Where were you when you first heard "Smooth Operator" on the radio in 1983? What were your feelings? Delighted? Depressed? Annoyed? Refreshed? Intrigued? Uncertain?

Now fast forward to 2002. Is there any song on today's pop radio that has even come close to the impact of the above song that you know just where you were or what the time of the season was when you first heard it?

I didn't think so. God bless Sade. The singer and her band.

I was at first very hesitant about purchasing "Lover's Live" for many reasons: 1) I had seen some clips of the concert on VH1 Soul and was purely blown away. 2) I'm kicking myself hard with regret for missing this tour. 3) That the audio CD was going to be a teaser for the VHS & DVD coming out in March (and directed by Sophie Muller).

Yes, the CD IS a teaser. It's only 70 minutes long as opposed to the two hours-plus worth of material that will be on the video edition. Example? "Smooth Operator", played with more urgency this time, fades out when the extended jam is about to begin. Plus, the booklet pictures (and slight memories of the 1994 "Sade Live" video) only give a slight hint of the visuals about to be released in a month's time.

But, oh, my God, what a teaser this is!

There is a beautiful psychedelic flow that runs throughout the 13 tracks worth. It's still jazzy and pop, but with other elements of dub, folk and slow soul that make the whole listening experience very dreamlike. Plus, the fact that the crowd is sometimes louder than the band at times is almost surreal yet comforting.

And Sade had never sounded better. There's plenty of wisdom & experience that has crept into that unique voice of hers and has made it stronger with age. The same applies to the band. Stuart Matthewman, Andrew Hale & Paul Denman provide some magnificent ear candy and a solid sonic foundation that grows better with age. Kudos also go out to regular Leroy Osbourne and new members Ryan Waters, Peter Lewinson, Karl Vanden Bossche & Tony Momrelle and fitting just like a comfortable glove.

But let's get to the nitty-gritty, shall we? This is still some emotional & very warm stuff here, considering that back in '84 it might have been a manufactured item (a' la the British jazz-pop, "Absolute Beginners" trend). Sade (the collective) are an endangered breed. Pop music that is pleasing to the ear but can be unpredictable and occasionally unsettling. They strike some very deep nerves here and have created some of the most timeless & long-lasting music that has made a seamless transition from one century to another.

And Sade Adu? This is one classy, warm, sensual, sexy and human lady that will always rises above the trends (especially today's sickening state of affairs) and show some TRUE STYLE & CLASS. Today's pop goddesses & divas have A LOT TO LEARN.

This is no 80's retro act that will be stuck on any throwaway compilation soon. Long may they wave and GOD BLESS THEM.

Buy this album. Enough said.

To say that I am thrilled to bits with this live capture of Sade's Lovers Rock concert would be an understatement!!! Adding to my thrill is that Lovers Live is released in Asia at the same time as its US premiere(5 Feb). It seems only European Sade fans must wait until 18 Feb!??

Anyway, this album showcases not only the unique voice of the great Nigerian-British chanteuse, it also serves as a platform for the rest of her bandmates to display their immaculate musicanship. Any accusation that Matthewman, Hale, and Denman are only wallpaper flowers who serve as the musical backdrop for Ms Adu's voice is completely dispelled here. They play their hearts out!

Given the long sequence of songs (17+) she has to perform in a single evening, Sade's voice manages to retain remarkable uniformity of breadth, communicativeness and suppleness. You never get the feeling that she is at the end of a tether. The appreciative audience also plays a star role in this album, their hoots and applauses really add to the excitement of the occasion. The standout tracks are "Cherish the Day", "The Sweetest Taboo", "Paradise"(WOW, it really rocks!), "No Ordinary Love" and of course, "Is It A Crime". This last track is alone worth the price of admission --- Sade truly gives this ultimate torch song her all. If you aren't moved by this electrifying performance, please check your pulse!

In all, this album is a must-have for any Sade fan.

Five Stars All The Way!!!

I didn't know this album was coming -or out (Hey, I've been busy!). I entered a record store that was playing 'Is it A Crime'. Vintage Sade, of course. I had it already. Then I heard a crowd in the background. Is this live? Yes-and the cashier presented the cover. Normally I don't go for live albums, for all the reasons previous naysayers have mentioned. But the excellent, live performance of 'Crime' grabbed me. I checked the list on back to see what other gems were included. 'No Ordinary Love', too? 'Jezebel'? Cool, I added the cd to my shopping cart. It might turn out to be like any other live album (bad sound), but hey, I'm a fan -it's still a collector, right?

Then, on my way to the beach, I put it on in the car. I almost ran off the road. To sum it up, I'll restate what I overhead another shopper say in the record store: there's NOBODY like this woman. Her style, vocals, etc., cannot be duplicated. As a testament, consider this: she disappeared for nearly 10 years. She comes back, makes a live album in followup to "Lovers Rock" containing 10-15 year old songs. AND THEY STILL ROCK TODAY, LIKE THEY DID WHEN FIRST RELEASED. MAYBE MORESO. This would be defined as TIMELESS.

Another testament: I'm an active Amazon buyer -with many favorite artists -who NEVER takes time to write reviews. Buy 'Lovers Live.'

This is an unfortunate attempt to stage the beautiful studio recordings of Sade and her collaborators on a "live" stage. Never a strong live singer and a rather shy performer, there is no reason for anybody to go to a live concert or buy this album, as most of the tracks are perfect copies of the studio originals (incl. soundeffects) and add nothing new. This does not mean that this is not beautiful music, on the contrary, but just not suitable for a live concert.

Sade is one of a kind. Her music and her band are awesome!!! But let's get to the point: I prefer this album on DVD. I really got MAD when i heard Smooth Operator on this CD without the jamming at the end of the song while on DVD there is the full version of it. And the audience NOISE is really loud. If you got her other studio albums, don't buy this one. There's no need to.