Essential Sade

Lyricist: Sade Adu.
Personnel: Sade Adu (vocals, programming); Stuart Matthewman (guitar, saxophone, programming); Andrew Hale (keyboards, programming).
Recording information: Angel Studios (09/1999-08/2000); Compass Point Studios, Nassau, Bahamas (09/1999-08/2000); Deliverance Studios (09/1999-08/2000); El Cortijo, Spain (09/1999-08/2000); Metalworks Studios, Toronto, Canada (09/1999-08/2000); Modern World Studios, UK (09/1999-08/2000); Real World Studios, UK (09/1999-08/2000); Ridge Farm, Surrey (09/1999-08/2000); Roc The Mic Studios, New York, NY (09/1999-08/2000); Sarm Hook End, UK (09/1999-08/2000); Studio Condulmer, Venice (09/1999-08/2000); Studio Marcadet, Paris, France (09/1999-08/2000); Studio Miraval, France (09/1999-08/2000); The Hit Factory, London (09/1999-08/2000); The Power Plant, London (09/1999-08/2000); Angel Studios (1984-1985); Compass Point Studios, Nassau, Bahamas (1984-1985); Deliverance Studios (1984-1985); El Cortijo, Spain (1984-1985); Metalworks Studios, Toronto, Canada (1984-1985); Modern World Studios, UK (1984-1985); Real World Studios, UK (1984-1985); Ridge Farm, Surrey (1984-1985); Roc The Mic Studios, New York, NY (1984-1985); Sarm Hook End, UK (1984-1985); Studio Condulmer, Venice (1984-1985); Studio Marcadet, Paris, France (1984-1985); Studio Miraval, France (1984-1985); The Hit Factory, London (1984-1985); The Power Plant, London (1984-1985); Angel Studios (1985-1987); Compass Point Studios, Nassau, Bahamas (1985-1987); Deliverance Studios (1985-1987); El Cortijo, Spain (1985-1987); Metalworks Studios, Toronto, Canada (1985-1987); Modern World Studios, UK (1985-1987); Real World Studios, UK (1985-1987); Ridge Farm, Surrey (1985-1987); Roc The Mic Studios, New York, NY (1985-1987); Sarm Hook End, UK (1985-1987); Studio Condulmer, Venice (1985-1987); Studio Marcadet, Paris, France (1985-1987); Studio Miraval, France (1985-1987); The Hit Factory, London (1985-1987); The Power Plant, London (1985-1987); Angel Studios (1987); Compass Point Studios, Nassau, Bahamas (1987); Deliverance Studios (1987); El Cortijo, Spain (1987); Metalworks Studios, Toronto, Canada (1987); Modern World Studios, UK (1987); Real World Studios, UK (1987); Ridge Farm, Surrey (1987); Roc The Mic Studios, New York, NY (1987); Sarm Hook End, UK (1987); Studio Condulmer, Venice (1987); Studio Marcadet, Paris, France (1987); Studio Miraval, France (1987); The Hit Factory, London (1987); The Power Plant, London (1987); Angel Studios (1992); Compass Point Studios, Nassau, Bahamas (1992); Deliverance Studios (1992); El Cortijo, Spain (1992); Metalworks Studios, Toronto, Canada (1992); Modern World Studios, UK (1992); Real World Studios, UK (1992); Ridge Farm, Surrey (1992); Roc The Mic Studios, New York, NY (1992); Sarm Hook End, UK (1992); Studio Condulmer, Venice (1992); Studio Marcadet, Paris, France (1992); Studio Miraval, France (1992); The Hit Factory, London (1992); The Power Plant, London (1992).
Photographer: Sophie Muller.
A re-release of 2011's The Ultimate Collection, The Essential Sade contains all but two of the Sade singles -- "When Am I Going to Make a Living" and, unfortunately, "Turn My Back on You" -- released through the first six studio albums. There are six well-chosen album cuts, highlighted by the exceptionally spacious Love Deluxe ballads "Bullet Proof Soul" and "Pearls." For some Sade followers, the one rarity (a restrained Neptunes mix of "By Your Side") and four new songs will be enough to justify re-acquiring the old material. The best of the new songs is a cover of Thin Lizzy's anguished ballad "Still in Love with You," a surprising but strikingly appropriate choice that is granted a hint of sweetness. On the opposite end, a remix of Soldier of Love's "The Moon and the Sky," featuring Jay-Z, marks Sade's first and hopefully last collaboration with an MC. The greater part of this two-hour anthology condenses a rich catalog of impeccably sophisticated and subtly stimulating pop, from 1984's seductive "Your Love Is King" to 2009's chilling "Soldier of Love." ~ Andy Kellman