50 Years of Soul Power

Posted February 20, 2013 by J Matthew Cobb in Features

Sade
Diamond Life
(Portrait; 1984)

The sound of Sade was a breakthrough moment for soul music. In an era when r&b was recovering from disco’s fallout, the sexy soul inside Sade’s debut disc, Diamond Life, penetrated through the speakers of most urban radio stations, and beyond. The Brit group, led by the rapturously beautiful singer Sade Adu, showcased troves of sax showcases aboard Quiet Storm delights like “Your Love Is King” and “Smooth Operator.” She even pulls out a bag of light funk on “Hang On to Your Love” on “When Am I Going to Make a Living,” proving Sade was more than just a lounge act. The odds of Sade breaking What a rarity it was to find a singer who approaches R&B with Simone/Holiday vocal tendencies exploring faux-jazz with this level of success.