Diamond Life – Six weeks at Power Plant, Smooth Operator
In July 1984 Epic released Diamond Life, Sade's debut album, tracked in six weeks at London's Power Plant with producer Robin Millar.
James Brown – The hardest working pulse
James Brown counted time out for the band: a shout, a knee, a cue the Famous Flames and the J.B.'s learned to follow.
Sade – Smooth Operator
Smooth Operator, from Sade's Diamond Life (1984), sets Denman's bass and Matthewman's sax under Adu's character sketch.
Love Deluxe – Venice to London, No Ordinary Love
In October 1992 Sade released Love Deluxe on Epic, a fourth album cut between Venice, Surrey, London and Los Angeles with programmed parts and No Ordinary Love up front.
What if Amy Winehouse had finished a third album?
In 2009, Amy Winehouse completes a third studio album and returns to the road with a smaller, steadier band.
The Temptations – Silk pulled tight
The Temptations sang Motown hits from My Girl through Norman Whitfield's psychedelic soul years.
What’s Going On – Marvin Gaye
In the spring of 1971, Marvin Gaye stopped asking Motown for another love song and asked a harder question out loud.
Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On
Marvin Gaye's What's Going On (1971): voices in the room, a protest that opens the suite, Tammi Terrell in the background.
Aretha Franklin – Respect
Aretha Franklin’s Respect (Atlantic, 1967): Otis Redding rewritten, Muscle Shoals players, Billboard Hot 100 No. 1.
Promise – Power Plant and Miraval, the quiet sequel
In November 1985 Sade released Promise on Epic, a second album cut at Power Plant and Miraval that topped both the UK chart and the Billboard 200.