Turn my back on you - Sade

This remix of 'Turn my back on you' was the fourth and last single drawn from Sade's third album 'Stronger than pride'. At the time, I felt it was the worst track on the album and I was very surprised to find that it was released as a single. I also remember the video, which was a busy, hyperactive affair. While I appreciate the track better now, twenty years later, the years have not been kind to the video: I still can't stand to see it.

The cd-single of this track was released as a small, 3" cd. I didn't buy it at the time, which I really regret now, because it is nowhere to be found. So contact me if you have one and want to get rid of it. :)

My collection: 7" single no. 800

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, April 21, 1989

Cost: 3,5 guilders

Tracks: 'Turn my back on you (remix)' / 'Keep looking'

Download: 'Turn my back on you (remix)'

Keep looking - Sade

Sade released the album 'Stronger than pride' in 1988. It was their third album, a hit in many countries around the world. I bought all the singles taken from that album, but I was very surprised when I found this one three years later. 'Keep looking' was never released as a single, and yet here it was...

When I took a closer look, it proved to be a Spanish promotional single. This single featured 'Keep looking' on the A-side, and nothing on the B-side. It was an interesting item, so I made the decision to buy it.

My collection: 7" single no. 1522

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, September 21, 1991

Cost: 6 guilders

Track: 'Keep looking'

Download: Album 'Stronger than pride', including this track

Haunt me - Sade

In 1988, Sade released her third album, 'Stronger than pride'. As far as I knew, three singles were drawn from it: 'Love is stronger than pride', 'Paradise', 'Nothing can come between us' and 'Turn my back on you'. I was greatly surprised when I found this single, 'Haunt me', in 1996. It was the first and only time I saw it.

According to the information I got when I bought this single, it was released in Spain. However, the single was made in Holland, as the label says. A 12" single also exists, with the extended version of 'Make some room' on the B-side.

My collection: 7" single no. 2628

Found: Record fair, March 16, 1996

Cost: 10 guilders

Tracks: 'Haunt me' / 'Make some room'

Download: here

Is it a crime? - Sade

In 1985 and 1986, Sade's 'Is it a crime?' was one of my favourite songs of all time. Its intensity, the beauty of the melody, the subtle tones in the music and the dynamics of the song (from soft to loud and back) were a true revelation. A few years later, I would buy the cd of 'Promise' for this song alone - although the rest of the album was pretty beautiful too.

The 12" single didn't come into my collection after years of doubting. Sure, I loved the song, but Sade B-sides are not always that interesting - and this 12" featured two B-sides. Both tracks are instrumentals, performed by Sade's band. But without Sade Adu's voice, it's a lot less interesting. Even if the lyric is a bit bland, like on 'Is it a crime?'.

My collection: 12" single no. 293

Found: Record fair, Netherlands, 1996

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'Is it a crime?', 'Wired' / 'Punch drunk'

Download: here

Your love is king - Sade

Sade's debut single 'Your love is king' made me shout out 'boring!' every time I saw it on TV. This was during the time when I was watching Music Box and Sky Channel on a daily basis. Her second single, 'When am I going to make a living' interested me more, and gradually I got into Sade. At some point I decided I wanted to have the first single as well, and it sounded a lot less boring by that time. So eventually I even got the 12" single.

Some will be surprised to find 'Smooth operator' on the B-side of this. It is actually a version that is very alike the album version on Sade's debut album 'Diamond life', but the instrumental track that follows immediately after that, 'Snake bite', is a one time thing. It was never released anywhere else, except on this disc.

My collection: 12" single no. 483

Found: 2001

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'Your love is king' / 'Smooth operator', 'Snake bite', 'Love affair with life (recorded live)'

Download: here

The sweetest taboo - Sade

Sade released their second album 'Promise' in 1985, after the very successful debut album 'Diamond life'. The 'difficult second album' syndrome didn't apply to the band: the second album did just as well as its predecessor.

Lead single was the catchy 'The Sweetest Taboo'. The 12" single featured an extended mix of the track, which kept the tension of the original version intact. I loved the single, so I bought the 12" single pretty soon afterward. It's strange that the extended versions of Sade have never been released on cd.

My collection: 12" single no. 22

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1985

Cost: 14,95 guilders

Tracks: 'The sweetest taboo (extended version)' / 'You're not the man'

Download: here

Never as good as the first time - Sade

There is some irony in recording a song called 'Never as good as the first time' and then re-record it for the single release. This is exactly what Sade did in 1986. The funny thing is, the re-recording was actually better than the first one.

When this single was released, Sade was touring in support of her second album 'Promise', and backing singer Leroy Osbourne was recruited. With his added vocals, the track was lifted to above average level. The 12" single contained the full length version of the re-recording, whereas the 7" single contained an edit. The B-side was an instrumental part of the song 'Hang on to your love', as performed during the tour mentioned.

My collection: 12" single no. 53

Found: Free record shop, Den Haag, 1987

Cost: 4,95 guilders

Tracks: 'Never as good as the first time (extended mix)' / 'Keep hanging on'

Download: here