be adding this to my record collection someday.
Perfectly smooth, excellent lounge music
Nice
Funky and very 80s
Excellent jazzy soul music
Very good but not my thing
goddamn can Sade sing, guess shes the city-pop inventor. so fuckin gud. words cannot describe, i understand the praise
2/12 Great, sophisticated R&B. Standout Tracks: Smooth Operator, Frankie's First Affair
Sexy. Smooth.
jazzy !
Smooth as a tiger in a tuxedo
Envie de Sophisti-poper
Pretty pleasant ! but it wasn't as engaging as i'd hoped.
Sultry and feminine. What a gorgeous record! Getting beautiful visuals of silvers and satins and pearls. Sade’s voice is round and sweet and softly raspy in a way that is sooo divine. Favorites are Hang On To Your Love, Cherry Pie, and I Will Be Your Friend.
Mdjdosksndjjdoa
Нормас, не мой стиль. Вокал у тетки классный
Not as good as I remembered. The production should have been better. I still love Why Can't We Live Together though.
Couple of classic tracks and way ahead of it's time. But forgettable. Mood music I am not often going to be in the mood for.
It's fine
few nice songs but became a little irritating to be honest
I mean it's alright. 🤷🏽♂️ Smooth operator is my favorite track on this album.
The lyrics are bland and cliche but the presentation is better than I would have expected. Band is good, vocalist is good, still not my thing.
When Sade's debut album, "Diamond Life", was released, it fit perfectly with the British pop music zeitgeist. At the time, bands such as Working Week and Matt Bianco were blending jazz and pop. Sade was the most commercially successful figurehead of this 'new wave of pop jazz'. Everything about their image was perfect: the sensuous yet cool contralto voice of former model Sade Adu and the dominant saxophone of Stuart Matthewman reflected the fashion and approach to pop music of the time. 'Sophisti-pop' was elegant and sensual, yet also somewhat old-fashioned and melancholic. Admittedly, Sade never had anything to do with real jazz. This album features two of their most successful singles: 'Smooth Operator' and 'Your Love Is King'. It was the most commercially successful album of Sade’s career, although all their albums remained successful right into the nineties. "Diamond Life" may not be their best album, but it has a classic 1980s vibe and has aged remarkably well, offering polished, perfectly produced pop. Sade's last studio album, "Soldier of Love", was released in 2010, and the band continued to perform to enthusiastic audiences worldwide until 2011. Despite long intervals between performances, the line-up remained virtually unchanged. Repeated rumours that a new album is in the works have emerged, but so far, only some singles for soundtracks and charity have been released. Sade Adu now lives a secluded life in England.
nice
I made it through. However, nothing but smooth operator really stood out. I didn't hate it, but also not world shifting in my opinion. 3/5
3.5
Not a bad album, but really rides on the big single. The rest of the songs are good, but very samey. Overall not bad, but wouldn't be rushing to listen to again, and not sure it's a must listen to.
This record is one smooth operator. (smooth operator)
dont really get the hype, smooth pop songs about men with a nice sax sometimes
I think I prefer this to the other Sade album on the list. This is calming and voice is great. For some reason I have a little trouble understanding the lyrics.
This lady can sing. The first two tracks were the best. Not quite my genre, but good for it's type.
I hated this when it came out, and it’s very redundant. But if you listen to it late at night, it is so much better.
All the songs sound the same, but it’s not bad
Smooth 80’s yuppie pop…I sort of dig it. 3.1
2,5
Album super chill et relaxant. Son seul problème est que chaque son se ressemble dans l'ambiance ce qui devient assez vite répétitif et lassant.
7/10 - some classics here, nice relaxed pop vocals, also not overly long or dragged out
Diamond Life arrived the same year as Private Dancer and represents the opposite solution to the same problem — where Tina Turner buried herself in big production and processed drums, Sade stripped everything back to candlelight and negative space. The restraint is real and it's a genuine artistic choice. The late-night, smoke-and-jazz atmosphere is completely controlled and completely intentional, and "Smooth Operator" remains one of the most recognizable songs the decade produced. The honest limitation is the same one that kept The Stone Roses at three earlier in this project — same samey. The emotional temperature that makes the record distinctive at the start is the same temperature it holds all the way through, which means the qualities that initially seduce gradually become the qualities that numb. A record that opens cool and stays cool has made a choice, but that choice comes at the cost of the peaks that earn replayability. Sade's voice is the genuine article — warm, precise, completely unshowy in a way that suits the material perfectly. The jazz harmonic language the band borrows gives the whole thing a sophistication that separates it from standard 80s pop. But borrowing jazz's vocabulary without its capacity for surprise or emotional shift turns out to be a ceiling as much as a foundation. A solid three. The atmosphere is real, the voice is real, and a record that does one thing this consistently and this well deserves its place. It just doesn't generate the pull that earns more than that.
Smooth Operator is instantly recognizable, probably because it's been overexposed as part of advertising almost as long as the song has existed. The rest is pretty meh, IMO.
The silkiest and smoothest music ever recorded. “Smooth Operator” is an all timer.
I feel that whenever I am traveling with my parents, Sade is playing on the radio. Some of these songs are certified radio hits. I didn't know they are a part of the same album. Especially the first part of listening to this album was me being surprised song after song. To me this is a solid pop album with. It is way more diverse than a lot of pop albums and even has some enjoyable funky turns and rhythms. Sade's vocals shine throughout. I think that the last three songs are a bit weaker. The whole album is consistent though and never gets stale. My favorite songs were "Smooth Operator" and "Hang On to Your Love".
Solid album.
It’s like a marketing company has paid for the ‘premium’ version of their hold music. It’s pleasant enough, and it passes the time without getting you pissed off, but it’s still hold music. The musicians are all good at what they do, but there is something about the sax in this that just makes me wince. This is a generous score as, for an easy listening album, I struggle to see how they could do much better.
Smooth musik. Bra album.
I like
smooth, misschien te smooth
6.17.26 Solid and smooth album, though it often dissolves into background noise (albeit enjoyable background noise!). That girl can sing. Favorite Song: Cherry Pie Rating: 3/5
i was expecting more
Ok but not for me, some classic songs
Great album. Love Sade.
Sade - Diamond Life - 3/5 I'm really surprised that this album is on the list instead of Love Deluxe, but then again, the author does have a clear tendency to favor debut albums. I must've heard "Smooth Operator" about a billion times growing up and I honestly never realized Sade was the artist behind it until now. It's a super solid, sleek lounge song. "Hang On to Your Love" has an incredibly catchy bass line, and really, the bass work across the entire album is just fantastic. It keeps everything moving with a perfect, smooth groove. On top of that, "Why Can't We Live Together" has a really good, timeless message. Sade's vocals are incredibly effortless and soothing throughout the whole record. Easy listen but not my genre.
Okay I love Sade but this album not much compared to others….
Smoot operat. 6/10
I don't feel like this has aged well. I liked the lyricism and storytelling, but the musical arrangements overshadowed her voice.
S'alright.
Not that bad. I don’t know why you would listen to a whole album of this kind of music.
Above average R&B slop
Nice chill, cool album. Nothing very exciting, but very well performed. Love her voice.
not her strongest and a little one note, but her vocals and production ALWAYS hit
Some good songs but idk it wasn’t amazing
Smooth operator is voor mij wel het bekendste liedje van Sade. Heerlijke plaat, zeker om in de mood te komen. Niet superbijzonder.
Ik heb de plaat ooit van iemand gekregen en in de kast staan. Het voelt als een iconische plaat die nog nog niet goed ken. Mijn verwachtingen waren iets te hoog. De muziek heeft een warm aangenaam analoog geluid. Het is subtiel en goed in ballans. Na een paar nummers begint het wel wat eentonig te worden. De stem is oké en de hele sfeer is wel goed. Toch had ik wel op iets meer gehoopt. Ze hebben eigelijk niet zo veel te melden. Het laatste nummer lijkt wel een beetje op een hele matige miss world verkiezingsspeech. Laten we aardig doen tegen elkaar en stoppen met oorlog voeren en in vrede samenleven. Daar ben in natuurlijk niet op tegen maar het is wel wat simpel. Het is casual lounge muziek, stijl boven inhoud. Opzicht niks mis mee maar daardoor is het ook geen meesterwerk.
not my prefered genre nor my fav album of sade but SADE ADU THE WOMAN YOU ARE!!!! lemme feel that voice range!! SING ITT!!!!!
The album is okay but apart from a couple of songs the rest for me is just nice music to have on the background.
Lukewarm bathwater feelings about this one. Not bad, not great - might need a dash more hot water and a squirt of bubbles to make it feel just right. A little too slow in spots, a little too jazzy/saxophony in spots. maybe the percussion is a little too bright? Let's dim the lights, imma grab my caftan and a chardonnay. For a debut album, it's better than decent and shows a lot of potential. Sade's smooth alto voice is equal parts soothing and smokey. Fav track: Your Love Is King
I listened to this album so much when I was 15 years old...Sade had (has?) a great voice and a distinctive style. Do these songs hold up? Not all of them. That jazzy sax, oh my. It's fine in the first song, but they keep it up a little too long. Still, there's a nice funky, but mellow, vibe that permeates the album. 3 stars? 4 feels too generous, but actually every song is pretty good. Hmm, I'll decide tomorrow when forced to choose.
Enjoyed smooth operator but nothing else really struck me.
Sade has some of the sweetest vocals, but some of the backing on these tracks don't do it for me. But Sade so got to give it at least 3 stars because she's the shit.
3 out of 5. This album sounds great for setting the mood of needed.
Es un jazz/blues muy lindo.
feels raw, close, personal, exploratory
This album is an 80s smooth soul/AOR album. For that reason alone, I fear it. It mostly sounds like a female-led version of the later Steely Dan albums. The lyrics are pretty much just standard love song lyrics, and the musicality and songwriting are not very interesting at all. It's a cross between jazz, rock, and soul, without any of the things that make these genres great. This isn't a terrible album. Yet it's something that is perhaps worse altogether- a bland one. It's perfectly fine background music for a work party or a nice restaurant date, but not for a serious listen. Granted, I'm 15, so I'm probably not the target audience for this(or really, half the pretentious boring shit on the list). Still, I don't think that this album is anything other than drab.
This sounds super dated compared to Love Deluxe, which makes it harder to sink into. However, I enjoyed it once I contextualized it as a funk album. The band is pretty spry, and her lyrics are intriguing. I initially wrote it off as an album where you can grab the best stuff on a compilation and move on to her masterpiece, but there is really good stuff here.
This is just a very cool album. Starts off really well, wains a little towards the end. Enjoyed it though.
Not my first rodeo with Sade. I've heard her later record Love Deluxe before, and it was pretty decent. Smooth Operator obviously plays the role of lead single: extremely clean production that's just slightly overwashed with 80s sterility. That electronic drum sound might've been innovative at the time, but it has aged pretty terribly and more or less completely evaporates many people's perceptions of that decade of music. I remember hearing Donald Fagen talk about how much effort and money he had to put in to outsource a newfangled drum machine for Steely Dan's 1980 album Gaucho. That record, though, suffers for the same reason as Diamond Life. But I digress. Smooth Operator is very catchy and a solid choice for opening track. Love the brash, in-your-face piano in Hang On to Your Love and Frankie's First Affair. Sort of reminiscent of some of the better parts of disco (rest in peace). But in sharp contrast to disco, I feel Sade is really skilled at making catchy, soulful music that isn't too repetitive or annoying. I'm not as huge a fan of the sax, or at least not of its omnipresence in every track and a seeming lack of desire to change timbre, add some jazz improv, maybe plop a baritone in there. (The song Sally has the most interesting sax part here, by a wide margin.) Quite a lot of the music on Diamond Life feels... lifeless, maybe? It's hard to pinpoint what isn't clicking for me. The vocal hooks are passable, so those aren't the problem. But the songs I Will Be Your Friend and When Am I Going to Make a Living just don't do that much for me – the latter has a cool chorus hook, I guess, but no much else separates it from the crowd. I would like to see some more genre variety in an album, too. 3/5 Key tracks: Smooth Operator, Frankie's First Affair
While this genre of music generally falls outside my personal preferences, "Diamond Life" possesses a distinct originality that sets it apart from its peers of the day - when viewed through the lens of what was dominating the UK charts in 1984, the album is quite striking. Additionally for a style of music that I would not normally gravitate towards it held my interest from start to finish. A significant highlight is the production. It is remarkably disciplined, successfully avoiding the overblown, synthetic techniques that often date other 1980s releases. The opening duo of tracks, 'Smooth Operator' and 'Your Love Is King', remain the standout hits for a reason; they are very well-crafted tunes. The rest of the tracks are equally well-written, arranged, and performed. Sade’s vocals are lovely, and delivered in a characteristically sultry manner, while the band provides solid support - the rhythm section, in particular, is excellent. Though it isn't an album I would typically choose to listen to, the level of craft involved is easy to appreciate. Three stars. 1 "Smooth Operator" (4/5) 2 "Your Love Is King" (4/5) 3 "Hang On to Your Love" (3/5) 4 "Frankie's First Affair" (3/5) 5 "When Am I Going to Make a Living" (3/5) 6 "Cherry Pie" (3/5) 7 "Sally" (3/5) 8 "I Will Be Your Friend" (3/5) 9 "Why Can't We Live Together" (3/5) Total - 29 Average - 3.22 327/1001 179/327 albums reviewed were new to me.
Loverly, but a bit too smoooooth in places
I think you’ll find that it’s Sade who is the smooth operator. It's impressive that she can maintain such a romantic, cosy vibe for the full run time without the spell breaking or becoming cloying. It is a very singular approach bookended with the obvious hits that works a treat.
Better than the last couple we’ve had at least Smooth Operator is far and away the best song on here, couldn’t place the name but I’ve 100% heard it a bunch. Didn’t actually like the first 30 seconds or so but love the way it builds. Album is pretty easy on the ears, the use of jazz backing sounds pretty solid throughout. Vocals are not bad I really don’t have a whole lot of impressions after the lead single, just feels like everything kinda blends into each other and nothings interesting enough to get your attention. It’s far from bad but it’s just not memorable enough. I really don’t have a whole lot of other complaints though, kinda hard to explain why it didn’t resonate for me Wow I really just typed a bunch of words for this one didn’t I? Kinda fitting in a way, good enough to not hate on but too mediocre to actually discuss in detail
Pretty smooth (operator) I like the sound, not terribly exciting but I don't think I'd complain if it came on
Sade suffers from a peculular problem with fans like me. I REALLY like her music… One song at a time. Ok, maybe two or three, but every time I have ever sat down to listen to all of any of her albums all the way through... I get kinda almost, but not quite, bored. Ok. Now. Some bands are kinda boring because they are one hit wonders or generally not interesting. Others are kinda boring because they have great music intermixed with fodder. Sade IS quite great all around and some of her stuff is sublime. It is to do with the similar sound and vibe. Great one song at a time or two, but they all end up sounding the same.
Some songs are really good, the band is really good, but she doesn't always sing well, didn't like most of the songs of the album.
3.5
Very soulful and 80s
Nice!
More than a few mid-80s albums sound like Diamond Life but none feel this authentic. Some arrangements sound a bit Steely Dan-esque and there is quite a bit of saxophone but it's all tasteful.
Another album that I quite enjoyed but wouldn't gravitate to on my own
Groovy!
Mukavaa nais ääntä ja tunnelmallista, romanttista säveltä. Aikansa musiikkia
Smooth R&B album from the mid 80s. Hasn’t aged very well, but it’s a nice relaxing listen. 3.0/5.0
Every morning in the summer of 1984 we would pack into my mom’s car to go cleaning houses, and every morning started with Smooth Operator in constant rotation. I discovered then that I am not a fan of smooth jazz, which was the preferred sound on KOSI radio. Now that I’m older I appreciate this album more, which says something about me that younger doesn’t want to admit. Smooth Operator is still a bit twitchy for me but due to memory and not Sade’s work, which is musically catchy and well orchestrated. I would have to say that key songs for me are Hang On To Your Love, which has a great bass line, and Cherry Pie with the post-Disco vibes. I don’t know if I would look for this album, but I did enjoy listening to it twice today! …apologies to my seven year old self.
Some really strong tracks, but also got a little same-y. Second to last song kind of sounds like Smooth Operator but worse. So, a nice sounding record, great voice, but the arrangements didn't grab me.
its fine. prob foundational. too slow and not enough emotion for me; put it in broadening anyway
Smooth Operator is a great song. The rest of the album has the same mellow beat, but the songs aren't quite as strong.
First Listen; 3.5; I'll start this by saying that this is pretty far outside of what I normally listen to. With that said, I actually really like the production and instrumentation, and as a whole, I found the album to be an enjoyable listen. Sets a laidback mood and is extremely smooth. It does feel like there's more here than is apparent on the first or second listen, and something that I would listen to again depending on what I am in the mood for. Favorite Track: Sally
First track obviously bangs, rest is alright
Pretty good, but perhaps not too memorable. A perfect three in my eyes.
Great first song. The rest reminded me of Chris Rea mixed with cruise ship music. But really great first song!
Ok
Pretty smooth lounge music.
RATING: 6/10 HIGHLIGHT: Your Love is King LOWLIGHT: Cherry Pie
😮💨
Real Classic Africa POP from the 80s brings back memories
not as good as love deluxe
frankie's first affair, cherry pie, when am I going to make a living and sally
Smooth, jazzy, soft, vibey... In short, baby making music.
Chille cocktailpop
aangenaam 3.5
smooth. vibey. not too many songs stuck out. Smooth Operator is evergreen but my fav has gotta be When Am I Going to Make a Living. strong 3
Frankie’s first affair lowkey underrated I know it’s the long version but Hang on To Your Love is too long Put your hands together for Sallyyyyyy
Sade really has a voice! There’s a reason this album sold so well. This whole album is a jazzy pop soulish vibe.
smooth operator
Hey it was ok
After smooth operator opening I found new tracksto my ears. I heard why she had staying power. Will remember to play next time I’m making out :)
Lowkey understated.
Well done but not my thing
Smooth Operator brought me back to my childhood and defines the '80s adult contemporary/smooth jazz sound for me. Chill out / good vibes music, a cousin of bossa Nova.
Jazzy, a bit boring
it`s good I guess but not my kind of music
Wine Bar Music - but Premier Cru Wine Bar music
Okay!
Chill 80s album
Perfectly fine, though I think her 1992 album Love Deluxe is really much better. I also liked 808 State more 😂. 3 stars is apparently a broad umbrella for me.
In theory I should like this, she sounds great and the music grooves but this has always kinda bored me
first track is obviously a hit, the rest was cool to listen through, not a TOP album at all but really loved it sonically. Coincidentally, just saw today that Sade ("shar-DAY") was just entered into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
I love her voiceeee, felt the lyrics a bit basic but still an enjoyable album
Easily recognized for the radio hits. This one got a lot of play in its day. I also read and remembered that it could double as an emergency zombie killer in a disarmed society. (Shaun Of The Dead).
gran disco, buenos temas. se disfruta escuchar
Favorite Track: Smooth Operator
it is indeed smooth and chill, the whole way through. it's one note but at least that note is good.
Good enough. ★★★
Nice and smooth
The thing about smooth jazz that I tend to forget is that it's usually made by incredible musicians. I don't often like the whole, but there's no denying the parts. I had low expectations. This exceeded them.
Probably foundational, not my cup of tea. Great vocals, interesting Brazilian beats, but a little ambient/lounge vibe just didn't hit for me.
3/5
I found this very pleasant to listen to and could have it playing just about anytime. I was already familiar with Smooth Operator, but that was about it. Anyway, although enjoyable, it didn’t excite me at all and is the perfect example of a 3 star album for me.
Funky. Soul. Not A single banger. But good music all around. 4.5/9 70.71%
This was about what I expected. Background music. Good background music, but still. Not for me.
Although its cool and her voice is really sexy, I lind of listen a lot like of wham. Same style and delivery. Not my thing but cool music
Guaranteed to have smooth operator stuck in my head for a week now.
2/3. This album sounds like luxury. The arrangements can be a little boring at times, but more often than not they’re actually very musically interesting. But the centerpiece is obviously her voice; so rich and sensual. Really enjoyed listening to this, even if much of the album feels similar track to track.
Not a go to album for me, but on first listen I just enjoyed the chilled vibe. Played it a few times through the afternoon in the sunshine. Not groundbreaking but enjoyable
2 song became my fav!!
I would have told you in the 1980s that I hated this music. But I was a child and this album is great.
Good instrumentals. Sade has nice smooth vocals, but they're a little too smooth and with her singing style remaining mostly the same throughout the album, I found myself getting tired of her voice on repeat listens. My favorite track was "Frankie's First Affair".
I can see why Sade is praised so much. They really knew how to use a saxophone in the 80's
Hey, that’s iconic! Mastered very well.
Beautiful voice. Music was just ok.
Smooth Operator is a great song. The rest of the album can’t quite match that level, but it’s very chill. Tons of sax.
I liked this more than I was expecting to. I bet this was a huge hit in 1984! It still sounds modern.
Favourite Song: Sally Rating: 3.5 Stars Relaxing, with several moving songs. She has an amazing voice, and the rest of the band is also very good. However, nothing particularly stood out to me. Beautiful, but forgettable.
Was pretty good way to start a raining, tired Monday morning. Solid 3.5
This is fine, background listen stuff. Frankie my favorite, I guess
Sade mag ich gern, vor allem "Love Deluxe". Das Album hier klingt noch sehr nach den 80ern.
Loved smooth operator and frankies first affair but the rest fell flat
Couple bangers in here. Felt a little like a female version of George Michael’s. Really liked the groove a couple of the songs got into Fave songs: Smooth Operator and Hang on To Your Love Rating 3.5/5
Chill and sexy. I like the aux percussion and the organ and the electric piano. I wish there was just a tad more variety in tempo, key and time signature tho—some tracks were not especially memorable.
3.25 - I liked it pretty well. I definitely wouldn't throw the vinyl at a zombie, even if it belonged to Liz.
Smooooth operator! 3.5/5
Very soulful.
Aburrido, decepcionado
All the smooth jazz and soul you could want.
Beautiful voice.
5/10
Decent album with nice groove and vibe to it. From time to time it felt a little dull but overall it was a nice listening experience.
2.5 Stars Not bad, but not for me. Couple good tracks, but I'm not likely to come back to it. We love a good saxophone, though, so it gets an extra .5 for that
It’s not really my style of music, but I can appreciate that it’s a great album, and it brings back memories.
Very chill. Made for a good morning commute listen.
Good album. But she has better ones. Songs to long
음악을 가구처럼~
Enjoyed that much more than I expected to.
Great listen, laid-back impression, fantastic songs. I just can't rate the album higher because it's not my genre.
Props to the saxophone player
Smooth Operator is so good but it's clearly the standout
I'm not cool enough to really appreciate this.
3.25
Not bad
Just okay
Pretty good - not really my sort of thing but she has a great voice and the melodies are a relaxing listen.
3/5
This was a very new style for me but I enjoyed it. Pretty consistent all the way through with some strong sax parts. Hard to carry an album with a saxophone but this made it work.
Not my fave Sade
i feel like i'm getting seduced fav song: Smooth Operator
This is a vocalist so remarkably skilled and blessed with so great a voice she overcomes my dislike of the genre. She did record one song I truly loved, but it's not on this album.
Cool background music but I feel like the songs all sounded the same.
This was pretty average. Sade is a great singer and this isn’t bad by any means, but it does start to sound similar. The guitar funk tones are great. Liked Songs: "Smooth Operator" , "Your Love Is King" , "Hang On to Your Love" , "When Am I Going to Make A Living" , "Cherry Pie"
Objectively good, but I just couldn’t get behind the lyrics. First two tracks are stellar.
This is basically what I expected it to be after seeing the cover. It’s good, but not up my alley 2/27/26
2.7 Like I'm having a really long elevator ride and the elevator decides to come on to me and it's just kind of awkward.
A really good album. A smooth operator on the ears.
It’s a smooth sound. Almost too smooth
Sade is alright in my books but I feel like you need to be in a particular mood to throw this on.
Typical album for the 80s via incorporating funk and jazz influences Best-Smooth operator Worst-Frankies first affair
Muito mais do mesmo. Algumas músicas muito boas. 3 estrelas está bom
okay
Nothing much to say about this album other than I wished I liked it more. The instrumentation is smooth and good, Sade Adu is a fantastic singer, and the songs are good. Just... not great. Or maybe they are great, but it's just not for me. I would never say that this album is bad, and there is a lot to love here, but it's nothing I find incredibly interesting. I had a fine time listening to the album, but it's not fantastic and the chances of me re-listening to this album are slim to none. Good, but not great. The highlight for this album is Hang On to Your Love, which is a great song that is so well done.
Not what I’d usually put on - middle of the road for me
I like Sade's voice but her vocal hooks tend to be repetitive and same-y. I like the chill vibe but at the same time I got kind of bored with it and was skipping ahead before I hit the half way point. I liked it more than I didn't like it. 2.5/5
Quite good
Pretty much put me to sleep.
SMOOTH OPERATORRRRRRR. what a chill album, really really good
Not my thing.
Smooth and easy. I do like the clarity of the instruments and the voice. It's a very pleasant experience, but I probably won't return to it.
some smooth shit right here oh yeah.
Groovy I liked everything going on here, but I could’ve used a little more variety. Some of the songs seemed too similar. 3-3.5
Perfect background music for getting a tooth drilled.
Nice album. Obviously Smooth Operator is an iconic song, but I really think I liked Cherry Pie the most, very good