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Product Details
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Track Listings
| Disc: 1 | |||
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| 1. Your Love Is King | |||
| 2. Smooth Operator | |||
| 3. Hang On To Your Love | |||
| 4. The Sweetest Taboo | |||
| 5. Is It A Crime | |||
| 6. Never As Good As The First Time | |||
| 7. Jezebel | |||
| 8. Love Is Stronger Than Pride | |||
| 9. Paradise | |||
| 10. Nothing Can Come Between Us | |||
See all 14 tracks on this disc
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| Disc: 2 | |||
| 1. Cherish The Day | |||
| 2. Pearls | |||
| 3. By Your Side | |||
| 4. Immigrant | |||
| 5. Flow | |||
| 6. King Of Sorrow | |||
| 7. The Sweetest Gift | |||
| 8. Solider Of Love | |||
| 9. The Moon And The Sky | |||
| 10. Babyfather | |||
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See all 15 tracks on this disc
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Editorial Reviews
As a follow up to the platinum-selling Soldier Of Love, which spent three weeks at the top of the Billboard album chart and garnered a well-deserved Grammy, Sade is back with The Ultimate Collection. In addition to classic Sade songs, the must-have, two-disc album will include three new, never-before heard songs including Moon & The Sky (featuring Jay-Z). Here for the first time, fans can find all of their favorite Sade classics from their most iconic albums including songs from the Best Of collection and the greatest hits off of Lover s Rock and Soldier Of Love.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
191 of 207 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
If you like your Sade vocals buried by the instumentation, then this set is for you. The loudness compression that has been applied to this set has completely obliterated the dynamic range of the original recordings.
To set your expectations of what you will hear: If you've been listening to Sade past three decades on any previous CD release, your ear has been trained to expect Sade's voice to be in the front of the soundstage, just like if she were singing on stage in front of a band in a small club. When you play any of the tracks from this bastardized set, you will immediately notice that her vocals are buried and competing with the instruments, like she had been physically moved from the front of the stage to behind the drum kit. The volume of every track is REALLY loud, much louder than the older CD's, and quickly tiring to listen to.
If you're not familiar with the term "loudness compression": Go to Wikipedia and search "loudness wars". In that article, there is also a link to an excellent You Tube audio/video demonstration of this reprehensible practice, which is being propagated by bean-counter record company executives.
The technical explanation of loudness compression is the application of an increasingly high ratio of compression to the dynamic range of a particular recording, and then increasing the gain of the recording, until the peaks have reached maximum. In layman's terms, what this means is there are no longer any quiet or loud passages in the recording, EVERYTHING is at the same volume.
Basically, the iPod is responsible for the proliferation of this practice: When music is played back thru iPod earbuds in any environment where there is ambient noise present, by having the volume artificially jacked across the entire music spectrum, you can hear the content more clearly. However, when you listen to the same recording thru a home audio system, it literally sounds like the music is emanating from a megaphone. The "remastering" on this set is a classic example of this insidious process.
If you own any of the 2000 remasters, hang on to them, AND DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS SET!
To set your expectations of what you will hear: If you've been listening to Sade past three decades on any previous CD release, your ear has been trained to expect Sade's voice to be in the front of the soundstage, just like if she were singing on stage in front of a band in a small club. When you play any of the tracks from this bastardized set, you will immediately notice that her vocals are buried and competing with the instruments, like she had been physically moved from the front of the stage to behind the drum kit. The volume of every track is REALLY loud, much louder than the older CD's, and quickly tiring to listen to.
If you're not familiar with the term "loudness compression": Go to Wikipedia and search "loudness wars". In that article, there is also a link to an excellent You Tube audio/video demonstration of this reprehensible practice, which is being propagated by bean-counter record company executives.
The technical explanation of loudness compression is the application of an increasingly high ratio of compression to the dynamic range of a particular recording, and then increasing the gain of the recording, until the peaks have reached maximum. In layman's terms, what this means is there are no longer any quiet or loud passages in the recording, EVERYTHING is at the same volume.
Basically, the iPod is responsible for the proliferation of this practice: When music is played back thru iPod earbuds in any environment where there is ambient noise present, by having the volume artificially jacked across the entire music spectrum, you can hear the content more clearly. However, when you listen to the same recording thru a home audio system, it literally sounds like the music is emanating from a megaphone. The "remastering" on this set is a classic example of this insidious process.
If you own any of the 2000 remasters, hang on to them, AND DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS SET!
68 of 75 people found the following review helpful
By W. STEVENS
Format:Audio CD
I went to play this on my car stereo and I couldnt figure out why the bass and other levels were so loud and distorted. I didnt even keep playing it. Turns out they ruined this collection with very poor mastering! The new songs are good and it would have been a great collection otherwise. I think Sade should choose much more carefully who she (or her record company) hires to do this work!
66 of 73 people found the following review helpful
By Davidm
Format:Audio CD
Why must they take such an amazing collection of songs & give them the Loud harsh digital treatment ? If you like modern music in your ipod , this is for you , if you have a nice stereo & like Dynamics , nice warmth & not slammed digital distortion by the time you reach the chorus , stay away .... Kinda sad as Sade's recordings are up there among the best , Pick up some vinyl , or older cd's if you want the proper sound , there was no need for this , sade is not fighting the same airwaves as the Black eyed peas .... you have been warned .
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Don't know what the fuss is about...
I've seen many reviews here complaining of a horrible mastering job on this compilation, I personally don't know what they're talking about. Read more
Published 2 days ago by David D. Macks
5.0 out of 5 stars
SADE
WONDERFUL DVD WITH LOTS OF GREAT SONGS AND HITS! WELL MADE AND SOUNDS GREAT IN 5.1 SURROUND SOUND. A MUST FOR YOU CONCERT CONNECTION!
Published 10 days ago by DENNIS LOPEZ
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love it
This was a gift to a friend. This is probably a must have in any collection CD. A great value.
Published 13 days ago by TechHeadDD
2.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful music, but awful sound!
I really don't want to rate this collection poorly, because the songs are excellent. Unfortunately, these remastered versions sound really strange (in a very bad way) compared to... Read more
Published 17 days ago by Skwerl
5.0 out of 5 stars
Grand
CD in awesome condition, the tunes are excellent and put me in a great mood each and every day I listen to it.
Published 22 days ago by Peggy Severns
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great collection.
I already have all of her albums but this had 4 new songs on it that I had to have. Plus the fact the other songs were remastered made this a great buy.
Published 26 days ago by JohnnyP
4.0 out of 5 stars
Sexy and seductive!
Sade's smoky voice is a perfect background for a romantic evening! I was first introduced to her sound by a friend when I was in the Army. I have loved her music ever since!
Published 1 month ago by Tammy Thorne
5.0 out of 5 stars
the ultimate collection
What a great collection! Her voice is absolutely amazing in the songs she sings. One song a rap piece was a disappointment, but I skip over that one since it brings down the... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Carol F. Michaels
4.0 out of 5 stars
Radiant Beauty
This album was everything I had expected..I have been a long time fan of Sade, and she is nothing less than perfection.
Published 1 month ago by Randy D. Beutler
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful
I bought this before reading the reviews and while waiting for it I read some of the reviews critiquing the sound quality, disregard those reviews the sound quality is great. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Ken Cameron
Listmania!
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