While diehard Sade devotees are well aware of this nuanced fact, too many people still don’t realize that the moniker “Sade” does not exclusively pertain to the enigmatic vocalist Sade Adu. More accurately, Sade is the name of the band comprised of Adu, Stuart Matthewman (guitar, saxophone), Andrew Hale (piano, keyboards), and Paul Spencer Denman (bass).
Something else that Sade fans are well acquainted with is the criminally underappreciated, eponymous debut album that the latter trio, minus Adu, released in 1996 as Sweetback, the name a nod to Melvin Van Peebles’ 1971 film Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song. Featuring some of the lushest soundscapes you’ll ever lay your ears upon, Sweetback includes sublime vocal contributions from Maxwell (“Softly Softly”), Amel Larrieux (“Gaze,” “You Will Rise”), Leroy Osbourne (cover of Bill Withers’ “Hope She’ll Be Happier”), and Bahamadia (“Au Natural”).
Aside from initial promotional copies of the album, Sweetback has never been released on vinyl. Until now, that is. In conjunction with its 20th anniversary this month and in stores this Friday, October 28th, Sony Legacy Recordings is unveiling the album’s first-ever vinyl pressing as a remastered 150-gram double LP.
Take it from us…this is an exquisitely orchestrated album that any self-respecting music head or vinyl junkie must add to his or her collection.
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