The Best of Sade

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 Pride's "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.

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".

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 (tracks 1–7)
 * Martin Ditcham – percussion (tracks 1–11, 13); drums (tracks 8–10, 13)
 * Paul Cooke – drums (tracks 1–3)
 * Terry Bailey – trumpet (tracks 1–7)
 * Gordon Matthewman – trumpet (tracks 1–3)
 * Pete Beachill – trombone (tracks 4–7)
 * Leroy Osbourne – vocals (tracks 7–13, 15, 16)
 * Jake Jacas – vocals (track 7)
 * Gordon Hunte – guitar (tracks 9, 14)
 * Nick Ingman – string arrangements (tracks 13, 16)
 * Gavyn Wright – orchestra leader (tracks 11–13, 15, 16)
 * Tony Pleeth – solo cello (track 16)
 * Karl Van Den Bossche – percussion (track 14)
 * Trevor Murrell – drums (track 14)

Technical

 * Robin Millar – production (tracks 1–7)
 * Mike Pela – production engineering (tracks 1–7); production (track 7); engineering, co-production (tracks 8–13, 15, 16)
 * Pete Brown – engineering assistance (tracks 1–7)
 * Simon Driscoll – engineering assistance (tracks 1–7)
 * Ben Rogan – production (track 7); engineering, co-production (tracks 8–10)
 * Sade – production (tracks 7–13, 15, 16), arrangement (tracks 8–13, 15, 16)
 * Phil Legg – engineering assistance (tracks 4–7)
 * Melanie West – engineering assistance (tracks 8–10)
 * Vince McCartney – engineering assistance (tracks 8–10)
 * Franck Segarra – engineering assistance (tracks 8–10)
 * Olivier de Bosson – engineering assistance (tracks 8–10)
 * Alain Lubrano – engineering assistance (tracks 8–10)
 * Jean-Christophe Vareille – engineering assistance (tracks 8–10)
 * Sandro Franchin – engineering assistance (tracks 11–13, 15, 16)
 * Adrian Moore – engineering assistance (tracks 11–13, 15, 16)
 * Marc Williams – engineering assistance (tracks 11–13, 15, 16)
 * Hein Hoven – production, mixing (track 14)
 * Ian Cooper – mastering

Artwork

 * Albert Watson – photography
 * Jo Strettel – photography
 * Peter Brawne – design