Sade’s Rock Hall Week: Put “The Sweetest Taboo” On

That opening beat on “The Sweetest Taboo” does a lot of work. Sade hasn’t sung a word yet, and there’s already a reason to stop what you’re doing and turn it up.

It’s a good place to start this week. Sade will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday, November 14, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The ceremony will be recorded for a December debut on ABC and Disney+.

The honor is for the band: Sade Adu, Paul Spencer Denman, Andrew Hale and Stuart Matthewman. Adu’s voice is the one everybody recognizes, but spend a little time with the bass, keys and guitar, too. That feels like the right way to celebrate this music.

For our JetSet listening pick, we’re starting with three records. You can argue about the order. That’s half the fun.

Start with “The Sweetest Taboo”

The percussion gets things moving, and the vocal never sounds hurried. Put this one on while you’re making dinner and see how much cooking gets done before the chorus comes around.

It’s from Promise, released in 1985. If you haven’t played the album in a while, there’s a good chance this one sends you straight to “Is It a Crime” afterward. Fair warning.

Back it up with “Hang On to Your Love”

This is the pick for anyone who hears “Sade” and immediately thinks slow jam. The bass is busy, the rhythm stays tight, and the song has plenty of room to dance.

“Hang On to Your Love” comes from the band’s 1984 debut, Diamond Life. “Smooth Operator” is on that album, too, but give this one its turn before you head for the familiar saxophone.

Let “No Ordinary Love” finish

Then take the pace down. The bass and guitar on “No Ordinary Love” give it a weight you can feel, especially with headphones on. Let the whole record play. It takes its time, and rushing it misses the point.

The song opens Love Deluxe, released in 1992. It’s a different mood from where we started, which is why it belongs at the end of this little run.

What goes on next: “Kiss of Life,” “Paradise,” or something we’ve left out?

Hear the three song previews in our Sade listening pick.

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Feature image: Original AI-generated editorial illustration for JetSetFM.