The Best of Sade

1	Your Love Is King 3:41
2	Hang on to Your Love 4:32
3	Smooth Operator 4:21
4	Jezebel 5:30
5	The Sweetest Taboo 4:38
6	Is It a Crime 6:23
7	Never as Good as the First Time 3:59
8	Love Is Stronger Than Pride 4:20
9	Paradise 3:39
10	Nothing Can Come Between Us 3:56
11	No Ordinary Love 7:22
12	Like a Tattoo 3:41
13	Kiss of Life 4:12
14	Please Send Me Someone to Love 3:43
15	Cherish the Day 6:19
16	Pearls 4:33

Barnes & Noble

From the painstaking ballads "Is It a Crime" and "Jezebel" to spirited, up-tempo favorites such as "Paradise" and "Kiss of Life," The Best of Sade is an essential addition to the collection of any true fan of the dynamic, African-Brit beauty. With the 1985 release of her jazzy debut, Diamond Life, the sultry vocalist turned contemporary R&B on its ear with her husky pipes and heart-wrenchingly honest lyrics. This stellar collection includes highlights from that disc ("Smooth Operator," "Your Love Is King") as well as cherished songs from her equally provocative follow-ups, Promise ("The Sweetest Taboo," "Never as Good as the First Time"), Stronger Than Pride ("Love Is Stronger Than Pride," "Nothing Can Come Between Us"), and Love Deluxe ("No Ordinary Love," "Cherish the Day"). Although this disc doesn't capture the full Sade experience, The Best of Sade offers an appetizing sampling of the delectable musings of this timeless artist. Tracy E. Hopkins

All Music Guide

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. The ice-princess demeanor and detached vocals worked perfectly for the mid-'80s singles and radio samples "Smooth Operator" and "Your Love Is King." The tracks from the make-or-break second album, Promise, seem less dolorous propped up and sequenced for a compilation. The sensual-to-a-fault "The Sweetest Taboo" and "Never As Good As the First Time" both retain their strength here. The songs from Stronger Than Pride -- "Love Is Stronger Than Pride," "Nothing Can Come Between Us," and the great "Paradise" -- all benefit from Ian Cooper's mastering job. This set also includes tracks from Sade's "comeback" CD, Love Deluxe, including "Kiss of Life" and "No Ordinary Love." As a bonus, The Best of Sade also includes a rare cover of "Please Send Me Someone to Love" from the Philadelphia soundtrack. 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. ~ Jason Elias, All Music Guide