Program Description
A special playback of Diamond Life, the seminal debut album by Sade, presented by DJ and music historian Free Oribhabor.
Emerging from London’s sophisticated jazz-soul scene, Sade—comprised of Sade Adu, Stuart Matthewman, Andrew Hale, and Paul S. Denman—released Diamond Life in 1984, and upended what was considered possible in pop and soul music in the ‘80s.
Decades later, Diamond Life remains a go-to classic and an essential recording for any collection, making it a perfect candidate for our first album listening session and behind-the-music conversation, presented by Free Oribhabor, founder of The Record Club, a hi-fi deep listening event founded in Los Angeles in 2023.
1984 Japanese first pressing — Epic/Sony 28·3P-545
About Free Oribhabor
Free Oribhabor is an LA based artist and DJ. He is also host and creator of the event series The Record Club, a bi-coastal communal listening event series exploring classic albums and the rich stories behind them.
Album Tracklist and Credits
Side 1
Smooth Operator
Your Love Is King
Hang On To Your Love
Frankie’s First Affair
When Am I Going To Make A Living
Side 2
Cherry Pie
Sally
I Will Be Your Friend
Why Can’t We Live Together
Sade Adu – Vocals
Stuart Matthewman – Sax and Guitar
Andrew Hale – Keyboards
Paul S Denman – Bass
Producer – Robin Millar
Production Engineer – Mike Pela
Engineer – Ben Rogan
Studio – Power Plant
Photography – Chris Roberts
Sleeve Design – Graham Smith
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