The Best of Sade

1994 greatest hits album by Sade

The Best of Sade

Greatest hits album by

Sade

Released| 31 October 1994 (1994-10-31)
Recorded| 1983–1993
Studio|

* The Power Plant (London)[a]
* Miraval (Le Val, France)[b]
* Compass Point (Nassau, Bahamas)[c]
* Marcadet (Paris)[c]
* Condulmer (Venice)[d]
* Ridge Farm (Surrey, England)[d]
* The Hit Factory (London)[d]
* Conway (Los Angeles)[e]
* Ameraycan (Los Angeles)[e]

Length| 74:03
Label| Epic
Producer|

* Hein Hoven
* Robin Millar
* Mike Pela
* Ben Rogan
* Sade

Sade chronology
| Love Deluxe
(1992)  | The Best of Sade
(1994)  | Lovers Rock
(2000)

|
|

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [1]
Christgau's Consumer Guide| [2]
Entertainment Weekly| A[3]
Music Week| [4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide| [5]

The Best of Sade is the first greatest hits album by English band Sade, released by Epic Records in the United Kingdom on 31 October 1994 and in the United States on 4 November 1994. The compilation chronicles Sade's first four studio albums, while also including non-single songs "Jezebel", "Like a Tattoo" and "Pearls", as well as "Please Send Me Someone to Love", which appeared in the soundtrack to the film Philadelphia. The album was digitally remastered in 2000.

The singles from Diamond Life, as well as Stronger Than Pride's "Paradise" and "Nothing Can Come Between Us", are presented in their 7″ edit forms; "Never as Good as the First Time" and "Cherish the Day" are remixes produced by Sade, also taken from their respective singles. None of this information is listed within the album's packaging. The album artwork is a photograph of Adu, taken on set in 1992 by Albert Watson when he directed the band's music video for "Feel No Pain".[6]

## Critical reception

[edit]

AllMusic's Jason Elias wrote, "By the time this was released in 1994, something unexpected happened. Sade's early work became classic and the later additions boasted even better vocals and songs that nicely improved on the theme. The timeless sound and class always exhibited makes Sade Adu and her band a no-brainer for an appealing compilation. Like Al Green's Greatest Hits, The Best of Sade doesn't detract from the original albums and is a marker of time, not the end of the act... Despite its riches, The Best of Sade doesn't include all of the best, since 'Maureen' and or 'Keep Looking' aren't here. It's a small complaint and The Best of Sade is a great overview."[1] Robert Christgau called the album "another loungecore alternative".[2]

## Track listing

[edit]

No.| Title| Writer(s)| Producer(s)| Length

|
|
|
|

1.| "Your Love Is King" (from Diamond Life, 1984)|

* Sade Adu
* Stuart Matthewman

| Robin Millar| 3:43
2.| "Hang On to Your Love" (edit of LP version, on Diamond Life, 1984)|

* Adu
* Matthewman

| Millar| 4:31
3.| "Smooth Operator" (7" edit, on Diamond Life, 1984)|

* Adu
* Ray St. John

| Millar| 4:18
4.| "Jezebel" (from Promise, 1985)|

* Adu
* Matthewman

| Millar| 5:25
5.| "The Sweetest Taboo" (from Promise, 1985)|

* Adu
* Martin Ditcham

| Millar| 4:25
6.| "Is It a Crime?" (from Promise, 1985)|

* Adu
* Matthewman
* Andrew Hale

| Millar| 6:17
7.| "Never as Good as the First Time" (remix edit, from Promise, 1985)|

* Adu
* Matthewman

* Millar
* Ben Rogan
* Mike Pela
* Sade

| 3:59
8.| "Love Is Stronger Than Pride" (from Stronger Than Pride, 1988)|

* Adu
* Matthewman
* Hale

* Sade
* Pela[a]
* Rogan[a]

| 4:18
9.| "Paradise" (remix, from Stronger Than Pride, 1988)|

* Adu
* Matthewman
* Hale
* Paul S. Denman

* Sade
* Pela[a]
* Rogan[a]

| 3:37
10.| "Nothing Can Come Between Us" (radio edit, from Stronger Than Pride, 1988)|

* Adu
* Matthewman
* Hale

* Sade
* Pela[a]
* Rogan[a]

| 3:53
11.| "No Ordinary Love" (from Love Deluxe, 1992)|

* Adu
* Matthewman

* Sade
* Pela[a]

| 7:20
12.| "Like a Tattoo" (from Love Deluxe, 1992)|

* Adu
* Matthewman
* Hale

* Sade
* Pela[a]

| 3:37
13.| "Kiss of Life" (radio edit, from Love Deluxe, 1992)|

* Adu
* Matthewman
* Hale
* Denman

* Sade
* Pela[a]

| 4:11
14.| "Please Send Me Someone to Love" (from Philadelphia soundtrack, 1994)| Percy Mayfield|

* Sade
* Hein Hoven

| 3:42
15.| "Cherish the Day" (Sade remix, from Love Deluxe, 1992)|

* Adu
* Matthewman
* Hale

* Sade
* Pela[a]

| 6:19
16.| "Pearls" (from Love Deluxe, 1992)|

* Adu
* Hale

* Sade
* Pela[a]

| 4:37
Total length:| 74:03

### Notes

[edit]

* ^[a] signifies a co-producer

## Personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Best of Sade.[7]

### Sade

[edit]

* Sade Adu – vocals
* Andrew Hale – keyboards
* Stuart Matthewman – guitar, saxophone
* Paul S. Denman – bass

### Additional musicians

[edit]

* Dave Early – drums, percussion (tracks 1–7)
* Martin Ditcham – percussion (tracks 1–11, 13); drums (tracks 8–10, 13)
* Paul Cooke – drums (tracks 1–3)
* Terry Bailey – trumpet (tracks 1–7)
* Gordon Matthewman – trumpet (tracks 1–3)
* Pete Beachill – trombone (tracks 4–7)
* Leroy Osbourne – vocals (tracks 7–13, 15, 16)
* Jake Jacas – vocals (track 7)
* Gordon Hunte – guitar (tracks 9, 14)
* Nick Ingman – string arrangements (tracks 13, 16)
* Gavyn Wright – orchestra leader (tracks 11–13, 15, 16)
* Tony Pleeth – solo cello (track 16)
* Karl Van Den Bossche – percussion (track 14)
* Trevor Murrell – drums (track 14)

### Technical

[edit]

* Robin Millar – production (tracks 1–7)
* Mike Pela – production engineering (tracks 1–7); production (track 7); engineering, co-production (tracks 8–13, 15, 16)
* Pete Brown – engineering assistance (tracks 1–7)
* Simon Driscoll – engineering assistance (tracks 1–7)
* Ben Rogan – production (track 7); engineering, co-production (tracks 8–10)
* Sade – production (tracks 7–13, 15, 16), arrangement (tracks 8–13, 15, 16)
* Phil Legg – engineering assistance (tracks 4–7)
* Melanie West – engineering assistance (tracks 8–10)
* Vince McCartney – engineering assistance (tracks 8–10)
* Franck Segarra – engineering assistance (tracks 8–10)
* Olivier de Bosson – engineering assistance (tracks 8–10)
* Alain Lubrano – engineering assistance (tracks 8–10)
* Jean-Christophe Vareille – engineering assistance (tracks 8–10)
* Sandro Franchin – engineering assistance (tracks 11–13, 15, 16)
* Adrian Moore – engineering assistance (tracks 11–13, 15, 16)
* Marc Williams – engineering assistance (tracks 11–13, 15, 16)
* Hein Hoven – production, mixing (track 14)
* Ian Cooper – mastering

### Artwork

[edit]

* Albert Watson – photography
* Jo Strettel – photography
* Peter Brawne – design

## Charts

[edit]

### Weekly charts

[edit]

1994–1995 weekly chart performance  | Chart (1994–1995)  | Peak
position

|

Australian Albums (ARIA)[8] | 23
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[9] | 9
Belgian Albums (IFPI)[10] | 3
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[11] | 22
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[12] | 9
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[13] | 21
European Albums (Music & Media)[14] | 5
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[15] | 12
French Compilation Albums (SNEP)[16] | 8
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[17] | 15
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[18] | 12
Irish Albums (IFPI)[12] | 6
Italian Albums (Musica e dischi)[19] | 5
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[20] | 27
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[21] | 5
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[22] | 12
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[10] | 4
Scottish Albums (OCC)[23] | 26
Spanish Albums (AFYVE)[24] | 10
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[25] | 7
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[26] | 11
UK Albums (OCC)[27] | 6
UK R&B Albums (OCC)[28] | 1
US Billboard 200[29] | 9
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[30] | 7
1999 weekly chart performance  Chart (1999)  | Peak
position

|

Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[31] | 38
2005 weekly chart performance  Chart (2005)  | Peak
position

|

UK Jazz & Blues Albums (OCC)[32] | 4
2010 weekly chart performance  Chart (2010)  | Peak
position

|

Polish Albums (ZPAV)[33] | 6
2022 weekly chart performance  Chart (2022)  | Peak
position

|

Greek Albums (IFPI Greece)[34] | 2
2024 weekly chart performance  Chart (2022)  | Peak
position

|

Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[35] | 126
US Contemporary Jazz Albums (Billboard)  | 1

### Year-end charts

[edit]

1994 year-end chart performance  | Chart (1994)  | Position

|

Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[36] | 63
UK Albums (OCC)[37] | 40
1995 year-end chart performance  Chart (1995)  | Position

|

Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[38] | 83
European Albums (Music & Media)[39] | 52
US Billboard 200[40] | 45
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[41] | 19
2024 year-end chart performance  Chart (2024)  | Position

|

Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[42] | 176

## Certifications

[edit]

Certifications for The Best of Sade Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Argentina (CAPIF)[43] | Platinum  | 60,000^
Australia (ARIA)[44] | 3× Platinum  | 210,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[45] | Gold  | 25,000*
Belgium (BRMA)[46] | Platinum  | 50,000*
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[47] | Gold  | 100,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[48] | 3× Platinum  | 300,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[49] | 3× Platinum  | 60,000‡
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[50] | Gold  | 34,474[50]
France (SNEP)[51] | 2× Gold  | 200,000*
Germany (BVMI)[52] | Gold  | 250,000^
Italy (FIMI)[53] | Platinum  | 50,000*
Japan (RIAJ)[54] | Gold  | 100,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[55] | Platinum  | 100,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[56] | Platinum  | 15,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[57] | Platinum  | 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[58]
1994 release  | Platinum  | 300,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[59]
2000 release  | 2× Platinum  | 600,000^
United States (RIAA)[60] | 4× Platinum  | 4,000,000^
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[61] | 2× Platinum  | 2,000,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Tracks 1–7
2. ^ Tracks 4–10
3. ^ a b Tracks 8–10
4. ^ a b c Tracks 11–13, 15 and 16
5. ^ a b Track 14

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Elias, Jason. "The Best of Sade – Sade". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
2. ^ a b Christgau, Robert (2000). "CG Book '90s: S". Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s. Macmillan. ISBN 0-3122-4560-2. Retrieved 30 March 2019 – via RobertChristgau.com.
3. ^ Jones, Anderson (18 November 1994). "Music Review: 'The Best of Sade' (1994)". Entertainment Weekly. No. 249. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
4. ^ Jones, Alan (29 October 1994). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Albums" (PDF). Music Week. p. 15. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
5. ^ Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian, eds. (2004). "Sade". The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). New York: Simon & Schuster. p. 712. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
6. ^ Watson, Albert [@albertwatsonphotography]; (31 May 2022). "Albert Watson photograph "Sade, New Mexico, 1992," taken when Albert directed Sade's video "Feel No Pain" from the album "Love Deluxe." Albert shot the photo on the Salt Flats of New Mexico, and it was later used on the cover of "The Best of Sade" from a gelatin silver print Albert made" – via Instagram.
7. ^ The Best of Sade (liner notes). Sade. Epic Records. 1994. 477793 2.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
8. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Sade – The Best of Sade". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
9. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Sade – The Best of Sade" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
10. ^ a b "Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 49\. 3 December 1994. p. 51\. ISSN 0006-2510 – via Google Books.
11. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 2681". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
12. ^ a b "Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 50\. 10 December 1994. p. 51\. ISSN 0006-2510 – via Google Books.
13. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Sade – The Best of Sade" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
14. ^ "Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 52\. 24 December 1994. p. 55\. ISSN 0006-2510 – via Google Books.
15. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
16. ^ "Le Détail des Albums de chaque Artiste". InfoDisc (in French). Retrieved 16 April 2022. Select "EURYTHMICS" from the drop-down menu and click "OK".
17. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Sade – The Best of Sade" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
18. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 1995. 2. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
19. ^ "Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 52\. 24 December 1994. p. 54\. ISSN 0006-2510 – via Google Books.
20. ^ シャーデーのアルバム売り上げランキング [Sade album sales ranking] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on 31 March 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
21. ^ "Charts.nz – Sade – The Best of Sade". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
22. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Sade – The Best of Sade". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
23. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
24. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 6\. 11 February 1995. p. 15\. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
25. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Sade – The Best of Sade". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
26. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Sade – The Best of Sade". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
27. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
28. ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
29. ^ "Sade Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
30. ^ "Sade Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
31. ^ "Ultratop.be – Sade – The Best of Sade" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
32. ^ "Official Jazz & Blues Albums Chart Top 30". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
33. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
34. ^ "Official IFPI Charts – Top-75 Albums Sales Chart (Combined) – Week: 48/2022". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
35. ^ "Ultratop.be – Sade – The Best of Sade" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
36. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1994" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
37. ^ "Top 100 Albums 1994" (PDF). Music Week. 14 January 1995. p. 11\. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
38. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1995" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
39. ^ "Year End Sales Charts – European Top 100 Albums 1995" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 51/52. 23 December 1995. p. 14\. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
40. ^ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1995". Billboard. Archived from the original on 6 May 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
41. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1995". Billboard. Archived from the original on 6 May 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
42. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2024" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
43. ^ "Discos de Oro y Platino" (in Spanish). Argentine Chamber of Phonograms and Videograms Producers. Archived from the original on 31 May 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2008.
44. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2011 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
45. ^ "Austrian album certifications – Sade – The Best Of" (in German). IFPI Austria. 6 April 1998. Retrieved 31 May 2008.
46. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 2002". Ultratop. Hung Medien. 20 February 2002. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
47. ^ "Brazilian album certifications – Sade – The Best of Sade" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
48. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Sade – The Best of Sade". Music Canada. 24 January 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
49. ^ "Danish album certifications – Sade – Best of Sade". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
50. ^ a b "Sade" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 8 February 2009.
51. ^ "French album certifications – Sade – The Best Of" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. 21 December 1994. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
52. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Sade; 'The Best of Sade')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
53. ^ "Italian album certifications – Sade – The Best Of" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
54. ^ "Japanese album certifications – シャーデー – ザ・ベスト・オブ・シャーデー" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 17 October 2018. Select 1994年12月 on the drop-down menu
55. ^ "Dutch album certifications – Sade – The Best of Sade" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 29 January 2019. Enter The Best of Sade  in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1997 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
56. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Sade – The Best of Sade". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
57. ^ Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (PDF) (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. p. 940\. ISBN 84-8048-639-2. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
58. ^ "British album certifications – Sade – The Best Of". British Phonographic Industry. 1 December 1994. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
59. ^ "British album certifications – Sade – The Best Of". British Phonographic Industry. 22 July 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
60. ^ "American album certifications – Sade – Best of Sade". Recording Industry Association of America. 1 April 1999. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
61. ^ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 1996". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 31 May 2008.

* v
* t
* e

Sade

* Sade Adu
* Paul Denman
* Andrew Hale
* Stuart Matthewman

* Paul Anthony Cook
* Dave Early

Studio albums|

* Diamond Life
* Promise
* Stronger Than Pride
* Love Deluxe
* Lovers Rock
* Soldier of Love

Live releases|

* Live
* Lovers Live
* Bring Me Home: Live 2011

Compilation albums|

* The Best of Sade
* The Ultimate Collection

Singles|

* "Your Love Is King"
* "When Am I Going to Make a Living"
* "Smooth Operator"
* "Hang On to Your Love"
* "The Sweetest Taboo"
* "Is It a Crime?"
* "Never as Good as the First Time"
* "Love Is Stronger Than Pride"
* "Paradise"
* "Nothing Can Come Between Us"
* "Turn My Back on You"
* "Haunt Me"
* "No Ordinary Love"
* "Feel No Pain"
* "Kiss of Life"
* "Cherish the Day"
* "By Your Side"
* "King of Sorrow"
* "Somebody Already Broke My Heart" (live)
* "Soldier of Love"
* "Babyfather"
* "The Moon and the Sky"
* "Still in Love with You"
* "Flower of the Universe"
* "The Big Unknown"

Concert tours|

* Promise Tour
* Lovers Rock Tour
* Sade Live

Related articles|

* Discography
* Awards and nominations
* Sweetback

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

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