Stronger Than Pride

Stronger Than Pride (1988) is Sade’s third album, featuring the singles “Love Is Stronger Than Pride”, “Paradise”, “Nothing Can Come Between Us”, “Turn My Back On You”, and “Haunt Me.” The album was recorded at Compass Point Studios (Bahamas), Studio Miraval (France), and Studio Marcadet (France). The vinyl audio uses high resolution digital transfers of the stereo master mixes, from the original studio recordings, remastered at half-speed at Abbey Road Studios. The elaborate, half-speed mastering process has produced exceptionally clean and detailed audio whilst remaining faithful to the band’s intended sound. No additional digital limiting was used in the mastering process, so the album benefits from the advantage of extra clarity and pure fidelity, preserving the dynamic range of the original mixes, presented on pure 180-gram heavyweight black vinyl. The original album sleeve and packaging elements have been meticulously reproduced in exact detail with authentic paper and printing methods.

Stronger Than Pride marks a subtle shift in Sade’s sound, emphasizing a more stripped-down, meditative approach to romance and introspection. Recorded after a hiatus, the album exudes a breezy, unhurried vibe, with compositions that loop back on themselves and melodies that leisurely unfurl. While not as minimalistic as later efforts, the album showcases softer rhythms and lighter melodies, allowing Sade’s airy vocals to shine. Songs like ‘Love Is Stronger Than Pride’ and ‘Turn My Back on You’ capture emotional honesty and candor, buoyed by sparse arrangements that enhance Sade’s directness. Throughout the record, Sade’s writing maintains a mantra-like quality, repeating phrases to imbue the songs with quiet anguish and introspection. Leroy Osbourne’s background vocals add warmth to Sade’s cool melodies, enhancing the emotional resonance of tracks like ‘Paradise’ and ‘Nothing Can Come Between Us.’ The band’s cohesion and faith in each other are evident on Stronger Than Pride, with each member contributing to flesh out Sade’s ideas or provide space for them to bloom. While lacking the glitz and melodrama of previous hits, the album’s emotional clarity and restrained production make it a compelling addition to Sade’s discography, showcasing their ability to evolve while staying true to their signature sound.