Paradise - Sade

In Spain, promotional singles were often made in a special edition of only one side. The B-side remained blank, and for some people, including me, that means they are desirable collector's items. I try to not go overboard with this, because there are limits to my budget, but every now and then I like to order some of these beauties. 

Sade released 'Paradise' in 1988, a track from her third album Stronger than pride. It was remixed for the single release, because the album version was a bit too long. This single has - you guessed it - one side, but the sleeve remains the same as the commercial one, announcing an instrumental version of 'Paradise' on the B-side. I guess DJ's could do without it.

My collection: 7" single no. 7238
Found: Discogs.com, received 26 June 2024
Tracks: 'Paradise (remix)'

Queen of sorrow - Sade

A white label 12" featuring a 10 minute remix of a Sade song. It sounds pretty interesting, doesn't it? Well, that's what I thought. The 12" came with an A4 leaflet announcing that the disc contained "the choc electric 2001 mixes", but only one side is playable. As for the track itself, well... admittedly it does seem to contain a few samples of Sade Adu's voice, but the whole thing sounds pretty dismal. But I bet that this kind of thing did pretty well in clubs at the beginning of this century.

I played it, I recorded it and I put it up for sale on Discogs. If you'd like to own it - there's your chance. Meanwhile, I'll wait for better Sade discs to turn up.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Record fair, Delft, 4 May 2024
Tracks: 'Queen of sorrow (Choc Electric 2001 mix)'

Never as good as the first time - Sade

I could buy a lot of singles by Sade just for the artwork. There have been a lot of different sleeves in different territories, and they usually look stunning, because their frontwoman is rather photogenic. Still, I haven't actively collected their singles, buying them is often just a case of adding them to a stack of singles I'm buying from a dealer at a record fair, or in this case, an online order.

'Never as good as the first time' came in this great sleeve in America. I was actually buying a rare promotional cd by Happy Rhodes - you won't find her in this blog because she never released any 7" singles unfortunately - but the same dealer had a few rather interesting singles to go with it. The sleeve is very different from this one and this one, and so I decided to get it without much doubt.

My collection: 7" single no. 6311
Found: Discogs.com, received July 27, 2020
Cost: $2
Tracks: 'Never as good as the first time (remix edit)' / 'Keep hanging on (live instrumental)'

When am I going to make a living - Sade

I don't have a lot of test pressings and white label records, but this one must be pretty sought after by Sade fans. I found it in one of the Music & Video Exchanges in London in a corner of a basement in Camden. I would never have bought it if the sleeve, which was white, had been written on. That way, it was easier to recognise this record - a snip at just 50p.

Not that this particular 12" single had a lot to offer: two tracks from Sade's debut album 'Diamond life' and the B-side 'Should I love you', which I already had at the time. But still, it's a white label record. Collectors items like these are quite hard to find.

My collection: 12" single no. 106
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 1990
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'When am I going to make a living' / 'Why can't we live together', 'Should I love you'

By your side - Sade

'By your side' was the first single from Sade's fifth studio album 'Lovers Rock', released in 2000. The track was nominated for the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, losing out to Nelly Furtado's 'I'm like a bird' (unbelievably). The single reached number 17 in the UK singles chart.

As far as I know, this is the only release of the single on 7": an American pressing featuring the same track on both sides. It's also, as far as I know, the last 7" single release by Sade.

My collection: 7" single no. 3270
Found: HMV, London, October 23, 2000
Cost: 4 pounds
Tracks: 'By your side' / 'By your side'

Cherish the day - Sade

I think this 7" single is quite rare. As far as I know, 'Cherish the day' was only released on this format in Spain. And even then, it was just a promotional single. I guess I was lucky to find a copy.

'Cherish the day' was the fourth and final single from Sade's fourth album 'Love deluxe'. Despite the fact that it was remixed for the single release, it was not a very successful single. It only reached number 53 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2444
Found: Record fair, September 2, 1995
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Cherish the day (Sade remix short version)' / 'No ordinary love'

Kiss of life - Sade

'Kiss of life' was the third single taken from Sade's fourth studio album 'Love deluxe' (1992). Released in May 1993, it was a minor hit in the USA, where it peaked at number 78. In the UK, the single reached number 44.

I've actually got two different copies of this single: one copy is the commercial 7" single as sold in the UK, the other is a Spanish promotional 7" single, with only one side actually containing music, i.e. the track 'Kiss of life'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1954 / no. 1999
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 25, 1993 / Virgin Megastore, London, October 18, 1993
Cost: 3 guilders / 1 pound
Tracks: 'Kiss of life' / 'Room 55' (not on no. 1954)

Feel no pain - Sade

A colleague of my sister went to London in December 1992. These were strange times: international mail order was still in its infancy, while 7" singles became increasingly rare in the Netherlands. So I took it as an opportunity to have the latest Sade single brought to me. It was bought and I paid back the amount via my sister. That's how I got 'Feel no pain', a single I actually didn't see very often during record fairs and the like after that.

'Feel no pain' is a rather socially conscious song, with a lyric about unemployment. As Sade were better known for their carefree, laidback songs, this single wasn't a huge success: it reached number 56 in the UK singles chart and didn't reach the US Billboard Hot 100.

My collection: 7" single no. 1798
Found: Virgin Megastore, London, received December 7, 1992
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Feel no pain' / 'Love is stronger than pride (Mad Professor remix)'

No ordinary love - Sade

'No ordinary love' was released as the first single from Sade's fourth studio album 'Love deluxe'. The band had been away from the scene for three years and their comeback was highly anticipated. Some may have thought it was time for the band to explore new territories musically, but the song fit perfectly into the formula that had been so successful the three previous albums.

The single reached number 14 in the UK singles chart and number 19 in the Dutch Top 40. In the US Billboard Hot 100, the single was slightly less successful, peaking at number 28. It was impossible to find this 7" single in the Netherlands, but fortunately a holiday in London helped me get the single after all.

My collection: 7" single no. 1727
Found: HMV, London, October 17, 1992
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'No ordinary love' / 'Paradise (remix)'

Nothing can come between us - Sade

'Nothing can come between us' was released as the third single from Sade's 1988 album 'Stronger than pride'. The single was the second to feature backing vocalist Leroy Osbourne prominently, after 'Never as good as the first time'.

It was one of Sade's less successful singles, as it only reached number 92 in the UK singles chart. In other territories the single didn't chart at all, except in some of the segregated American charts (R&B and AC, reaching number 3 and 21 respectively).

My collection: 7" single no. 672
Found: Free Record Shop, Den haag, October 28, 1988
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Nothing can come between us' / 'Make some room'

Paradise - Sade

'Paradise' was the second single from Sade's 1988 album 'Stronger than pride'. It was released in the summer of 1988 and reached number 16 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the UK, it reached number 29 and in the Netherlands it peaked at number 26.

My copy of the single is an American pressing. For some reason, a European pressing was hard to come by at the time.

My collection: 7" single no. 641
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, July 23, 1988
Cost: 4 guilders
Tracks: 'Paradise' / 'Super bien total'

Love is stronger than pride - Sade

The first single from Sade's third album 'Stronger than pride' was the track 'Love is stronger than pride'. On the sleeve and in the accompanying music video, frontwoman Sade Adu was pictured on the beach in an attempt to 'sex up' the band. It didn't entirely work, as there was a certain distance exuding from her.

The single performed best, chart-wise, in the Netherlands, where it reached number 18. In the UK, where this limited edition single with a free colour poster was released, the single stalled at number 44.

My collection: 7" single no. 2631
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, March 16, 1996
Cost: 7 guilders
Tracks: 'Love is stronger than pride' / 'Super bien total'

Never as good as the first time - Sade

I'm glad to say that my collection of Sade singles also contains some rarities. Some of them have already been featured on this blog - and here's another one. 'Never as good as the first time' was the third single from Sade's second album 'Promise' and while it was re-recorded for the single release, this Spanish promo contains the album version of the track.

What's more, it is a one-sided disc. Although the B-side does have a label, there is no groove pressed on it. The sleeve features the Spanish tour dates and a photograph that is not used on the regular sleeve of the single. Quite the collector's item!

My collection: 7" single no. 3268
Found: October 22, 2000
Cost: ?
Tracks: 'Never as good as the first time'

Never as good as the first time - Sade

Sade recorded a new version of 'Never as good as the first time' for the third single release from their second album 'Promise'. This new version featured new backing vocalist Leroy Osborne prominently, giving the track a whole new lease of life.

Still, it didn't become the band's biggest hit. The single reached number 20 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, but in Europe the single landed outside the top 30. As a result, this was the last single release from 'Promise' and Sade went back to the studio to record their third album.

My collection: 7" single no. 416
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, June 21, 1986
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Never as good as the first time' / 'Keep hanging on'

Is it a crime - Sade

I think 'Is it a crime' is Sade's 'Bohemian rhapsody', in that it features a few different pieces of music, once loud, then more intimate. The dynamic range of this song is quite unbelievable, although the style is unmistakably Sade.

'Is it a crime' was the second single from Sade's 1985 album 'Promise'. It wasn't a big hit, peaking at number 49 in the UK singles chart and number 32 in the Dutch Top 40. The highest placing was in Ireland, where it reached number 21.

My collection: 7" single no. 364
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Is it a crime' / 'Punch drunk'

The sweetest taboo - Sade

Sade introduced her second album 'Promise' with this single, 'The sweetest taboo'. The track built on the sound that was laid down on her debut album 'Diamond life'. Although at first I was not convinced by this composition, it grew on me over the years.

The single peaked at number 31 in the UK singles chart, but did much better in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 5. In the Netherlands, 'The sweetest taboo' reached number 14. 'You're not the man' was a non-album track, although it was later included on the Compact Disc release of 'Promise'.

My collection: 7" single no. 340
Found: LP Top 100, 1985
Cost: 5,5 guilders
Tracks: 'The sweetest taboo' / 'You're not the man'

Hang on to your love - Sade

The most interesting singles are those you can't find in the shops. And then there's the singles released in other countries. Combine the two, and there you have it: the foreign promo. This particular one is a promo 7" single for Sade's 'Hang on to your love', released in Spain.

Not only did it have a different sleeve, it's also a one-sided single, which means that the B-side is missing here. A lovely item, which I picked up a long time ago!

My collection: 7" single no. 1955
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 25, 1993
Cost: 10 guilders
Track: 'Hang on to your love'

Hang on to your love - Sade

Although 'Hang on to your love' was the fourth and last single from Sade's debut album 'Diamond life' in Europe, it was released almost at the same time in the USA as Sade's first single. While the USA single featured a 4'19 edit of the song, the European version was even shorter, clocking in at 3'58. The single was not released in the UK at all.

'Hang on to your love' reached number 28 in the Dutch Top 40 and narrowly missed the US Billboard Hot 100. It didn't harm her career: later on Sade would achieve an enormous popular across the Atlantic.

My collection: 7" single no. 479
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Hang on to your love (edit)' / 'Should I love you'

Smooth operator - Sade

'Smooth operator' was released as the third single from Sade's debut album 'Diamond life'. Ray St. John, who co-wrote the song with Sade Adu, was a member of Adu's former band Pride, although he was not a member of the band Sade. The pair had co-written the song in 1982 while still members of Pride, but they did not get around to recording it because St. John left Pride shortly after Sade joined.

The B-side of the single contained a non-album track, 'Spirit', whereas the A-side was an edited version of the album track. It reached number 5 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 19 in both the UK singles chart and the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1417
Found: April 7, 1991
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Smooth operator' / 'Spirit'

When am I going to make a living - Sade

I might never have become a fan of Sade's music if it wasn't for this single. I thought her debut 'Your love is king' was pretty boring, and initially I didn't like this song either when it showed up on music video TV channels. But the chorus grabbed me one day, and I found myself buying the single not long after that. It went on from there: 'Smooth operator' was kindof interesting (although I very much preferred the 12" and extended video version) and by the time 'Hang on to your love' was released, I was looking for the album.

This single reached number 12 in the Netherlands and number 36 in the UK singles chart. I'm relieved to hear that Sade is about to release a new album later this year. Well, knowing how quickly the band works, it could also be 2010.

My collection: 7" single no. 243
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1984
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'When am I going to make a living' / 'Should I love you'