The Best of Sade is the first greatest hits album by English band Sade, released by Epic Records in the United Kingdom on 31 October 1994 and in the United States on 4 November 1994. The compilation chronicles Sade's first four studio albums, while also including non-single songs "Jezebel", "Like a Tattoo" and "Pearls", as well as "Please Send Me Someone to Love", which appeared in the soundtrack to the film Philadelphia. The album was digitally remastered in 2000.
The singles from Diamond Life, as well as Stronger Than Prides "Paradise" and "Nothing Can Come Between Us", are presented in their 7″ edit forms; "Never as Good as the First Time" and "Cherish the Day" are remixes produced by Sade, also taken from their respective singles. None of this information is listed within the album's packaging. The album artwork is a photograph of Adu, taken on set in 1992 by Albert Watson when he directed the band's music video for "Feel No Pain".
Critical reception AllMusic's Jason Elias wrote, "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... 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." Robert Christgau called the album "another loungecore alternative".
Track listing
Notes signifies a co-producer
Personnel Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Best of Sade.
Sade Sade Adu – vocals Andrew Hale – keyboards Stuart Matthewman – guitar, saxophone Paul S. Denman – bass
Additional musicians
Dave Early – drums, percussion Martin Ditcham – percussion ; drums Paul Cooke – drums Terry Bailey – trumpet Gordon Matthewman – trumpet Pete Beachill – trombone Leroy Osbourne – vocals Jake Jacas – vocals Gordon Hunte – guitar Nick Ingman – string arrangements Gavyn Wright – orchestra leader Tony Pleeth – solo cello Karl Van Den Bossche – percussion Trevor Murrell – drums
Technical
Robin Millar – production Mike Pela – production engineering ; production ; engineering, co-production Pete Brown – engineering assistance Simon Driscoll – engineering assistance Ben Rogan – production ; engineering, co-production Sade – production , arrangement Phil Legg – engineering assistance Melanie West – engineering assistance Vince McCartney – engineering assistance Franck Segarra – engineering assistance Olivier de Bosson – engineering assistance Alain Lubrano – engineering assistance Jean-Christophe Vareille – engineering assistance Sandro Franchin – engineering assistance Adrian Moore – engineering assistance Marc Williams – engineering assistance Hein Hoven – production, mixing Ian Cooper – mastering
Artwork Albert Watson – photography Jo Strettel – photography Peter Brawne – design
Charts
Weekly charts + 1994–1995 weekly chart performance Chart (1994–1995) Peakposition Belgian Albums (IFPI) 3 Danish Albums (Hitlisten) 9 European Albums (Music & Media) 5 Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) 12 French Compilation Albums (SNEP) Select "EURYTHMICS" from the drop-down menu and click "OK". 8 Irish Albums (IFPI) 6 Italian Albums (Musica e dischi) 5 Japanese Albums (Oricon) 27 Portuguese Albums (AFP) 4 Spanish Albums (AFYVE) 10
+ 1999 weekly chart performance Chart (1999) Peakposition
+ 2005 weekly chart performance Chart (2005) Peakposition
+ 2010 weekly chart performance Chart (2010) Peakposition
+ 2022 weekly chart performance Chart (2022) Peakposition Greek Albums (IFPI Greece) 2 + 2024 weekly chart performance Chart (2022) Peakposition US Contemporary Jazz Albums (Billboard) 1
+ 2025–2026 weekly chart performance Chart (2025–2026) Peakposition Croatian International Albums (HDU) 30 Greek Albums (IFPI) 26 Portuguese Albums (AFP) 23
Year-end charts + 1994 year-end chart performance Chart (1994) Position Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) 63 Italian Albums (Musica e dischi) 54 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) 79 UK Albums (OCC) 40
+ 1995 year-end chart performance Chart (1995) Position Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) 83 European Albums (Music & Media) 52 US Billboard 200 45 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) 19
+ 2024 year-end chart performance Chart (2024) Position Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) 176
+ 2025 year-end chart performance Chart (2025) Position Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) 126 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) 63 US Billboard 200 161 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) 69
Certifications
Notes
References