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Sade - Diamond Life Audio CD

A fair review of the Sade "Diamond Life" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Sade reviews here, or go back to the Sade tabs.

Sade Band: Sade
Title: Diamond Life
Rating:
Release Date: 2000-11-14
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 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 Live Together

sweet as cherry pie
Hardly anyone knew it though, for she was one of those artists whose given name seems to say it all. Before there was Freddy Adu, Ghana-born, US-naturalized soccer phenom, there was in pop culture another Adu.

Her name is Folasade. We know her, and the English band that took her name as its own in the country to which she emigrated, as Sade.

Sade the band and Sade the singer had an unmistakably smooth, steady-rhythm sound that came to be frequently heard on the airwaves. Released in 1984, Diamond Life was the band's debut album. It's first two tracks, `Smooth Operator' and `Your Love is King', were significant hits.

Twenty-four years after the fact, Sade's sound comes understated and suggestive. There are no vocal or instrumental pyrotechnics. It is mood music that crosses over to dance. No doubt the striking looks of the band's eponymous front lady played its part in the group's success yet it would be mistaken to reduce this remarkable artist to eye candy. Her appearance, her sound, and her band made for a tight package of sight and sound.

The little-known `Why Can't We Live Together' may be the gem in the mix. The lengthy eeriness of its instrumental intro makes the listener long for the vocal entrance which, when it comes, is plaintive.

This is a modest landmark CD from the music scene of the 1980s and worth owning for its gentle pleasures.


How I love this recording
I had heard Smooth Operator in a bar in New York and had to find out what it was. I remember when this first came out. When I was able to get the album (yes, still albums back then) I think I wore it thin. Of course shortly afterwards, everyone I know had to have it. I still love this disc almost 25 years later (jeez!). Beautiful, sultry, sexy, smokey - a preview of great hings to come. It's time for something new - it's been a while, but I'll wait. .


A Diamond indeed!
This album reminds me of UK music magazines Smash Hits, Record Mirror, and Blues & Soul (ah, the days when hardcopies of magazines and music ruled) as it came out while these were the magazines of the day, and Sade was a regular visitor to their pages. This is an old album (I never thought 1984 would become old, lol!) but I was reminded of it while preparing my first Listmania list, for my 40 favourite albums (yes, it definitely made the list).

"Diamond Life" is the debut release from Nigerian chanteuse Folasade Adu and her Band, simply known by the moniker Sade (an abbreviation of her first name). A sleek catchy hybrid of Pop, Soul and Jazz, the album was a multi-million seller and won Sade the Grammy for best newcomer. It showcased excellent musicianship and clever lyrics, rarely bettered even today.

Right from the group's image (her ponytails, large hoop earrings and backless dresses), and the fantastic blue-tinged black and white cover art (giving a retro look to match the sound), everything about this album reeked sheer class, which permeated right through the nine tracks on the album.

Opening cut (and a favourite of mine), the aptly titled dramatic "Smooth operator" with percolating percussion, spoken intro with dramatic flourishes, sprinkled with tenor sax, and that dusky Blues-y voice telling the tale of this western male who goes from "Coast to coast, LA to Chicago" is still a classic to this day, much like anything by Ella or Billie I daresay.

Other standouts are the swinging horn-peppered "Your love is king", the retro funk of "When am I going to make a living" (with semi-biographical lyrics about perseverance despite the hard times the band faced before hitting the limelight, this was well before American Idol remember), the tender and lovely "I will be your friend", and the reworking of Timmy Thomas' paean for racial harmony "Why can't we live together" (with an extremely long brilliant jazzy intro, and rich in congas). Another favourite of mine is the groovy "Cherry pie" with a killer bassline and dreamy echoing vocal effects.

This album stood out when it came out (and that was a time crowded with great music mind you; Prince, MJ, Madonna, Duran Duran, Bowie, Kool & the Gang) and it is easy to see why. Additionally, unlike most other winners of the Grammy newcomer award, every subsequent studio release by Sade has been brilliant and gone platinum, confirming that they (the Grammys that is) definitely got it right that time. The music scene (in the UK at least) has come full cycle with loads of young girls (Amy Winehouse, Adele, Duffy et all) hearkening back to a time when music was, well, music.
.


Sade fan forever-- rainy afternoons were made for this
My Profile: No qualifications as a music expert

In the mid 80's there was this fabulous radio program (on AM) that displayed an unsual repertoire of music ranging from jazz (Manhattan Transfer - Al Di Meola) to Klaus Schlutz !!. anyway, I usually studied in this time and this was great music to have as a background. . then I hear Sade. . what a refreshing change of pace. . like hearing brazilian contemporary. . yet this had its unique style. . not strident. . sensous. . appealing. . the music to fall in love and be in love. .

Much like Marisa Monte. . Sade will be style you will keep as your favorite.


Diamonds are forever
It's the best of all Sade and if you're a true fan this CD and or grouping of the original releases is a must. This CD's fantastic and has been on my wish list for sometime. I didn't feel my collection was complete without Diamond Life and I'm sure once you purchase the original release (not the re-mastered) you'll understand why you've always felt like something was missing.


You can see a complete list of all Sade discography, or go back to the Sade tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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