‘Smooth Operator’ by Sade is one of the most iconic songs of the 1980s and was the track that helped the British band gain international prominence.

 Whilst the track wasn’t Sade’s highest-performing track on the official UK music charts, ‘Smooth Operator’ helped the band gain momentum elsewhere.

Originally, Sade recorded ‘Smooth Operator’ along with their debut single ‘Your Love Is King’ as demos.

Sade guitarist Stuart Matthewman has previously spoke about the band recording ‘Smooth Operator’ as a demo:

Stuart explained that music producer Robert Millar helped the group record the demo because he “Liked” them and “Thought [they] were good”.

“The thing about Robert Millar was that we recorded ‘Your Love is King’, ‘Smooth Operator’ and a couple of other tracks before we even had a record deal because he liked us,” Stuart said.

He continued: “He thought we were good, he wasn't sure if we were ever gonna get signed but he just wanted to record us anyway."

“He produced and recorded the first tracks almost like a demo and then we took those demo's to the record company and they released them as album tracks exactly as we had recorded them."

Double-Dollop

Comments:

walter9724

Still a killer song almost 40 years later. She was/is so stunning

lgalan40

Nothing like a 80s sax solo! ????

benvacruz

From the first note I have lift off, this song takes me to a magical place, a land of fantasy, until the last note when I touch down and re-enter reality. Love you SADE !

iantaylor7840

Whenever I hear this my memories go back to my time with a wonderful woman, long gone now and the sadness is mine. But it was for a time a beautiful moment in my life. I always remember her with total love and the memory of just how stupid I was. Hi Val. 

dkbsoulman

I was 23 years old when this song came out. I am now 60, I was singing along then, and I am singing along now. Great song.

brew7676

This is something we could use more of in modern music: Talent and Class

andromeda7924

Finally after 10 years. Found this gem again.

aughbable7486

What a timeless classic

aurorafumagalli4897

This song will forever be a banger

saidfxsaftarov7250

November, 2023. Big love for you Sade, astonishing sounds, cute song

aurorafumagalli4897

This song will forever be a banger

mariafernandaramirez1664

I remember when i was a child I stole a CD from my dad's car just to hear this song in the middle of the night and repeating again and again

baddfingerz

Beyond class. Exquisite music for the body, mind and soul. 

user-pn2wr1zy1o

I like this song very much! It's something special! Bravo!

St705

The bass solo on this is a masterpiece, and the transition where the drums start then stop for the sax to start is not only easy to get timing but is a very good sounding piece. It's not what you play but what you don't play that makes you good.

aldeneidemoreira9066

Belíssima.

johnscott7135

She is so beautiful and talented I will love her forever ???? ???? ????

_Nvrse.Almighty

I wonder if Sade KNEW the impact her music would actually have on decades to come. It's so soulful and high vibrational. It feels as if my soul is levitating above my body when I play this. Man, legit chills.

AutobotSonicTheTelltaleGamer

Man, this song really makes me wanna jam out to Dua Lipa in my car with my little brother. Hey, why is that cop pulling us over?

maitenascimento6158

this song feels like the color blue of the sky as the sun is setting, feels exactly like being in a car stuck in traffic but not mad about it

divinapausanos6261

Beautiful woman with a beautiful voice she’s amazing ❤

RevelationRiverMinistrie-vx6so

The vocals are Delicious... sade is so sophisticated

marinamattioli8957

This Song sends shivers down my spine...