#200 Sade, 'Diamond Life' (1984)

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‘Diamond Life’ is the debut album by former model and backing vocalist-turned-frontwoman, Sade Adu. To be fair, Sade is a essentially band named after its singer. The album opens with one of the smoothest sax melodies of all time. ‘Smooth Operator’ is a song I remember constantly being on radio when I was a kid. The album takes its name from this song; “Diamond life, loverboy.” The song, and album too, in fact, brings together the sounds of Smooth Jazz and Soul to create a new subgenre Neo Soul. Second track on the record, ‘Your Love Is King,’ was in fact, the first single. Once again, featuring a sexy sax melody line.

The album gave rise to a new UK sound, opening doors for artists such as Simply Red, Soul II Soul and later, artists like Jamiroquai. The album is smooth, inoffensive and so typically of its time. I found it didn’t quite have as much punch as later album, ‘Love Deluxe,’ but as with that album, her voice is sublime, as is the band. The album would go on to be certified 4x Platinum in both the US, UK and Australia. It found its way to the top of the charts in Australia, France, Germany, Netherlands and Switzerland, and achieved top 10 in the US, UK and Aus.

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